Are bluebells poisonous to dogs?

Updated 13/06/2024

Spring is a wonderful time of year full of new life and fresh beginnings! However, it is also a time of year when some delightful yet doggo dangerous flowers appear: Snowdrops, tulips, and bluebells. Are bluebells poisonous to dogs, which part of the plant should be avoided, and what should pup parents do if their snuffle bear snacks on some of these sumptuous spring sprigs?

Are bluebells poisonous to dogs?

Yes, bluebells are poisonous to dogs. The beautiful bluebell unfortunately contains a very potent toxin called glycoside which affects the heart and can be fatal if left untreated. Some pups may need to eat large amounts of the flower to be affected, while others may only need to drink water from a vase with bluebells in it.

Bluebells are often in full bloom from spring to early summer, particularly in woodland areas. If you and your pup enjoy a daily dog walk through a forest, you may notice the floor suddenly turns purple around March and April. Be sure to keep your pooch on their lead and keep a close eye on what they’re sniffing as they snuffle. Bluebells are highly poisonous and very common in the northern USA and Europe. 

Bluebell poisoning in dogs

Similar to the monkshood or actinium poison (one of many other toxic flowers that look like bluebells), every part of the bluebell plant is poisonous to dogs. Remember, if you see your pup eat any part of a bluebell, even if they’re not showing symptoms, you must take them straight to the vet.

Symptoms of poisoning

Every pup reacts differently to toxins, however, this doesn’t make them any less dangerous. The signs of poisoning can include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pains or upset stomach
• Fast heart rate and quick panting
• Excessive drooling
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Collapse

These symptoms of poisoning can come from eating any part of the bluebell plant or even if they drink water from a vase containing bluebell flowers. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must take them to an emergency vet immediately.

Diagnosis

If you suspect your dog has been poisoned (whether it be from eating bluebells or something else), vets usually follow a similar routine to diagnose it. They’ll need to induce vomiting as well as try to take sometimes fecal samples from doggo. The vet will need to see what they’ve recently eaten or tried to digest to see if they can find any part of a plant or flower that could explain their symptoms.

For pup parents who saw their pooch take a bite of a bluebell flower or plant, the diagnosis will be quick. The symptoms of poisoning are often quite obvious to vets, so if you’ve seen them eat something they shouldn’t, the vet can begin to treat them straight away.

Treatment

Bluebell poisoning affects the heart very quickly, particularly if your dog has eaten it in large amounts. This means it is a very potent and dangerous toxin that vets will need to treat immediately. 

The usual treatment for bluebell poisoning is to flush out their digestive system by making them vomit and poop out everything in their tummies and intestines. Unfortunately, this can be distressing for your pup, but it’s the best way to make sure the poison is flushed out of their system.

Once the vet is happy all parts of the plant are out of their body, they’ll administer a food solution of activated charcoal. Activated charcoal sucks up all the toxic chemicals in their stomach and bloodstream and lines the stomach to then remove it as waste from the doggo’s body and prevent it from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

More severe symptoms may require more intensive treatment or a stay in the hospital.

The faster this is treated, the higher the chances are your dog will be absolutely fine afterward.

Meet our veterinary expert, Holly

This article has been checked by veterinarian Holly Anne Hills BVM BVS BVMedSci. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Holly spent two years working as a farm animal vet. She then spent some time traveling and volunteering in India, working at neutering clinics and with injured street dogs. Holly now works in small animal practice, and balances this with writing, volunteering with the comms team at Vet Sustain, and she is also a marine mammal medic!

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