Pet ate a plant?ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435a consultation fee may applyPet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661$99 per incident fee
❧ Pet Safe Plants

Foxglove

Not listed does not mean safe.

Foxglove — Digitalis purpurea

Jörg Hempel · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Photo source · shows: Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis purpurea

Family: Scrophulariaceae (ASPCA lists: Scrophalariaceae) · ASPCA plant record

Verdict at a glance

Show all animals

Evidence by animal

Sourced plant verdicts — read the original wording and scope
AnimalVerdictBasisPlant partsSourcesEvidence link
Companion mammals
CatsCats: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
DogsDogs: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
Horses & livestock
HorsesHorses: ⚠ ToxicNot specifiedevidence
GoatsGoats: ⚠ ToxicCornell: listed for this speciesflowers, leaves, seedsevidence
Small mammals
RabbitsRabbits: ⚠ Toxicrabbit.org: listed as poisonous (not graded); WHRS Class 1: universal toxinNot specified
House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) Rescue/education group
Wisconsin House Rabbit Society Rescue/education group
evidence
Birds
Pet birds (general)Pet birds (general): ⚠ ToxicAAV: listed as toxic to pet birds; VCA: specifically reported harmful in birdsNot specified
VCA Animal Hospitals Veterinary reference
evidence
CanariesCanaries: ⚠ ToxicPeer-reviewed experiment (PMID 1601714)leaves or fruit
Arai et al. 1992 Peer-reviewed Abstract only
evidence
Reptiles
TortoisesTortoises: ⚠ ToxicTortoise Trust: listed as toxic, credible mortality reports (*)Not specified
Tortoise Trust Specialist charity
evidence

Source excerpts

ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Cats, Dogs, Horses

poison-control

Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) — Poisonous Plants — Rabbits

rescue-education

rabbit.org: listed as poisonous (not graded) · rabbit.org list "Poisonous Plants" (compiled by the University of Illinois): plants "normally thought to be poisonous"; "others may cause a reaction in some but not in others". Not a graded risk.

Foxglove

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Wisconsin House Rabbit Society — Classes of Toxic Plants — Rabbits

rescue-education

WHRS Class 1: universal toxin · Wisconsin House Rabbit Society chapter list (G. Flentke, 2012): Class 1 — "Universal species toxins": "usually systemic toxins or local effect toxins of sufficient intensity to cause systemic problems" (list heading: "Do NOT expose rabbits to these plants.").

Foxglove

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Association of Avian Veterinarians — Protecting Your Pet Birds From Household Dangers — Pet birds (general)

veterinary-reference

AAV: listed as toxic to pet birds · AAV leaflet "Protecting Your Pet Birds From Household Dangers" (the list "is not exhaustive").

Plants known to cause damage to the heart include oleander, yew, lily of the valley, and foxgloves.

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Avian toxicoses: a review (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025) — Pet birds (general)

peer-reviewed

Review section "Toxic plants (miscellaneous)" on pet birds.

Many ornamental plants are toxic, such as Coronilla varia, Ericaceae family (for example Rhododendron spp.), Kalanchoe spp., Nerium oleander, Taxus media, Digitalis purpurea, and Euphorbia pulcherima (81).

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
VCA Animal Hospitals — Plants That Are Toxic to Birds — Pet birds (general)

veterinary-reference

VCA: specifically reported harmful in birds · VCA: asterisk = "plants that are specifically reported to be harmful in birds".

Foxglove*

Source checked 2026-10-27 (source updated Aug 14, 2026)

Read original source
Avian toxicoses: a review (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025) — Canaries

peer-reviewed

Table 2, "Some plants are toxic to pet birds" (C = clinical report, E = experimental). Basis: experimental.

Foxglove | Canaries (E)

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Evaluation of selected plants for their toxic effects in canaries — Canaries

peer-reviewed

Peer-reviewed experiment (PMID 1601714) · leaves or fruit · Leaves or fruit of 14 plants were given by gavage to 15 pairs of canaries. The abstract says 'foxglove' without a species name.

Of the plants tested, 5 (oleander, lupine, foxglove, yew leaves, and dieffenbachia) were considered highly toxic and were associated with acute death of birds.

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Tortoise Trust — Toxic Plants and Tortoises — Tortoises

specialist-charity

Tortoise Trust: listed as toxic, credible mortality reports (*) · Tortoise Trust toxic-plant list (from Highfield, The Tortoise and Turtle Feeding Manual, 2001): marked * = "credible cases where mortality has been reported following consumption".

Foxglove (digitalis)*

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
Cornell University — Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Goats

university

Cornell: listed for this species · flowers, leaves, seeds · Cornell lists Digitalis purpurea; parts poisonous: flowers, leaves, seeds; poison: cardiac or steroid glycosides.

Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | cats, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, humans | flowers, leaves, seeds | cardiac or steroid glycosides

Source checked 2026-10-27

Read original source
No evidence collected in this database yet for 15 animals

No evidence collected in this database yet for: Guinea pigs, Hamsters, Rats, Mice, Chinchillas, Ferrets, Parrots (macaws, Amazons, African greys…), Budgerigars (budgies), Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Finches, Pigeons & doves, Bearded dragons, Iguanas, Chickens & other poultry

No supported claim has been collected for these animals. Not listed does not mean safe; do not infer suitability from another species.

Toxic principles

ASPCA, as published: Cardiac glycosides Source

Clinical signs

ASPCA, as published: Cardiac arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, death. Source

More from veterinary sources

Last verified (ASPCA record): 2026-10-27. Source access dates and limitations.

Similar plants (same family)

Shared family is not a shared verdict. Check each plant separately.