Is foxglove poisonous to dogs?

Updated: 11/07/2023

Popular in cottage gardens and a staple of the English countryside, foxgloves are favored for their pretty bell-shaped, bee-friendly flowers. But are foxgloves all that they seem?

While there’s no doubt they add a welcome splash of color to our gardens, pet parents should know that these (seemingly innocuous) pretty little flowers may cause some serious harm where our four-legged friends are concerned.

So, in the interest of pet care for outdoor pets, are foxgloves poisonous to dogs - and what should you do if you catch your pet nibbling on one? Let’s discuss. 

Is foxglove poisonous to dogs?

Yes - foxglove is toxic to dogs. All parts of the foxglove plant (including the foxglove leaves and even the water it sits in) are considered highly toxic, to both pets - and people! They contain naturally occurring poisons known as cardiac glycoside toxins, that can interfere with the electrolyte balance in the heart muscle. If eaten, it can cause your dog to suffer some seriously nasty symptoms - and can be fatal. 

Foxglove poisoning in dogs

Symptoms

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, foxglove poisoning can result in the following symptoms:  

• Nausea
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Dilated pupils
• Abnormal heart rate and/or rhythm
• Slowed pulse
• Tremors
• Seizures/collapse
• Death

The severity of poisoning can vary depending on the amount consumed. That said, foxglove poisoning is serious - resulting in life-threatening symptoms and even death, and so any suspected consumption should be treated as a medical emergency. Aka - get your pet to vet as soon as possible. 

Diagnosis

It's important to remember that each and every case (and pooch) will be different, and only your vet will be able to advise you on the best course of treatment for your four-legged friend.

As foxglove poisoning can be fatal, it's extremely important to seek advice from your veterinarian as soon as possible. To aid diagnosis, it will be helpful if you can bring along a piece of the plant with you, and let your vet know how much (and what part of the plant) your pooch has consumed.

In most cases of suspected foxglove poisoning, your veterinarian will begin with a full physical examination of your pooch, including a full blood count to check their vitals and health. Urinalysis may be prescribed to check kidney function, and an ECG or ultrasound may be performed (particularly if your pooch is showing signs of cardiac problems). More tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. 

Treatment

Following your dog's test results and examination, your vet will be able to suggest the right course of treatment. Treatment for foxglove poisoning will aim to limit the number of toxins in your dog's system - most commonly, this is done by administering activated charcoal to absorb the toxins and stop them from being absorbed into the bloodstream; vomiting may also be induced. IV fluids may be administered to aid your pooch's recovery, to address any electrolyte imbalances and to help rehydrate your dog. Depending on the severity and nature of your dog's symptoms, other treatments may be prescribed (e.g. to stop continuous vomiting, to stop seizures, etc). It's likely your vet will want to keep your pooch in for monitoring.

Remember, the sooner you can get your pooch to the vet following foxglove consumption, the better the chance they'll have of recovering.

Meet our veterinary expert, Greg

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Greg Steele MA VETMB MRCVS. A mixed vet working in the UK since qualifying from Cambridge University in 2015. Greg enjoys working with all species of animals in all settings, but equally takes pride in communication and education of clients too. He lives with his wife and their cat, and enjoys a variety of sports, gardening, and the great outdoors.

Other plants poisonous to dogs

Foxgloves and dogs - not a match made in (doggy) heaven. Sadly, many plants are poisonous to dogs - as well as foxgloves, here are some other popular plants that contain glycosides - and should be avoided by our pooch pals at all costs:

• Lily of the valley
• Oleander
• Star of bethlehem
• Dogbane 
• Milkweed
• Giant milkweed
• Kalanchoe
• Aloe Vera