Is Monkshood (aconite) poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet now

Monkshood (aconite) is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now if your pet has eaten any of it. The listed poisonous parts include bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds and stems.

Dogs Call a vet now
Cats Call a vet now

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.
Note which plant, which part, how much and when your pet ate or chewed it.
Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
Keep your pet calm.

Don't

Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Aconitum is listed as a problem for cats and dogs.^[1]

Scientific name: Aconitum
Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems

What the experts say

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

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

Common questions

Is Monkshood dangerous for cats?

Yes. Aconitum is listed as a problem for cats.^[1]

Is Monkshood dangerous for dogs?

Yes. Aconitum is listed as a problem for dogs.^[1]

Sources

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