Ranger's Button

Yes, Ranger's Button (Sphenosciadium capitellatum) is considered potentially toxic to cats. It contains furanocoumarins, which can cause photosensitization — meaning skin damage triggered by sun exposure after contact or ingestion.

The most notable signs are redness, irritation, or sunburn-like lesions on light-pigmented or thinly furred skin (nose, ears, eyelids, belly) that develop within hours to a couple of days after exposure followed by sunlight. You may also see skin tenderness, itchiness, or scabbing in those areas. Drooling or vomiting can occur incidentally from chewing the bitter foliage.

The furanocoumarins responsible for photosensitization are present in the plant material itself — both ingestion and skin contact can lead to sensitization. The skin reaction only manifests after the cat is subsequently exposed to sunlight, so keeping an exposed cat indoors and out of direct sun is an important immediate step.

Keep your cat indoors and away from direct sunlight right away to prevent photosensitization from developing. Call your vet if you notice spreading skin lesions, blistering, pain on touch, or your cat seems systemically unwell. For immediate guidance, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Yes, Ranger's Button (Sphenosciadium capitellatum) is considered toxic to dogs if ingested. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and excessive salivation.

After eating Ranger's Button, watch for vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, and loss of appetite shortly after ingestion. A less obvious but important sign is photosensitivity: skin redness, blistering, or peeling on thinly-haired areas like the muzzle, ears, and belly can appear within hours of sun exposure following ingestion. Large ingestions — more commonly documented in livestock — can cause respiratory distress, weakness, and swollen neck.

Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately if your dog ate a large amount. For any ingestion, monitor closely and contact your vet if you see persistent drooling, vomiting, refusal of more than one meal, skin lesions, or any breathing difficulty. Keep your dog out of direct sunlight in the hours after exposure, as photosensitivity reactions can develop.

Mild signs like drooling or appetite loss can appear shortly after chewing the plant. Photosensitivity reactions — skin redness or blistering — tend to develop within hours after sun exposure following ingestion. Livestock data suggests severe signs from large ingestions can emerge within 2 to 4 hours; most small ingestions resolve without treatment, but veterinary guidance is still recommended.