Meadow Buttercup

Yes, Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is toxic to cats. It contains irritating compounds that affect the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, causing drooling, oral irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested.

Oral irritation hits within minutes — watch for hypersalivation, mouth blisters or ulcers, and refusal to eat. GI signs like vomiting and diarrhea follow within a few hours. In more serious cases you may see depression and a wobbly gait. Flowers carry the highest toxin load, so chewing blooms is worse than chewing leaves.

Remove your cat from the area and clear any plant material from its mouth. Do not induce vomiting and do not give home antidotes unless directed by a professional. Confirm your cat is breathing normally, then call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your vet immediately.

Onset is typically within minutes for oral irritation and a few hours for GI signs. Symptoms are usually self-limiting once the cat stops eating the plant, and recovery within 24–48 hours is typical with supportive care. Call your vet if drooling, vomiting, or unsteadiness does not resolve within a few hours.

Yes, meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is toxic to dogs. It contains protoanemonin, a compound that irritates mucous membranes and can cause excessive salivation, mouth blistering, vomiting, and abdominal pain if ingested.

Signs typically start within minutes of contact — drooling, pawing at the mouth, and refusing food — followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort within a few hours. A dog that ate flowers is at higher risk than one that brushed against leaves, since the blooms carry more protoanemonin than the rest of the plant.

Remove your dog from the area and take any plant pieces out of the mouth. Do not induce vomiting or give home antidotes unless instructed by a professional. Confirm your dog is breathing normally, then call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 for guidance.

Oral irritation appears within minutes and GI signs typically develop within a few hours. Buttercup poisoning is generally self-limiting — most dogs recover within 24–48 hours with supportive care. Call your vet if your dog is drooling persistently, has visible mouth blisters, vomits more than once, or seems unsteady.