Plants That Are Toxic for Dogs and Cats


If you have dogs and/or cats, it's very important to think about plants that are poisinous 

This list contains over 400 plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on animals and/or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. This list is not all inclusive, but rather a compliation of the most frequently encountered plants. 

If you believe that your pet is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your veterinarian right away.

Many plants that we have in our yards are toxic to dogs and cats. Keeping these plants out of your yard or out of the reach of your pets is important to keeping your pets safe. We will be adding to this list weekly through the month of February until it's complete.


Adam and Eve

Additional Common Names:

Scientific Name:
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles:
Clinical Signs:


African Wonder Tree


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:


Alocasia


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:

Aloe


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:

Amaryllis


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:

Ambrosia Mexicana


Additional Common Names:
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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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American Bittersweet


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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American Holly


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:

American Mandrake


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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American Yew


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Andromeda Japonica


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Angelica Tree


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Toxic to Dogs and Cats
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Clinical Signs:

Apple
Apricot
Arrow-Head Vine
Arum
Arum Lily
Australian Ivy Palm
Australian Nut
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Baby Doll Ti Plant
Barbados Aloe
Barbados Lily
Barbados Pride
Barbados Pride 2
Bay Laurel
Bead Tree
Begonia
Bergamot Orange
Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise 2
Bird of Paradise Flower
Bird's Tongue Flower
Bishop's Weed
Bitter Root
Black Calla
Black Cherry
Black Laurel
Black Nightshade
Black Walnut
Bobbins
Bog Laurel
Borage
Boxwood
Branching Ivy
Brazilwood
Bread and Butter Plant
Brunfelsia
Buckeye
Buckwheat
Buddhist Pine

Burning Bush

Additional Common Names: Wahoo, Spindle Tree
Scientific Name: Euonymus atropurpurea
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Alkaloids, Cardenolides
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness. Heart rhythm abnormalities with large doses.

Buttercup

Additional Common Names: Butter Cress, Figwart
Scientific Name: Ranunculus spp.
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Protoanemonin (an irritant)
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, oral ulcers and wobbly gait.

Butterfly Iris

Additional Common Names: Spuria Iris
Scientific Name: Iris spuria
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin)
Clinical Signs: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes.

Caladium

Additional Common Names: Malanga, Elephant's Ears, Stoplight, Seagull, Mother-in-law Plant, Pink Cloud, Texas Wonder, Angel-Wings, Exposition, Candidum, Fancy-leaved Caladium
Scientific Name: Caladium hortulanum
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Calamondin Orange

Scientific Name: Citrus mitis
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Essential oils and psoralens
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, potential photosensitivity (dermatitis)


California Ivy

Additional Common Names: Branching Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy, English Ivy
Scientific Name: Hedera helix
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Foliage is more toxic than berries.
Toxic Principles: Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin)
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea.


Calla Lily

Additional Common Names: Calla Lily, Pig Lily, White Arum, Trumpet Lily, Florist's Calla, Garden Calla, Arum Lily
Scientific Name: Zantedeschia aethiopica
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Cape Jasmine

Additional Common Names: Gardenia
Scientific Name: Gardenia jasminoides
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Genioposide, Gardenoside
Clinical Signs: Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, hives


Caraway

Additional Common Names: Meridian Fennel, Persian Cumin
Scientific Name: Carum carvi
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: oils, carvone and limonene
Clinical Signs: Mild vomiting and diarrhea


Cardboard Palm

Additional Common Names: cCardboard Plant, Cardboard Sago, Cardboard Cycad, Jamaican Sago and Mexican Cycad
Scientific Name: Zamia furfuracea
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Cycasin, B-methylamino-1-alanine
Clinical Signs: Vomiting (may be bloddy), dark stools, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, brusing, liver failure, death, 1-2 seeds can be fatal.

Cardinal Flower

Additional Common Names: Lobelia, Indian Pink
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
Toxic Principles: Lobeline
Clinical Signs: Depression, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances.




Carnation

Additional Common Names: Pinks, Wild Carnation, Sweet William
Scientific Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principle: Unknown irritant
Clinical Signs: Mild gastrointestinal signs, mild dermatitis


Castor Bean Plant

Additional Common Names: Castor Oil Plant, Mole Bean Plant, African Wonder Tree, Castor Bean
Scientific Name: Ricinus communis
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Access to ornamental plants or pruned foliage most common in poisonings.
Toxic Principles: Ricin
Ricin is a highly toxic component that inhibits protein synthesis; ingestion of as little as one ounce of seeds can be lethal. 
Clinical Signs: Beans are very toxic: oral irritation, burning of mouth and throat, increase in thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions. Seeds can be deadly. Signs typically develop 12 to 48 hours after ingestion, and include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness colic, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, progressive central nervous system depression, and fever. As syndrome progresses, bloody diarrhea may occur, and convulsions and coma can precede death.

Ceriman

Additional Common Names: Cutleaf Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant, Mexican Breadfruit
Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing


Chamomile

Additional Common Names: Manzanilla, Garden Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, True Chamomile, Corn Feverfew, Barnyard Daisy, Ground-apple, Turkey-weed
Scientific Name: Anthemis nobilis
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Volatile oil, bisabolol, chamazulene, anthemic acid, tannic acid
Clinical Signs: Contact dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, allergic reactions. Long-term use can lead to bleeding tendencies.

Chandelier Plant

Additional Common Names: Mother-In-Law Plant, Kalanchoe, Devils Backbone, Mother of Millions
Scientific Name: Kalanchoe tubiflora
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Bufodienolides
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm (rare)

Charming Dieffenbachia


Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia amoena
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates, proteolytic enzyme
Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing



Cherry

Scientific Name: Prunus spp.
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting
Toxic Principles: Cyanogenic glycosides
Clinical Signs: Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock

Chinaberry Tree

Additional Common Names: Bead Tree, China Ball Tree, Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, Japanese Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Pride-of-India
Scientific Name: Melia azedarach
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Ripe fruit ( berries) most toxic but also bark, leaves, and flowers
Toxic Principles: Tetranortriterpenes (meliatoxins)
Clinical Signs: Diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, depression, weakness, and seizures.

Chinese Evergreen


Scientific Name: Aglaonema modestrum
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Insoluble calcium oxalates
Clinical Signs: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Chinese Jade

Additional Common Names: Silver Jade Plant, Silver Dollar
Scientific Name: Crassula arborescens
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: Unknown
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, drunkeness (cats), tremors (rare)

Chives


Scientific Name: Allium schoenoprasum
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Toxic Principles: N-propyl disulfide
Clincial Signs: Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia), blook in urine, weakness, high heart rate, panting

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