Horsehead Philodendron
Philodendron bipennifolium · Araceae
How it looks
Horsehead Philodendron is a vining foliage plant whose leaves become deeply lobed as they grow, taking on a horse-head or fiddle shape. Young leaves are a simple arrowhead shape and become lobed at maturity. The leaves are 12–20 in (30–50 cm), and it is trained up poles.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Horsehead Philodendron contain irritating compounds that can cause drooling and vomiting if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Horsehead Philodendron rarely leads to serious trouble, but its insoluble calcium oxalate crystals can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Philodendron bipennifolium
- Common name
- Horsehead Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
