Is tulip poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Tulip is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The highest concentration of toxin is in the bulb.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today
What to do now

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.
  5. 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

The highest concentration of toxin is in the bulb, and ingestion can cause stomach pain, salivation, depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • Stomach pain
  • Salivation
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Skin irritation with tingling, redness, blisters or cracks

Skin-contact irritation may appear immediately or after a delay.

Scientific name
Tulipa
Poisonous parts
flowers, leaves, roots
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 tulip dangerous for cats too?

Yes—Tulip is listed as a problem for both cats and dogs.[1]

Which part has the highest concentration of toxin?

The bulb has the highest concentration of toxin.[1]

Can touching tulip cause a skin reaction?

Yes—skin contact can cause irritation with tingling, redness, blisters and cracks, either immediately or after a delay.

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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