Is Balloon plant poisonous to dogs and cats?
Call a vet todayBalloon plant is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap, seeds and stems are listed as poisonous.
- Dogs Call a vet today
- Cats Call a vet today
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet for advice.
- Note which plant, which part, how much and when your pet ate or chewed it.
- Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
- Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
Don't
- Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give your pet any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
NC State Extension lists Balloon plant as a problem for cats and dogs; eating it in quantity can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy and confusion, while milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.[1]
Signs to watch for
- Scientific name
- Gomphocarpus
- Poisonous parts
- flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
Is Balloon plant dangerous for cats too?
Yes. Balloon plant is listed as a problem for cats and dogs.[1]
What signs can eating Balloon plant cause?
It can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy and confusion.[1]
Can the milky sap cause problems?
Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages