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Snake plant: toxicity, first aid and care
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata)): toxic for cats, toxic for dogs, irritant for small children. The toxic principle, the signs, what to do, and how to grow it.
Cats: ToxicDogs: ToxicChildren: Irritant
Also sold as: Mother-in-law's tongue, sansevieria, anoppikieli.
This is a reference table, not a diagnosis and not veterinary or medical advice. It cannot tell you how much of a plant matters for a particular child or a particular animal — that depends on body weight, on the part eaten and on how long ago. If a person or an animal has eaten part of a plant, phone the poison information centre or a clinician; do not wait for symptoms, and do not make anyone vomit unless you are told to.
What is in it
Toxic principle: Saponins — Saponins.
Saponins are soap-like compounds that irritate the lining of the gut and, in enough quantity, break down red blood cells. In practice a chewed leaf produces gut upset rather than anything systemic, but the leaves are fibrous and a cat that swallows strips of one can also get a mechanical problem.
What it looks like when it goes wrong
Drooling, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, usually within a few hours. Cats sometimes show it mainly as unhappy retching. A tough fibrous leaf that will not pass can cause repeated vomiting over days, which is the version that needs a vet.
What to do
Phone a veterinary clinic if vomiting repeats, if the animal is off food, or if you saw a substantial amount go down. Most cases settle at home with water and a quiet evening.
| Country | Poison information centre | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Mürgistusteabekeskus (Health Board) | 16662 | Round the clock; 112 for an emergency |
| Finland | Myrkytystietokeskus (HUS) | 0800 147 111 | Free, round the clock |
| Latvia | Saindēšanās un zāļu informācijas centrs | 67042473 | Round the clock |
| Sweden | Giftinformationscentralen | 010-456 67 00 | Non-urgent advice; 112 in an emergency |
| Norway | Giftinformasjonen | 22 59 13 00 | Round the clock |
| Denmark | Giftlinjen (Bispebjerg Hospital) | 82 12 12 12 | Round the clock |
Anywhere in the European Union, 112 reaches emergency services and can put you through. Lithuania's poison information bureau (Apsinuodijimų kontrolės ir informacijos biuras) publishes its own round-the-clock line; if you do not have it to hand, use 112. For an animal, your own veterinary clinic or its out-of-hours service is the first call — human poison centres do not advise on animals in every country.
How to grow it
| Condition | What it wants |
|---|---|
| Light | Anything from a sunny sill to a dark corner |
| Water | Every two to four weeks; less in winter |
| Temperature | 15-27 °C; keep it above 10 °C |
Close to indestructible provided you underwater it. Rot from the base is the only common cause of death, and it comes from watering into the crown or watering in a cold room. Propagate by splitting the clump; leaf cuttings work but variegated forms lose their yellow edge that way, coming back plain green.
What it gets confused with
The genus changed in 2017 — molecular work folded Sansevieria into Dracaena, so the same plant is sold under both names and both are correct depending on the label's age. It is also widely sold with the claim that it "cleans indoor air"; the underlying chamber experiments do not scale to a room, and a house plant is worth having for better reasons.
A plant that is not on the toxic lists
If you are deciding what to keep in a home with a cat, a dog or a small child, this one fills a similar role and is not flagged by the veterinary services.
Others that work the same way
Saponins — these behave alike, and what you would do about them is alike too.
Aloe vera
Anthraquinone glycosides (aloin) and saponins in the latex
Cyclamen
Terpenoid saponins (cyclamin), concentrated in the tuber
Dracaena
Saponins
English ivy
Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin glycosides); falcarinol on skin
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — toxic and non-toxic plants · checked 2026-09-06
Care guidance is standard horticultural practice for a cool-temperate northern climate. Poison-centre numbers are listed on the hub page and are worth confirming against your own country's health service.
Frequently asked questions
Is snake plant toxic to cats?
The veterinary lists rate it "toxic" for cats and "toxic" for dogs. The toxic principle is saponins. Saponins are soap-like compounds that irritate the lining of the gut and, in enough quantity, break down red blood cells. In practice a chewed leaf produces gut upset rather than anything systemic, but the leaves are fibrous and a cat that swallows strips of one can also get a mechanical problem.
What should I do if my dog eats snake plant?
Phone a veterinary clinic if vomiting repeats, if the animal is off food, or if you saw a substantial amount go down. Most cases settle at home with water and a quiet evening.
Is snake plant dangerous for a small child?
The verdict for a child who chews or swallows part of it is "irritant" — milder than for a cat, which is the household member this plant affects most. In a child the expected problem is a sore mouth and an upset stomach. Phone the poison information centre with the plant to hand; they will tell you whether it needs to be seen.
How do you care for snake plant?
Light: Anything from a sunny sill to a dark corner. Water: Every two to four weeks; less in winter. Temperature: 15-27 °C; keep it above 10 °C. Close to indestructible provided you underwater it. Rot from the base is the only common cause of death, and it comes from watering into the crown or watering in a cold room.
What is snake plant confused with?
The genus changed in 2017 — molecular work folded Sansevieria into Dracaena, so the same plant is sold under both names and both are correct depending on the label's age. It is also widely sold with the claim that it "cleans indoor air"; the underlying chamber experiments do not scale to a room, and a house plant is worth having for better reasons.
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