Milkweed

Yes, milkweed (Asclepias species) is toxic to cats. All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides, and ingestion can cause serious systemic effects including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, cardiac arrhythmias or tremors.

Early signs include vomiting, profound depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea, typically appearing within the first 2 hours of exposure. Severe cases can progress to seizures, difficulty breathing, rapid weak pulse, dilated pupils, and in the worst cases, coma or respiratory paralysis. Signs can persist up to 4–5 days; do not treat any milkweed ingestion as mild GI upset.

Remove your cat from the plant and clear any leaves or sap from the mouth, then call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) immediately — don't wait for symptoms to appear. Do NOT induce vomiting unless a veterinarian explicitly instructs you to; your vet may use activated charcoal or controlled emesis depending on timing. Bring a sample or photo of the plant to the clinic.

All parts of the milkweed plant are considered toxic to cats, including the leaves, stems, flowers, and the characteristic milky sap. The toxic agents are cardiac glycosides present throughout the plant, so even small exposures warrant an immediate call to your vet or the ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435).

Yes, milkweed (Asclepias species) is toxic to dogs. All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides that can affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems, making prompt veterinary care essential if your dog has eaten any part of it.

Early signs include drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, profound depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea. As poisoning progresses, dogs may develop seizures, difficulty breathing, a rapid weak pulse, dilated pupils, and in severe cases kidney or liver failure, coma, or respiratory paralysis. ASPCA reports onset within 2 hours of ingestion, with signs potentially persisting 4–5 days.

Remove your dog from the plant and clear any leaves or milky sap from the mouth, then call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear. Do NOT induce vomiting unless explicitly directed by a vet or poison helpline, as they may prefer activated charcoal or controlled emesis depending on timing. Bring a piece of the plant or a photo to the clinic for identification.

Signs can appear within 2 hours of ingestion. Most dogs that receive prompt treatment recover within a day or two in a calm, supportive environment, according to Pet Poison Helpline. Treatment may include activated charcoal, induced emesis, or digoxin-specific antibodies depending on the timing of ingestion and the Asclepias species involved — early intervention is the key factor in outcome.