Is Yew toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: Japanese yew hedge
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Emergency immediately (decontamination + activated charcoal + ECG) — zero delay. Fence off garden yews.
Toxicity notes
Everything except the red aril flesh contains taxine alkaloids that depress the heart — a few leaves can cause sudden death; common as hedging, dogs chew it.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Tremors
- • Breathing difficulty
- • Arrhythmia / cardiac arrest
- • Seizures
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?
Everything except the red aril flesh contains taxine alkaloids that depress the heart — a few leaves can cause sudden death; common as hedging, dogs chew it.
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
Start symptom check →