Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My dog ate Foxglove - what should I do?
Digitalis purpurea
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, weakness, tremors, and potential cardiac arrest.
Escalation note
Foxglove contains toxins that directly affect the heart muscle. Even small amounts can cause severe clinical signs. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog has consumed any part of this plant.
First aid at home
Transport to a veterinarian immediately. Do not induce vomiting at home unless poison-control specifically tells you to — the case needs IV fluids, ECG monitoring, and possibly digoxin-binding antibodies.
What to watch for
Nausea, vomiting (sometimes bloody), and diarrhea early; then weakness, tremors, an irregular or unusually slow pulse, collapse, and possible seizures. Cardiac effects can appear suddenly even after the initial GI signs seem to be improving.
Time window
Initial signs usually appear within minutes; some dogs only become unwell after an hour or two. Cardiac effects can persist and worsen for many hours, so monitoring well past the initial GI phase is essential.
When to call the vet
Call right away — ASPCA Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline — and head to an ER vet, even if your dog isn't yet showing signs. Foxglove ingestion needs cardiac monitoring before symptoms progress.
What this means for your dog
Dogs: emergency. Foxglove contains the same cardiac glycoside toxins (cardenolides) found in the human heart drug — at plant doses these directly disrupt heart-muscle electrolyte balance and can produce dangerous arrhythmias from a fairly small ingestion.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.