Is Lyonia poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Fetterbush & staggerbush (Lyonia) are poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of them. The flowers, leaves and sap/juice are poisonous.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet for advice.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
  4. Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
  5. Keep your pet calm.

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

Lyonia is listed as a problem for cats and dogs.[1] Signs of toxicity usually occur within six hours of consuming the plant.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • lack of coordination
  • excessive salivation
  • abdominal pain
  • bloating
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • weakness

Signs of toxicity usually occur within six hours of consuming the plant.

Scientific name
Lyonia
Poisonous parts
flowers, leaves, sap/juice

What the experts say

“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Children, Problem for Dogs, Problem for Horses”

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Is Lyonia poisonous to cats as well as dogs?

Yes. It is listed as a problem for cats and dogs.[1]

When might signs appear?

Signs of toxicity usually occur within six hours of consuming the plant.[1]

Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

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

Other poisonous plants