Is Ragwort & groundsel poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Ragwort & groundsel are poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of them. The poisonous parts listed are the leaves, flowers, roots and stems.

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

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  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.

Don't

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

Why it can be dangerous

The plant is listed as a problem for dogs and cats, and the listed poison symptoms include chronically delayed toxicity, lethargy, vomiting and central nervous system signs of hepatic failure.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • Delayed toxicity
  • Low energy (lethargy)
  • Vomiting
  • Central nervous system signs of hepatic failure

Signs can be chronically delayed.

Scientific name
Senecio
Poisonous parts
leaves, flowers, roots, stems

What the experts say

“Problems: Contact Dermatitis, 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 Ragwort & groundsel poisonous to dogs?

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

Is Ragwort & groundsel dangerous for cats too?

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

What signs are listed?

The listed signs include chronically delayed toxicity, lethargy, vomiting and central nervous system signs of hepatic failure.[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

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