Poison control veterinarians can tell you in minutes whether this is an emergency.
Both lines are answered 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
These plants can cause organ failure, seizures, or death. Treat any contact as an emergency and call right away.
Cycas revoluta
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts — especially seeds (nuts)
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Seizures Liver failure Death
One of the most dangerous plants for pets. Even 1-2 seeds can be fatal. Immediate emergency care required.
Nerium oleander
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: All parts including dried leaves and water from vase
Symptoms: Heart arrhythmia Vomiting Drooling Tremors Death
Common landscaping shrub in warm climates. All parts are deadly — even water that flowers have been in.
Also known as: English Yew, Japanese Yew
Taxus spp.
Affects: dogs, cats, horses, birds
Toxic part: All parts except the red berry flesh (seeds inside are toxic)
Symptoms: Sudden collapse Difficulty breathing Heart failure Death
A common ornamental shrub. Symptoms can appear rapidly and death may occur before any treatment. Emergency care required immediately.
Also known as: Cowbane, Wild Parsnip
Cicuta spp.
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially roots
Symptoms: Grand mal seizures Frothing at mouth Muscle tremors Rapid death
Found near streams, ponds, and wet meadows. Considered one of the most violently toxic plants in North America.
Ricinus communis
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Seeds (beans)
Symptoms: Severe abdominal pain Vomiting Internal bleeding Kidney failure Death
Contains ricin, one of the most toxic naturally occurring substances. Common as ornamental plant in warm climates.
Also known as: Meadow Saffron, Naked Lady
Colchicum autumnale
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially bulbs
Symptoms: Bloody vomiting Diarrhea Respiratory failure Kidney & liver damage Death
Do not confuse with spring crocuses (mildly toxic). Autumn crocus is extremely dangerous and can cause multi-organ failure.
Also known as: Wolfsbane, Aconite
Aconitum napellus
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially roots
Symptoms: Severe salivation Vomiting Heart arrhythmia Paralysis Death
Often used as a garden flower for its beautiful blue/purple blooms. One of the most toxic plants in Europe and North America.
Anticlea elegans / Zigadenus spp.
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant
Symptoms: Salivation Staggering Convulsions Respiratory failure
Found in meadows and fields. Looks similar to wild onion but lacks the onion smell. Fatal to livestock and pets.
These plants usually cause serious discomfort and need a vet's guidance, especially for small pets, puppies, and kittens.
Digitalis purpurea
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially leaves and seeds
Symptoms: Vomiting Drooling Cardiac arrhythmia Weakness Tremors
Popular garden flower with tall purple/pink bell-shaped blooms. Source of the heart medication digitalis.
Rhododendron spp.
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially leaves
Symptoms: Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Low blood pressure Tremors Blindness
Extremely common in gardens and landscaping. Even eating a few leaves can cause serious illness.
Also known as: Daylily, Asiatic Lily
Lilium spp.
Affects: cats
Toxic part: Entire plant — leaves, petals, pollen, water from vase
Symptoms: Vomiting Lethargy Loss of appetite Acute kidney failure
EXTREMELY toxic to cats — even licking pollen off fur can cause kidney failure. Daylilies are also toxic to cats but not classified as Lilium. Much less toxic to dogs.
Lantana camara
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Leaves, unripe berries
Symptoms: Vomiting Jaundice Weakness Liver failure
Common ornamental shrub with colorful flowers. Unripe green berries are most toxic.
Also known as: Jonquil, Paperwhite
Narcissus spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Bulbs (highest concentration), leaves, flowers
Symptoms: Vomiting Salivation Diarrhea Low blood pressure Tremors Cardiac arrhythmia
A very common spring bulb. Bulbs are most dangerous — dogs often dig and chew them.
Tulipa spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Bulbs (most toxic), stems, leaves
Symptoms: Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Depression Cardiac problems
Bulbs are the most toxic part. Toxicity is higher in large quantities.
Kalmia latifolia
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially leaves and flowers
Symptoms: Salivation Depression Vomiting Low blood pressure Coma
Native to eastern US woodlands and very common in gardens. State flower of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Also known as: Inkberry, American Nightshade
Phytolacca americana
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Roots (most toxic), berries, leaves
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Anemia Respiratory depression Low blood pressure
Large wild plant with distinctive dark purple berries. Birds eat berries safely but they are toxic to pets and humans.
Juglans nigra
Affects: dogs, horses
Toxic part: Hulls of nuts, moldy nuts
Symptoms: Vomiting Tremors Weakness Seizures (from mold toxins)
Fresh nuts are less toxic; moldy or old nuts produce tremorgenic mycotoxins that are very dangerous to dogs.
Hedera helix
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Leaves and berries (berries most toxic)
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Drooling Abdominal pain Difficulty breathing
Very common ground cover and houseplant. Berries cause the most severe reactions.
Wisteria spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Seeds and pods
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Low blood pressure Depression
Beautiful vine with cascading purple flowers. Seed pods look appealing but are toxic.
Also known as: Belladonna, Black Nightshade
Solanum nigrum / Atropa belladonna
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially unripe berries
Symptoms: Hypersalivation Vomiting Diarrhea Dilated pupils Slow heart rate Confusion
Found in disturbed soil, roadsides, and garden edges. Berries look attractive to dogs.
Moderate
Wild Plant
No machine-readable author provided. Taka assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0
Also known as: Datura, Thorn Apple, Devil's Trumpet
Datura stramonium
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially seeds
Symptoms: Dilated pupils Rapid heart rate Dry mouth Confusion Seizures
Common weed in disturbed areas, fields, and roadsides. Large, spiky seed pods are distinctive.
These plants usually cause drooling or stomach upset. Call your vet if symptoms persist or your pet seems unwell.
Mild
Houseplant
Collage by en:User:MidgleyDJ, original images from Wikimedia commons (Image:Aloe_vera_offsets.jpg and Image:Aloe_vera_C.jpg) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Aloe barbadensis miller
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Latex layer (under the skin, surrounding the gel)
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy Tremors (in large amounts)
Very common houseplant. The clear gel is not toxic, but the latex beneath the skin is. Keep out of reach.
Also known as: Devil's Ivy, Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts
Symptoms: Mouth irritation Drooling Vomiting Difficulty swallowing
One of the most popular houseplants. Causes oral irritation and intense burning if chewed. Keep out of reach of cats that chew plants.
Philodendron spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts
Symptoms: Oral burning Drooling Vomiting Swelling of mouth/tongue
Very common houseplant. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate pain and burning.
Also known as: Dumb Cane
Dieffenbachia spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant
Symptoms: Intense oral pain Drooling Swollen tongue Difficulty swallowing Vomiting
Causes intense oral pain and swelling — enough to temporarily impair speech in humans. Keep away from pets that chew.
Also known as: Mums, Daisy
Chrysanthemum spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts — especially flowers
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Drooling Incoordination Skin rash (on contact)
Very common garden and houseplant. Usually causes GI upset rather than serious illness.
Crocus vernus
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea
Mildly toxic (unlike Autumn Crocus which is severe). Causes gastrointestinal upset. Blooms in spring.
Also known as: Money Plant, Dollar Plant
Crassula ovata
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: Entire plant
Symptoms: Vomiting Lethargy Incoordination Depression
Common succulent houseplant. Mechanism of toxicity is unknown but causes consistent GI and neurological signs.
Also known as: Mauna Loa
Spathiphyllum spp.
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts
Symptoms: Mouth irritation Drooling Vomiting Difficulty swallowing
One of the top 10 most popular houseplants — contains calcium oxalate crystals. Despite the name, it is NOT a true lily and does not cause kidney failure like Lilium species.
Also known as: Mother-in-Law's Tongue, Sansevieria
Dracaena trifasciata
Affects: dogs, cats
Toxic part: All parts
Symptoms: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea
Popular low-maintenance houseplant. Saponins cause mild GI upset. Rarely causes serious illness.
Asclepias syriaca
Affects: dogs, cats, horses
Toxic part: Entire plant — especially fresh leaves
Symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Weakness Possible seizures in large amounts
Important monarch butterfly habitat plant. Found in fields, meadows, and roadsides. Large amounts cause more serious symptoms.
