Is Thai Constellation toxic to dogs?

Is Monstera Thai Constellation Toxic to Dogs?

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What is Thai constellation?      Toxicity     Symptoms     First aid     Treatment     Prognosis

Thai Constellation is toxic to dogs. The toxic principles are insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that penetrate the delicate tissues of the mouth and throat, causing pain, burning, and swelling.

What is Thai Constellation?

Family Araceae
Botanical name Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’
Common names Thai constellation, Variegated Swiss cheese plant
Leaf colour Green and cream
Flower colour White
Toxicity Toxic to dogs
Toxic properties Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
Toxic parts All parts

Thai Constellation is a variegated Swiss Cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa), with stunning pale cream variegation in a marbled or blocky pattern. Each leaf is unique in its variegation, making this a truly remarkable plant. This relative newcomer to the plant world comes with a hefty price tag. A small plant sells for between $250 – $400, and larger plants start at $750.

What is Thai Constellation?

The unique pattern on the leaves is due to a genetic mutation in the meristem. This mutation results in a plant with two genotypes, one of which can produce chlorophyll, while the other cell line is unable to. The meristem is a type of tissue made up of undifferentiated cells that differentiate to form tissues of the plant.

Thai Constellations are commercially produced via tissue culture in a laboratory in Thailand (hence the name), but established plants can be propagated via stem cuttings.

Related: Can you grow variegated Monstera from seed?

Toxicity

Plants have evolved a number of mechanisms to protect themselves against herbivory. The Thai Constellation contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals arranged in bundles known as raphides. When the dog chews on any part of the plant, the raphides are released and penetrate the delicate tissues in the mouth causing acute pain, burning and in rare cases swelling.

Clinical signs

  • Drooling
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Swelling
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Difficulty breathing (rare)

Most dogs will stop chewing Thai Constellation due to the immediate pain they experience, and symptoms generally look more severe than they are. However, in some cases, the throat can swell, leading to difficulty breathing. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate veterinary care.

First aid

If it is safe to do so, remove any remaining plant matter from the dog’s mouth and offer a drink of something tasty such as milk. Caregivers should contact a veterinarian or pet poison helpline in the event of Thai Constellation ingestion. If the dog appears otherwise well, a wait-and-see approach may be recommended. Dogs experiencing moderate to severe symptoms should be taken to the nearest veterinary hospital.

Treatment

There is no antidote to Thai Constellation ingestion, and treatment is aimed at preventing further absorption and managing clinical signs. The veterinarian may induce vomiting to clear any remaining plant matter from the gastrointestinal tract followed by the administration of activated charcoal to bind to any remaining plant matter. Intravenous fluids will be given to dogs experiencing vomiting or diarrhea to prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte derangements.

Prophylactic diphenhydramine may be administered to reduce the risk of throat swelling which poses the biggest risk to animals who have ingested Thai Constellation.

Prognosis

The prognosis for Thai Constellation ingestion is good. There is one reported case of a dog who needed a tracheostomy due to airway obstruction caused by dieffenbachia ingestion. Thankfully this is rare and almost all dogs will make a full recovery. If you do have a particularly curious dog who is showing an interest in your Thai Constellation, move it off to a spot the dog cannot access it. This will not only keep the dog safe but also the plant. I recently saw a Facebook post where a kitten had almost destroyed a Monstera deliciosa ‘albo’ (another variegated Monstera). The kitten was fine, but the plant suffered considerable damage.