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Plants / Araceae / African mask plant / Toxic to dogs

Is african mask plant toxic to dogs?

Alocasia × mortfontanensis

Yes

Yes. African mask plant is toxic to dogs. The agent is insoluble calcium oxalates. Call your vet if a dog has eaten any.

Poison severity not graded No authority we cite publishes a severity grade for this species. The reported signs are below instead of a number we would have to invent.
If your dog has eaten some
  1. Take any remaining plant material out of their mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
  2. Call someone. Your own vet first. Otherwise ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 — both charge a fee.
  3. Take a photo of the plant, and note roughly how much was eaten and when. It is the first thing you will be asked.
  4. Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.

What it does, and why

The agent is insoluble calcium oxalates.

Needle-shaped crystals called raphides sit under pressure in the plant tissue. Chewing fires them into the lining of the mouth and tongue, where they embed mechanically.

Pain is immediate rather than delayed, which is why most animals stop after one bite. That self-limiting bite is the reason these cases usually stay mild.

Worth watching for. The uncommon serious case is swelling that affects breathing or swallowing.

Reported signs

Signs as listed by the ASPCA under Alocasia spp.. Not every animal shows all of them.

What each authority says

What each authority says
ASPCA — genus-level entry: Alocasia spp.
Toxic to cats and dogs · insoluble calcium oxalates
NC State Extension
Entry exists and records no poison data.

What to keep instead

Species in this database listed non-toxic to cats and dogs, chosen for a similar look or similar care rather than at random.

PlantFamilyWaterDifficulty
Watermelon peperomiaPeperomia argyreia Piperaceae 7–14d 2/5
Rattlesnake plantGoeppertia lancifolia Marantaceae 4–8d 3/5

Swapping the plant is the only measure that reliably works. Height and hanging baskets buy less time than people expect with a determined cat.

The other animal

Looking for cats? See is african mask plant toxic to cats. Full care details are on the african mask plant species entry.

Sources

  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Alocasia spp. Checked 2026-09-12.
  2. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Alocasia × mortfontanensis (consulted; entry exists and records no poison data.) Checked 2026-09-12.
  3. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Alocasia × mortfontanensis Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-12.
  4. Wikidata entity Q113251886 — entity identity, so this record can be matched against other databases.
  5. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — emergency line, fee applies

Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a veterinarian. Severity is reproduced from the authority that published it and is never originated here. How this is sourced.
This page is a reference, not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call rather than read.