Are Tulips and Hyacinths Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

Tulips and hyacinths (Tulipa spp., Hyacinthus orientalis) are toxic to both cats and dogs.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

Why

Tulips and hyacinths contain compounds that irritate the mouth and digestive tract. The bulbs contain the highest concentration, so dogs that dig up or chew bulbs are most at risk.

Eating flowers or leaves usually causes mild to moderate stomach upset, but eating bulbs in larger amounts can lead to more serious effects, including changes in heart rate and breathing.

How to recognize it

Tulips have a single cup-shaped flower on a smooth stem with broad, bluish-green leaves, while hyacinths have a dense spike of small, very fragrant star-shaped flowers. Both grow from bulbs that look like small onions and are often stored in garages or sheds before planting.

Signs to watch for

• Drooling and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Pawing at the mouth
• Faster heart rate and breathing difficulty after eating large amounts of bulb

What to do

• Contact your veterinarian, especially if a bulb was eaten.
• Store bulbs where pets cannot reach them before planting.
• Watch dogs that like to dig in garden beds during spring.

Why are bulbs so much riskier than cut flowers?

The irritating compounds are concentrated in the bulb. A cat that chews a tulip petal from a bouquet usually ends up with drooling or vomiting. A dog that eats one or more bulbs gets a much larger dose, and that is when heart rate and breathing changes can follow.

A whole bulb can also be difficult for a dog to pass. Tell your vet roughly how many bulbs went missing and how big they were.

When do dogs usually get into bulbs?

Most bulb incidents happen at planting time in the fall, not when the flowers bloom. Bulbs sit in paper bags in the garage or on the porch, and a curious dog tears the bag open. Freshly planted beds smell of turned soil, and bone meal or other fertilizers mixed into the hole can make dogs dig.

Forced bulbs are another route. Hyacinths growing in glass jars on a windowsill put the bulb at cat height all winter, and potted spring bulbs sold in shops keep the bulb just under the surface.

• Keep bulbs in a closed container on a high shelf until planting
• Plant them the day you open the bag
• Cover new beds with wire mesh if your dog digs

Is the hyacinth any different from the tulip?

Hyacinths and tulips cause similar problems in pets, and the ASPCA groups their effects together. Hyacinth bulbs also carry calcium oxalate crystals, which is why people who handle them sometimes get itchy hands. The same crystals add to mouth irritation in a pet that bites one.

Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are a separate plant, with small blue bell-shaped flowers packed along a short stem. If you are unsure which one your pet chewed, a photo of the plant helps the vet or poison control.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicOrchids (moth orchid)
• Non-toxicAfrican violet

Common questions

Are tulips and hyacinths poisonous to pets?

Cats: Toxic. Dogs: Toxic. Yes. Tulips and hyacinths are toxic to dogs and cats, especially the bulbs.

Is it safe to keep tulips and hyacinths in a home with cats and dogs?

Not within your pets' reach. Watch dogs that like to dig in garden beds during spring.

What should I do if my pet chews tulips and hyacinths?

Contact your veterinarian, especially if a bulb was eaten. Store bulbs where pets cannot reach them before planting.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of tulips and hyacinths?

Orchids and African violet are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

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Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.