Yes, ficus plants are mildly toxic to dogs.
Ficus is a genus that falls under the Moraceae family. The plant’s common names include figs or fig tree. Popular ficus plants grown as houseplants include fiddle leaf fig (F. lyrata), rubber plant (F. elastica), creeping fig (F. pumila), and African fig (F. cyathistipula).
Due to the psoralen (ficusin) and proteolytic enzyme (ficin) found in them, fig plants can cause mild irritation in canines. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states that gastrointestinal and dermal irritation are likely to occur. As such, it’s advisable not to have fig plants around dogs.
What to do if your dog accidentally comes into contact with, chews, or eats ficus plants: Take the plant away from your dog. Remove any remnants of the ficus plant as it can irritate your dog’s mouth, throat, eyes, skin, and digestive system.
Observe him for any signs of poisoning. These may range from skin irritation to digestive issues. Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and drooling. But decrease in appetite may also occur. If the sap gets on your dog’s skin, he may also experience redness, dry skin, tiny bumps, and hair loss in the affected areas. Contact your veterinarian to share your dog’s condition.
In summary: Ficus plants can cause more harm than good to households with animals. If you own or care for a dog, it’s best to avoid all the species that belong to this genus.
Keep your pooch safe by checking these lists from ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, and PetMD. That way, you can make an informed choice before bringing home a new houseplant or growing one in your backyard.
References:
Dog poisoning: Signs of poisoning in dogs and what you need to do
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