Protect your pets: Common toxic plants to avoid

Many common outdoor plants in the UK can pose serious risks to our pets. Whether you have a dog, cat, horse, or rabbit, it’s essential to understand which plants could harm them. From household favourites like lilies to garden staples such as foxglove, knowing the dangers can help keep your pets safe.

So, what plants are dangerous to pets? Let’s take a closer look.

Jump to:
Common toxic outdoor plants for pets
How to tell if your pet ate a toxic plant
What to do if your pet’s eaten a toxic plant
How do vets treat plant poisoning?
How to keep your garden or outdoor space safe for your pets

Common toxic outdoor plants for pets in the UK

1. Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)

Toxic to: Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses

Looks like: Tall plant, 30 to 100 cm tall, with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers blooming from June to November. Bushy with soft, feathery green leaves, it grows in fields, roadsides, and poor soils.

Ragwort is a common weed in the UK, but it’s more dangerous than it looks. For grazing animals like horses and rabbits, it can cause serious, irreversible liver damage. Even your pets, like dogs and cats, can get sick if they eat it. You’re unlikely to find it in your garden, but if you’ve got horses or ponies, keeping ragwort out of their grazing areas is a must.

2. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Toxic to: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits

Looks like: A striking plant with tall spikes of tubular, bell-shaped flowers in purple, pink, white, or yellow, often with speckled patterns. Its lance-shaped green leaves form a rosette at the base.

Foxglove is a striking addition to any garden, but it poses a serious risk to pets. This plant contains cardiac glycosides, compounds that can disrupt heart function and lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and severe heart issues. Even a small amount can be highly dangerous. If you have pets, it’s best to avoid planting it.

3. Yew (Taxus baccata)

Toxic to: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits

Looks like: An evergreen tree or shrub with dense, dark green foliage and soft, needle-like leaves. It produces small, red, toxic berry-like fruits. Yews are often found in hedgerows, gardens, and churchyards.

Yew trees and shrubs are widespread across the UK but are highly toxic to animals. Every part of the plant, except for the flesh of the berries, holds harmful alkaloids known as taxines. These compounds can cause severe poisoning in dogs, cats, and other animals, with symptoms including drooling, vomiting, tremors, and, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest.

4. Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Toxic to: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits

Looks like: Its fern-like appearance and clusters of small white flowers can make it difficult to distinguish from harmless plants.

Hemlock, commonly found in damp areas such as riverbanks, is highly toxic and poses a serious threat to animals. Its potent toxins can lead to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death. Ingestion of even a small amount can be fatal to pets, making it one of the most dangerous plants to avoid.

5. Lilies (Lilium species)

Toxic to: Cats, dogs, rabbits

Looks like: Known for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colours, including white, orange, pink, and yellow. They typically grow from tall, slender stems, with elongated, glossy green leaves arranged alternately.

Lilies are undeniably beautiful, but they pose a serious danger to pets, particularly cats. Even minimal exposure, like brushing against the pollen or drinking water from a vase holding lilies – can lead to kidney failure in cats. While less toxic to dogs, lilies can still cause digestive upset. If you have cats or house rabbits at home, it’s best to steer clear of lilies altogether.

6. Rhubarb Leaves (Rheum rhabarbarum)

Toxic to: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits

Looks like: Leaves are large, wide, and slightly heart-shaped with a rich green colour. They have a crinkled or wavy texture and grow on thick, reddish stalks. The stalks are often the most prominent feature of the plant.

Rhubarb, a popular garden plant, has toxic leaves that are especially harmful to pets like rabbits, and guinea pigs. The high levels of oxalates can lead to kidney failure and serious calcium depletion in animals.

For further reading:
List of plants toxic to dogs
List of plants toxic to cats
List of plants toxic to horses
List of plants toxic to rabbits

How to tell if your pet ate a toxic plant

Symptoms of plant toxicity can look different depending on what kind of pet you have. Here’s a quick guide to help you spot some of the signs so you can get them to the vet ASAP.

Signs your dog ate a toxic plant

Right away (within minutes to hours):
You might notice vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, trouble breathing, tiredness, or even seizures.

Later on (hours to days):
Signs of liver damage could show up, like yellowing skin (jaundice), stomach pain, vomiting, fatigue, or neurological issues.

Signs your cat ate a toxic plant

Right away (within minutes to hours):
You might notice vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, trouble breathing, extreme tiredness, or even seizures.

Later on (hours to days):
Watch for signs like swelling, feeling really sluggish, peeing less than usual (which could mean kidney issues), or even some neurological changes.

Signs your horse ate a toxic plant

Right away (within minutes to hours):
Watch for colic, sweating, a rapid heartbeat, or tremors.

Later on (hours to days):
You might notice neurological issues like seizures, tremors, or confusion. Other signs include trouble breathing, liver problems like vomiting, diarrhoea, or jaundice, and even lethargy.

Signs your rabbit ate a toxic plant

Right away (within minutes to hours):
Look out for diarrhoea, bloating, or a loss of appetite.

Later on (hours to days):
Lethargy or trouble breathing can be signs something’s wrong.

What to do if your pet’s eaten a toxic plant

Sometimes, accidents happen, no matter how careful we are. If you’re worried your pet nibbled on a harmful plant, try these steps:

• Gently remove any plant bits from their mouth (but only if it’s safe).
• Call your vet ASAP and let them know what plant it was and any symptoms you’ve noticed.
• Don’t make your pet vomit unless your vet tells you to.
• Bring a piece of the plant with you to the vet – it’ll help them figure out the toxin faster.
• You can also call the Animal Poison Line on 01202 509 000

How do vets treat plant poisoning?

It really depends on the plant and how bad the symptoms are. Here’s what vets might do:

• Make your pet vomit or use activated charcoal to soak up the toxins.
• Give IV fluids to keep them hydrated.
• Use medications to handle things like seizures or heart problems.
• Hospitalise them if it’s a serious case.

How to keep your garden or outdoor space safe for your pets

It’s easier to remove harmful plants than to stop your pets from exploring every inch of the garden. Here’s how to make your outdoor space safe:

• First, figure out which plants are toxic to your pet. You’ll find a comprehensive list of toxic plants at the top of this page. If you spot any, pull them out completely – roots and all!
• If you can’t remove the plant, you’ll need to fence off the area.
• When planning your garden, go for pet-friendly options like marigolds, ferns, or roses.
• Keep an eye on your pets when they’re outside to make sure they don’t accidentally munch on something they shouldn’t.

By following these steps, you can have a garden that’s not just beautiful but also safe for your pets. Putting in a little effort now can save you a lot of stress later, so your pet can enjoy the outdoors without any worries!