Monstera
ToxicThe ASPCA lists Monstera deliciosa as toxic to dogs, under the name cutleaf philodendron. Its leaves, stems, and aerial roots carry insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that burn the mouth on contact.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Mouth irritation
- Mouth pain
- Drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pawing at the mouth
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Facial swelling
- Difficulty breathing
More about this food
Monstera deliciosa is on the ASPCA's toxic plant list for dogs, but you will not find it by searching "monstera" — the ASPCA files it as cutleaf philodendron, with hurricane plant, Swiss cheese plant, ceriman, and Mexican breadfruit as alternate names. That naming gap is why so many owners assume the trendiest plant in their living room is harmless. It is in the same family as pothos and carries the same toxic principle: insoluble calcium oxalate, packed into leaf, stem, and aerial-root tissue as needle-shaped crystal bundles that drive into the lips, tongue, and gums the instant a dog bites.
The ASPCA lists the signs as oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. There is no absorption phase and therefore no delay. Watch next for swelling of the lips and face, changes in breathing, or a dog that cannot swallow its own saliva. Airway swelling is uncommon but is a true emergency.
Monstera carries one extra risk that pothos does not. The leaves are enormous and thick, so a single bite delivers far more crystal-loaded tissue. These plants live in floor pots, which puts the lowest leaves at dog height, and the thick aerial roots snaking out of the pot are exactly the diameter of a chew toy. The moss pole, decorative top-dressing stones, and slow-release fertilizer pellets in that pot are separate foreign-body and GI hazards.
What to do now: gently clear plant material from the mouth, rinse with cool water, offer cool water to drink, and photograph the damaged plant. Then call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home — it drags the same crystals back across the esophagus. Pain control, anti-inflammatories, fluids, and an airway assessment are decisions for the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
- People eat monstera fruit. Doesn't that mean the plant is safe?
- The ripe fruit is where names like Mexican breadfruit and ceriman come from, but dogs chew leaves, stems, and aerial roots, and those are loaded with irritant crystals. Houseplant monsteras almost never fruit indoors, so the edible-fruit story has no bearing on what your dog actually ate.
- He nibbled a leaf an hour ago and seems fine now. Do I still call?
- The pain from calcium oxalate peaks fast and can ease on its own, so looking better does not mean the mouth is undamaged. Call your vet if drooling continues or your dog skips meals, and go in immediately for facial swelling or any change in breathing.
- My dog only dug in the pot. Is soil a problem?
- The soil itself has no crystals, but it usually contains root pieces and fallen leaf fragments that do. Top-dressing stones, fertilizer pellets, and shredded moss-pole coir are separate obstruction risks, so tell your vet if a real quantity went down.