Is Hydrangea toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: bigleaf hydrangea
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Small nibbles observed; large ingestions or breathing trouble — emergency now.
Toxicity notes
Flowers and leaves carry cyanogenic glycosides (same family as apricot pits) releasing cyanide when chewed; common in gardens and cut flowers.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Vomiting
- • Drooling
- • Lethargy
- • Breathing difficulty (large amounts)
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?
Flowers and leaves carry cyanogenic glycosides (same family as apricot pits) releasing cyanide when chewed; common in gardens and cut flowers.
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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