Maleberry

Yes, maleberry (Lyonia sp.) is toxic to cats. The plant contains grayanotoxins, which can cause serious systemic effects including drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

Drooling and vomiting are usually the first signs, often appearing within an hour. These are followed by diarrhea, weakness, and a wobbly gait. The most dangerous signs — slow or irregular heartbeat, collapse, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing — indicate the grayanotoxins are affecting the heart and require emergency care immediately.

Remove any remaining plant material from your cat's mouth, save a sample of the leaves to show the vet, and go to a clinic right away. Do not try to induce vomiting at home. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your veterinarian immediately — even a few leaves can cause cardiac effects.

Clinical signs typically appear within 1 to 4 hours of ingestion, sometimes up to 12 hours. With treatment, heart rate and blood pressure usually normalize within 2 to 9 hours, and cats with small ingestions often recover fully within about 24 hours. Large doses can be life-threatening within 1 to 2 days, so prompt veterinary treatment is critical.

Yes, maleberry (Lyonia sp.) is toxic to dogs. It contains grayanotoxins, which can cause significant illness, and veterinary care should be sought promptly if your dog ingests any part of the plant.

Early signs include excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy, usually appearing within 1 to 4 hours of ingestion (though onset can be delayed up to 12 hours). Serious cases progress to weakness, collapse, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and tremors or seizures. Smaller dogs reach dangerous doses faster than larger ones.

Remove any plant material from your dog's mouth and keep a sample (a leaf or piece of stem) to bring to the clinic for identification. Do not give anything by mouth and do not try to induce vomiting at home. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

Most dogs that ingested a small amount feel better within 24 hours of treatment, but serious ingestions can require 48 hours or more of cardiac monitoring. Treat collapse, irregular breathing, persistent vomiting, or any change in heart rate as an emergency and go to the nearest veterinary clinic without delay.