Yes, wandering Jew plants are mildly poisonous to dogs.
Wandering Jew, or Tradescantia, is a type of creeping plant that belongs to the Commelinaceae family. With about 85 climbing and trailing species, the wandering Jew is typically grown as indoor houseplants or as garden plants used for ground cover. Their leaves are thin, long, and pointed at the ends, and sometimes have attractive patterns. Aside from Tradescantia, the plant is called dayflower, inchplant, and spiderwort.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states that this fast-growing plant is toxic to dogs as well as cats. In addition, Totally Vets shares that pets that walk over this plant may experience allergic dermatitis. When this happens, your dog may get little bumps, dry skin, hair loss, and redness in his abdomen, groin, and other affected areas.
What to do if your dog accidentally comes into contact with, chews, or eats wandering Jew plants: Contact your veterinarian to request for topical medication that will soothe his skin. Moreover, if he ate a portion of the plant, inform your vet. Monitor him for possible poisoning, which can range from digestive to respiratory complications.
Common poisoning signs include diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, pale gums, agitation, and nausea. Tremors, convulsions, unsteadiness on feet, abnormal heart rate, and difficulty in breathing may also be seen. If needed, bring a portion of the wandering Jew plant to the vet clinic for a more comprehensive assessment.
In summary: Pet owners should not grow Wandering Jew plants. Dogs, cats, and even humans may experience allergic dermatitis every time they come into contact with the plant.
Before you consider receiving a bouquet of flowers or buying a new houseplant, check out these lists by ASPCA, PetMD, and Pet Poison Helpline. They’ll help you determine which ones are safe and toxic for dogs.
References:
Tradescantia zebrina – Wikipedia
Dog poisoning: Signs of poisoning in dogs and what you need to do
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