Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear
Plants
Scientific name
Araceae
Alternate names
Aloscasia, Caladium, Colocasia, Dasheen, Taro, Xanthostoma
Toxicity to pets
Elephant ear is a common name for several genera of plants. These plants contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals similar to other plants in the Araceae family. Chewing or biting into this plant will release these crystals causing tissue penetration and irritation the mouth and GI tract. VERY rarely, swelling of the upper airway occurs making it difficult to breathe. Veterinary care is recommended for pets with persistent gastrointestinal clinical signs. Veterinary care is advised ASAP for any pet showing respiratory difficulty.
Common signs to watch for:
- Drooling
- Oral pain
- Poor appetite
- Retching
- Vomiting
Dogs
Cats
Toxicity Level
Mild
Horses
Toxicity Level
Disclaimer
The content of this page is not veterinary advice. A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment.