It is important to know if chewing on a dragon tree is dangerous to your furry (or non-furry) friend. In this article I discuss the toxicity of dragon tress.
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Dragon Trees Are Toxic To Many Common Pets
The dragon tree is, arguably, the most popular dracaena plant that is grown in the US. Although some areas of America are suitable for growing dracaena outdoors most are not and so you are more likely to see dragon trees growing as houseplants rather than yard plants.
So, being an indoor plant dragon trees are usually easily accessible to pets.
Before we venture into the toxicity of dragon trees I must first outline exactly what a dragon tree is. Why? Because there is more than one!
As I pointed out in my last article, is the dragon tree poisonous to humans, there are two types of plant that are commonly called The Dragon Tree.
The 2 types of dragon tree are:
- The Dracaena Marginata. Also called the Madagascar Dragon Tree, the Dracaena Dragon Tree and the Dracaena Palm (though it is not a palm tree).
- The Dracaena Cinnabari. Also called the Dragon Blood Tree and the Socotra Dragon Tree.
Both types of dragon tree belong to the genus of plant known as dracaena and both have similar properties and identical care requirements.
Therefore you don’t need to know which particular species of dragon tree you own as they both have the same toxicity levels for certain animal species.
Let’s take a look at those toxicity levels now as they relate to specific animal species that are commonly kept as pets.
Dragon trees are poisonous to all felines
As I own several cats I will address the question of dragon tree toxicity as it relates to felines first. Are dragon trees toxic to cats?
Dragon trees are very toxic to cats.
Although brushing against the plant will not harm a feline, ingesting any part of the plant will result in illness.
There could be serious symptoms that include vomiting (with or without blood), anxiety, hyper-salivation, lethargy and severe loss of appetite.
A cat that has eaten dragon tree and is displaying any of these symptoms needs immediate veterinary care.
As I mentioned above both dragon trees are members of the dracaena family.
Keep in mind that not just the dragon tree is dangerous to felines, all dracaena plants are poisonous to cats.
What happens when a cat eats a dragon tree
What can you expect to happen if your cat eats the foliage or other parts of your dragon tree?
If a cat eats a dragon tree it will experience dracaena poisoning.
The cat can display all or some of these symptoms – vomiting (with or without blood), anxiety, hyper-salivation, lethargy and severe loss of appetite.
In extreme cases eating dragon tree can be fatal.
You will need to take your cat to a vet if it is displaying any of the symptoms mentioned above as dracaena is extremely toxic to felines and dracaena poisoning can be fatal for a cat.
You will also need to take the steps outlined below to ensure your cat stays away from your dragon tree (and other dracaena plants) in the future.
Why your cat keeps eating your dragon tree
I often get asked by pet owners, “why does my cat keep eating my dragon tree?
The answer is simple.
Your cat is eating your dragon tree because it needs fiber (which it often gets from eating grass and plants).
You should take immediate action to stop your cat doing this as dragon tree is poisonous to felines!
As a cat is unable to digest foliage and grass these substances move through the digestive tract giving the cat the ability to digest food better and pass stool.
Thus they act as a form of fiber.
The cat’s natural instinct is to eat these substances to help with digestion.
Be aware that while grass is perfectly safe for a cat, all parts of a dragon tree are highly toxic to all felines.
You should take immediate action to stop your cat eating it and get it to a vet if it is displaying symptoms of being poisoned.
How to keep a cat away from a dragon tree
Dragon trees are poisonous to felines so it is important that you keep your cat away from any dragon tree houseplants or garden plants that you own.
It is therefore essential to take immediate action to deter your cat from eating your dragon tree if it has shown any sign of interest in the plant (or even if he hasn’t).
To keep a cat away from a dragon tree you should start by spraying the foliage with a pet and plant safe oil that is strongly scented, such as lemongrass, eucalyptus or similar.
Cats hate the smell of citrus. So place citrus fruit skin peelings around the pot or even on the soil at the side of the pot.
If placing citrus skin in the pot directly be sure that it is completely dry before you do so as you do not want acidic juices seeping into the plant soil.
You can also use cayenne pepper as a cat deterrent by sprinkling some on the leaves of a dragon tree.
I prefer to use a citrus spray, like this one, as it not only acts a cat and dog deterrent but it also help repel pests that like to feed on your dragon tree.
If neither citrus nor cayenne pepper discourages your cat from venturing to the dracaena and investigating it, then you can use whatever fragrance your particular cat dislikes.
If all these measures fail to deter your cat then you are better giving away your dragon tree or moving it to an area where your cats have zero access.
Are all dracaena poisonous to cats?
If dragon trees are poisonous to cats does that mean that the other 118 species of dracaena are poison to a cat as well?
All 120 species of dracaena are poisonous to cats.
If a feline eats any part of the plant in a large enough quantity it will lead to some or all of the following symptoms: vomiting (sometimes with blood), anxiety, hyper-salivation, loss of appetite and lethargy.
If left untreated dracaena poisoning can be fatal to a cat.
Your cat will suffer no ill effects if it brushes against a dragon plant but the natural urge to bite into the stems or eat the foliage is strong.
So, it is important to take steps to keep your feline friend away from all dracaena plants you own – both indoor houseplants and yard plants.
Remember: all parts of every dracaena plant are toxic to cats.
Dragon tree toxicity and dogs
So, cats are in danger of serious illness if they eat dragon tree but what about dogs, is a dragon tree poisonous to dogs?
Dragon trees are very toxic to dogs.
Brushing against the plant will not harm a canine but ingesting any part of the plant will result in illness and serious symptoms that could include: vomiting (with or without blood); anxiety; hyper-salivation; lethargy; and severe loss of appetite.
A dog that has eaten dragon tree and is displaying any of these symptoms needs immediate veterinary care.
Dragon trees are dracaena and it should therefore be noted that, as all dracaena plants are toxic to dogs, you must take steps to ensure your dog does not eat any species of dracaena plant.
It can be a concern if your dog sometimes chews on your dragon tree
Should you allow your dog to nibble on dragon tree foliage … can dogs eat dragon tree?
Dogs should not be allowed to eat any part of a dragon tree. Both types of dragon tree are members of the dracaena family and dracaena is highly toxic to dogs.
Ingesting large enough quantities can be fatal.
Never let your dog consume any part of a dragon tree.
You should take the steps outlined below to discourage the dog from going anywhere near the plant to prevent possible ingestion and poisoning.
Safety concerns about growing dracaena if you own a dog
Many pets owners wonder if dracaena is safe to grow dracaena if you have a dog in your home.
Can dogs be around dracaena?
Dogs can be around dracaena as long as they do not eat any part of the plant.
A dog will suffer no ill effects from being in the same room as a dracaena or even from rubbing against the plant.
However, a dog should not be allowed to eat dracaena as it is poisonous to canines.
If any part of the plant is ingested the dog will suffer severe symptoms such as vomiting (which may contain blood), anxiety, hyper-salivation, lethargy, and severe loss of appetite.
In some instances consuming dracaena can be fatal for a canine.
A dog that has eaten dracaena and has symptoms of poisoning needs immediate veterinary care.
If you keep any type of dracaena plant in your home or garden and you own a dog then you must take steps to ensure the dog does not eat any part of the plant.
Let’s see how you can do that.
How to stop your dog eating your dragon tree
The process for keeping a dog away from your dragon tree is the same process used to deter cats.
To keep dogs away from your dragon trees start by spraying the foliage with a pet-and-plant-safe strongly scented oil. This will deter the dog from eating the foliage.
You should also sprinkle dry but strongly scented citrus skin around the base of the pot to deter the dog from digging up the soil.
Oils to use for your foliage spray should be both plant safe and pet safe. Good oils to use are lemongrass, peppermint, citrus oils, lavender, cedarwood and eucalyptus.
I use a good quality scented insecticide spray as this will help keep pests that feed on the plant at bay, as well as deterring your dog from eating the plant.
If your dog persists in investigating your dragon tree or other dracaena plants despite all your efforts, it may be advisable to give the plant to a non-pet owner.
Alternatively, place it in a location that the dog cannot gain access to.
Just be aware of the light requirements of dracaena plants and don’t stick it in some dark corner of your home.
Rabbits will happily eat dragon tree but is it safe to let them?
Is dragon tree poisonous to rabbits?
The dragon tree, like all other species of dracaena, are not known to be poisonous to rabbits.
However, a rabbit should be given a well-balanced diet and not fed only on dragon tree.
Feeding a rabbit only dragon tree can result in digestive issues.
Some reptile owners feed their pets dragon tree
Although something is common that doesn’t always mean its the right thing to do.
Just because some reptile owners feed their reptiles a specific diet that does not always mean it is the correct diet.
So, is dragon tree safe for reptiles?
The dragon tree, like all other species of dracaena, are completely safe for reptiles.
However, a reptile should always be given a well-balanced diet and not fed only on dragon tree.
Are dragon tree berries poisonous?
What about the berries of a dragon tree … are they safe to eat?
Dragon tree berries are not poisonous to humans but are highly toxic to certain animals.
Cats, dogs and horses should not be allowed to eat dragon tree berries as they can become seriously ill and it can even be fatal.
Many people will eat the berries from different dracaena plants (dragon tree is a dracaena) as the berries have a tomato-like taste.
Dracaena Draco, Dracaena Cinnabari, berries are often eaten in the Canary Islands raw as either an accompaniment (with a salad for example) or as an ingredient in a cooked dish.
