ADULTPLANTS
Plants / Euphorbiaceae / Croton / Toxic to dogs

Is croton toxic to dogs?

Codiaeum variegatum

Yes

Yes. Croton is toxic to dogs, graded low severity by NC State Extension. The agent is diterpene esters in the latex. Call your vet if a dog has eaten any.

Poison severity Low as published by the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Their grade, not ours.
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 diterpene esters in the latex.

The white latex is a potent direct irritant to any membrane it touches.

Severe mouth pain from eating and blistering on skin.

Worth watching for. Eyes are the real emergency here. Latex rubbed into an eye can damage the cornea, and that warrants same-day attention, not watchful waiting.

Reported signs

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

What each authority says

What each authority says
ASPCA
No record page found under any name tested.
NC State Extension
Poison severity: Low · Diterpene esters · TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Allergic dermatitis with skin rash developing after repeated contact. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea when ingested.

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
Polka dot plantHypoestes phyllostachya Acanthaceae 4–7d 2/5

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 croton toxic to cats. Full care details are on the croton species entry.

Sources

  1. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Codiaeum variegatum Checked 2026-09-12.
  2. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Codiaeum variegatum Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-12.
  3. Wikidata entity Q1345646 — entity identity, so this record can be matched against other databases.
  4. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Codiaeum variegatum Cultivation record. Checked 2026-09-12.
  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.