Do you have a jade plant in your home? Many of us do, as these are hardy house plants! Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you may be able to grow these lovely plants!
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But what happens if your dog eats a jade plant leaf? Are jade plants poisonous to dogs?
What is a Jade Plant?
Just in case you’re not familiar with jade plants, we’ll do a quick review. The jade plant’s official name is Crassula ovata, and this is a succulent houseplant. The plant’s leaves are thick and oval-shaped, and the stems are slightly woody. The plants grow slowly and may eventually reach a height of 3-6 inches.
They’re very common as houseplants as they’re easy to grow. Even if you forget to water them, the plant can live for a while because they store water in their leaves.
For some reason, dogs seem to like the taste of jade plant leaves; however, these plants do contain a toxin that can be serious medical problems.
Types of Jade Plants
There are many types of jade plants, all belonging to the same family. However, you may not realize that this plant goes by several other names, including:
- Baby jade
- Chinese rubber plant
- Dollar plant
- Dwarf rubber tree
- Jade tree
- Japanese rubber plant
- Lucky plant
- Money tree
- Penny plant
- Tree of happiness
We can guarantee that if your dog eats any jade plant, he’s not going to be very happy.
Causes of Jade Plant Toxicity in Dogs
The jade plant contains toxins that can make a dog seriously ill. However, these toxins are not all known to science. They can cause gastric distress, heartbeat irregularities, and depression in dogs. Most cases of poisoning are mild; however, in some cases, the plant can cause serious symptoms, such as convulsions and more.
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Ask a Vet Live NowWhat to Do If Your Dog Has Eaten a Jade Plant
If you know or suspect your canine companion has eaten a part of (or the whole) jade plant, be sure to call the vet right away. It’s best to call the vet even if your fur baby’s not showing any symptoms. The best thing you can do is call the vet ASAP.
Take a picture of the plant or a sample of the plant your dog has eaten. That way, the vet can better identify the plant, making it easier for them to create the right diagnosis plan. And if your dog is showing symptoms, note what they are, and try to determine how much of the plant was ingested, as well as what time this occurred.
Symptoms of Jade Plant Toxin in Dogs
If your dog has eaten a jade plant leaf, or has had several, then you’ll want to watch for these symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Depression
- Aggression
- Hiding
- Slow heart rate
- Impaired muscle movement
- Convulsions
The last three symptoms are not as common, but it’s still good to know what to watch for. The problem is no one is quite sure what substances in the jade leaves are poisonous. But jade plant leaves are known to be toxic.
In most cases, jade plant poisoning in dogs is mild; however, in rare instances the leaves can cause a more serious medical issue.
If you know your fur baby has eaten one or more jade leaves, then be sure to call the vet. They’ll provide advise on next steps. They may ask that you bring your dog in to be checked, even if he has no symptoms.
The vet will do a physical exam, and may also take urine and stool samples, run some bloodwork, and more. Your fur baby may need an endoscopic procedure, which the vet uses to check the dog’s throat and airways for inflammation and airway blockage. The vet may also run some x-rays to check or any inflammation or blockages in the intestines.
Treatment will depend on the vet’s findings, but the vet may choose to induce vomiting. This helps clear the toxin from your dog’s system and activated charcoal may also be given to absorb any remaining poison.
The vet may follow this with a complete flushing of your dog’s digestive system, too. And if needed, your fur baby may also need to be treated with IV fluids for dehydration.
The good news is that with prompt treatment, your canine companion has an excellent prognosis for a happy, healthy life!
If your fur baby likes to munch on jade plant leaves, then it’s a good idea to place plants in rooms that your dog can’t access. The other option is to avoid having these plants in the first place, since they are toxic to dogs.
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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