Asclepias spp. is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Milkweeds, Common Milkweed and Butterfly Milkweed.
This plant is known to be potentially deadly!
If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian now, or one of these services.
What do I do right now?
Ireland has no animal poison service for owners. Call your veterinarian. An Irish veterinarian can consult the Veterinary Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom.
Giftinformationscentralen stopped answering questions about animals on 1 July 2018. Call your veterinarian or an animal hospital.
Vomiting Depression Weakness Loss Of Appetite Diarrhea Seizures Difficulty Breathing Weak Pulse Dilated Pupils Kidney Failure Liver Failure Coma Respiratory Paralysis Death Abdominal Pain Colic Bloat Tremors Incoordination Respiratory Failure Cardiac Arrhythmias Recumbency
The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.
Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans and many other species, primarily due to the presence of cardenolides. However, as with many such plants, some species feed upon milkweed leaves or the nectar from their flowers. A noteworthy feeder on milkweeds is the monarch butterfly, which uses and requires certain milkweeds as host plants for its larvae.
Also recorded as Milkweed and butterfly plants.
More plants with critical severity:
Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.