Rubber fig is slightly toxic for dogs
Ficus elastica 
The rubber fig (Ficus elastica) is a very popular houseplant that can be found as a low-maintenance and evergreen classic in living rooms and offices. The evergreen small tree has large green and slightly leathery leaves. It is a member of the Moraceae family and is native to India, Nepal, Burma, Malaysia, Bangladesh, China and Australia. In its native habitat, it can reach a height of 20-25 metres, but in Europe it tends to remain at room height. As a houseplant, it does not flower, but in its homelands it bears small figs that can turn orange-red.
Like the rubber tree, the rubber fig has a whitish sap in its trunk and leaves, from which natural rubber can be extracted for rubber production.
All parts of the rubber tree are slightly poisonous, but especially the milky sap, which can cause allergies in dogs.
Rubber fig is also known as:
- rubber bush
- rubber tree
- rubber plant
- Indian rubber bush
- Indian rubber tree
What should I do if my dog ate Rubber fig?
How toxic is Rubber fig?
| Toxicity: | (slightly toxic) |
| Toxic parts: | All parts of the rubber tree are slightly poisonous, but especially the milky sap, which can cause allergies in dogs. |
| Toxic time: | winter, spring, summer, autumn |
| Antidote: | Unknown |
If your dog shows symptoms of poisoning, it is always an emergency! Time is critical for your dog's life. You should immediately call your vet or the animal emergency services and make sure that a vet is on site and then go there immediately. For the treatment, it helps the vet a lot to know what your dog has ingested.
Occurrence Rubber fig
| Plant species: | tree, Indoor plant |
| Occurrence: | Indoor |
| Areas: | Asia |
| Flowering time: | - |
| Fruit ripening: | - |
Symptoms
The following symptoms may occur in case of poisoning with the rubber fig (Ficus elastica):
- allergic skin reactions
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
In case of a severe poisoning, the following symptoms may also occur:
- cramps
- paralysis
- shortness of breath
- death may occur due to respiratory paralysis
Treatment
The vet will always try to remove the ingested poison from the body and alleviate the specific symptoms of poisoning.
There are different methods to remove the poison from the body:
1. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Activated charcoal can absorb toxins. If possible, it should be administered within 2 hours after ingestion of the poison, so that the toxin does not enter the bloodstream.
2. LAXATIVES: The vet may combine the administration of activated charcoal with a laxative.
3. VOMITING: The vet can also induce vomiting using medication to remove the toxin from the body.
If the symptoms of poisoning are very severe, the vet may administer infusions and anticonvulsant medication.
More information on dog poisonings can be found here:
Preventing, identifying and treating poisoning in dogs
Further poisonous plants from A to Z
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