Is yew poisonous to dogs?

Updated 13/07/2023

Yew trees: common, sturdy evergreens that you’re bound to come across on walkies at some point. While your curious pooch might be drawn to these beauties for a sniff around, is it safe for them? Or is yew poisonous to dogs? Let’s check it out.

Is yew poisonous to dogs?

So, while a common find on walkies, are yews poisonous to dogs? Sadly, yes, yew trees are highly toxic to dogs. Yews contain a toxic compound called taxine that will make your pup seriously ill if they take a nibble from the tree. All parts of the tree are poisonous to dogs, including the fallen cones (which are the most likely prey for your pooch to nibble on). Yew, or evergreen leaves are becoming popular in floral arrangements, particularly around the holidays or for weddings, so it's important to check if yew is included in an arrangement before buying to decorate the home or an event.

And are yew berries poisonous to dogs? Yes, unfortunately these succulent-looking, bright red berries are toxic to dogs too. The solution? Avoid the yew tree if you can, or distract your pooch if you’re approaching one with lots of fallen berries and cones at the base. If your dog really likes eating berries, using a basket muzzle in a high risk area can help avoid accidental ingestion. 

The biggest risk for your pup after ingestion of any part of the yew tree is dehydration from the vomiting and diarrhea induced from the toxins. Below, we’ll explore these symptoms further, as well as the diagnosis and possible treatments for your pup.

Yew poisoning in dogs

So, now we know that yews are toxic to dogs, what do you need to look out for if you suspect your pup’s curiosity got the better of them, and a nibble of your local yew tree was taken? Well below we’ll take a look at the possible symptoms of yew poisoning in dogs, as well as some of the methods of diagnosis and treatments your vet may administer.

Symptoms

The symptoms your pooch experiences will depend on the part of the yew that was ingested (i.e. bark, needles, cones or berries), and how much of it was wolfed down. If you think your pup has nibbled on any part of the tree, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for an emergency appointment. With most toxicities, symptoms start mild and develop into more severe. With yew toxicity, any of the signs below can be seen during early or late progression of the toxicity signs which is part of the reason yew toxicity can be so scary. 

Signs of yew poioning are: 

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Drooling
• Dilated pupils
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Tremors
• Coma
• Sudden death from heart failure 

Diagnosis and treatment

If your pup has ingested part of a yew tree plant, try to bring a sample with you to your vet if you can, or a photograph of the plant material - this will help with diagnosis. On arrival to the vet clinic, your pooch will be given a full check over by the vet.

If ingestion of the yew plant was recent, your veterinarian may induce vomiting to remove any remaining plant material, reducing the chances of further toxicity. Activated charcoal may be given to absorb any further toxins. Your pooch may then be kept in for observation and intravenous fluid therapy until symptoms of toxicity and dehydration have subsided. Intravenous fluids keep the kidenys perfused, which is helpful when trying to flush toxins out of your dogs system.

 If your vet is worried about any cardiac symptoms, your pup’s heart rate will be monitored with an ECG machiene. Along with these treatments and monitoring, your vet may take a blood test and urinalysis to look for signs of organ damage as a result of yew poisoning. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

Other plants that are poisonous for dogs

Sadly, many common plants we often find on walkies or those we decorate our homes and gardens with are toxic to dogs. So, be sure to get clued-up on plants poisonous to dogs, starting with our list below.

• Holly
• Lily of the valley
• Philodendron
• Morning glory
• Rhododendron