Is Castor beans toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: castor plant / castor meal
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Immediate emergency decontamination plus support; signs are delayed for hours — don't wait. Seeds must be chewed to release toxin, but treat every case as an emergency.
Toxicity notes
Seeds contain ricin — one or two chewed seeds can be fatal; common as an ornamental in some regions.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Severe delayed vomiting and diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Dehydration
- • Seizures
- • Organ failure
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Seeds contain ricin — one or two chewed seeds can be fatal; common as an ornamental in some regions.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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