Is Bird of Paradise safe for dogs?

Yes, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is potentially toxic to dogs. It contains compounds that cause gastrointestinal distress, and the ASPCA documents oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia as known effects.

Oral irritation can begin within minutes of chewing, with vomiting and diarrhea typically appearing within a few hours. You may also notice drooling, mouth pawing, or head shaking shortly after ingestion. Most exposures stay limited to the digestive tract and mild cases usually resolve within 24 hours with supportive care.

Remove your dog from the plant and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Seek immediate help if your dog ate any seeds or fruit. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or lethargy over the next several hours, and call your vet right away if GI symptoms persist more than a few hours or your dog refuses food and water.

Yes — seeds and fruit are specifically flagged as higher concern. The when-to-call guidance explicitly recommends calling a vet right away if seeds or fruit were eaten, as opposed to a leaf or flower chew, which more typically causes milder, self-limiting GI upset.