Taro Vine Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 5 min read| 3,325 found this helpful

1

Sharp insoluble calcium oxalate raphides in plant tissue cause immediate painful irritation on contact or ingestion.

2

Toxicity is confirmed for cats and dogs, while risk to horses remains unstudied and unknown.

3

High-dose ingestion can lead to neurological symptoms, cardiac arrhythmia, and permanent organ damage in affected humans or animals.

FAQ

Is Taro Vine toxic to Humans?

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling that may cause breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage. (Moderate)

Is Taro Vine toxic to Cats?

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling causing breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, poor coordination, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage. (Moderate)

Is Taro Vine toxic to Dogs?

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling causing breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, poor coordination, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage. (Moderate)

Is Taro Vine toxic to Horses?

No confirmed toxicity data or associated clinical symptoms are currently documented for this species. (Unknown)

Toxicity Details

Humans

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling that may cause breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage.

Cats

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling causing breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, poor coordination, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage.

Dogs

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, throat swelling causing breathing difficulty; high doses may lead to seizures, poor coordination, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and liver/kidney damage.

Horses

Unknown

No confirmed toxicity data or associated clinical symptoms are currently documented for this species.

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll parts of the plant are toxic

Exposure RouteIngestion of plant tissue, mucous membrane (mouth, eye, skin) contact with plant sap or chewed plant material

Toxic CompoundsInsoluble calcium oxalate crystals (raphides); Soluble oxalic acid and its salts; Dicarboxylic acids

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Remove all remaining plant material from the affected person/animal's mouth immediately, and rinse the mouth thoroughly with cool clean water.
• Offer small sips of cold water or plain milk to soothe irritated mucous membranes and help neutralize oxalate compounds.
• Closely monitor for signs of throat swelling, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, or bloody discharge in the first 30 minutes post-exposure.

Contact Vet Immediately

• If the exposed pet shows persistent drooling, inability to swallow, or signs of breathing difficulty after exposure.
• If severe symptoms including seizures, bloody vomit/stools, disorientation, or irregular heart rate develop post-ingestion.
• If a large quantity of the plant was ingested by a child, pet, or pet bird.

Prevention

• Keep the plant placed well out of reach of children, cats, dogs, and pet birds to avoid accidental ingestion or contact.
• Wear disposable gloves when pruning or handling the plant to avoid sap contact with skin or eyes.
• Educate all household members and pet caregivers about the plant's toxicity risk to prevent accidental exposure.

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform decontamination (induced vomiting under medical supervision if ingestion was recent, activated charcoal administration as indicated).
• Provide symptomatic care: pain relievers for irritation, antihistamines as needed, glucocorticoids to reduce severe throat/airway swelling.
• Administer calcium supplementation for very large ingestion cases, plus supportive care to protect liver and kidney function if high doses were consumed.

Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameEpipremnum aureum

AliasesGolden Pothos、Devil's Ivy、Devil's Vine、Ivy Arum

Toxicity Grade

HumansModerate

CatsModerate

DogsModerate

HorsesUnknown

Target Organs

Oral mucosaGastrointestinal tractLarynxPharynxLiverKidneysHeartUterus

Mechanism of Action

• Sharp needle-shaped calcium oxalate raphides pierce oral and gastrointestinal mucous membranes on contact, causing immediate pain, irritation, and swelling.

• Soluble oxalate compounds bind to circulating calcium in the body, potentially causing hypocalcemia, organ damage, and cardiac arrhythmia in high-dose ingestion cases.

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Birds: Severely toxic; ingestion can cause life-threatening symptoms including organ damage, seizures, and death even in small quantities.

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Heartleaf Philodendron Philodendron scandens

Both are common trailing houseplants with glossy heart-shaped green leaves; Golden Pothos has thicker, waxy leaves often with yellow variegation, while Heartleaf Philodendron has thinner, matte solid green leaves, and is also toxic.