Is rosary pea poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet now

Rosary pea 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 flowers, leaves, roots and seeds are poisonous.

  • Dogs Call a vet now
  • Cats Call a vet now

What to do right now

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

Pet Poison Helpline says the seeds or “peas” of rosary pea are very toxic.[1] NC State Extension lists rosary pea as a problem for cats and dogs.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • elevated heart rate
  • shock
Scientific name
Abrus
Poisonous parts
flowers, leaves, roots, seeds

What the experts say

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

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [2]
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 rosary pea dangerous to cats and dogs?

NC State Extension lists rosary pea as a problem for cats and dogs.[2]

Which part of rosary pea is especially toxic?

Pet Poison Helpline says the seeds or “peas” are very toxic.[1]

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline
  2. 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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