My dog ate foxglove — what do I do?
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is the plant source of digoxin and digitoxin — the same cardiac glycosides used as a heart medication in humans (under careful dose control). In dogs and cats, the raw plant compounds at uncontrolled doses cause dangerous arrhythmias and possible cardiac arrest. ALL parts are toxic, including the vase water if cut flowers are arranged indoors. A few leaves can be toxic to a medium-sized dog. Call your vet now.
EmergencyASPCA Animal Poison Control (US, 24/7): (888) 426-4435
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting (often the first sign within 1–4 hours)
- Diarrhea
- Drooling, refusal to eat
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia) or irregular heart rate (most distinctive sign)
- Weakness, lethargy, depression
- Dilated pupils
- Tremors, ataxia
- Collapse, cardiac arrest (severe cases)
Timeline
Why foxglove is dangerous
Foxglove contains digoxin, digitoxin, and related cardiac glycosides — these compounds block the Na+/K+ ATPase pump in heart muscle, increasing intracellular calcium and altering cardiac rhythm. In carefully controlled doses (the prescription medication digoxin), this same mechanism strengthens heart contraction in human heart failure. In uncontrolled plant ingestion doses, it causes dangerous arrhythmias.
The plant is often grown as an ornamental for its tall purple, pink, or white flower spikes (1–5 feet tall). It is naturalized in many US regions and common in cottage gardens. ALL parts contain glycosides: flowers, leaves, stems, seeds, and roots. The vase water from cut foxglove flowers becomes contaminated with leached glycosides and is a real but underappreciated exposure source if a dog drinks from the vase.
Specific antidote: digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) is the same antidote used for human digoxin overdoses and has been used in dogs with severe foxglove toxicity. It is expensive and not stocked at most clinics but is a real option in life-threatening cases.
What to do right now
1. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control ((888) 426-4435, 24/7) immediately. Foxglove is in the same acuity category as oleander, sago palm, and lily-of-the-valley.
2. Bring a sample of the plant. Cut flowers in a vase, a piece of leaf in a bag, or a clear photo. Foxglove identification matters because the digoxin-specific antidote becomes a treatment option when confirmed.
3. Note if your dog drank vase water — this is a real exposure source that is easy to miss. Cardiac glycosides leach into vase water and dogs are attracted to flower-arrangement water.
4. Do not induce vomiting at home unless your vet specifically tells you to. The cardiac instability makes at-home emesis risky.
5. Drive to a clinic with ECG and ideally 24-hour monitoring capability. Severe cases may need referral to a hospital with cardiac specialists.
What the vet will do
Initial assessment: ECG, baseline bloodwork including electrolytes (potassium is the critical one — cardiac glycosides shift potassium), kidney function (cardiac glycosides are renally excreted), and serum digoxin level if the lab can run it.
Decontamination if early: induced vomiting within 2 hours, multiple doses of activated charcoal every 4–6 hours to interrupt enterohepatic recirculation.
Cardiac management: atropine for bradycardia, anti-arrhythmics (lidocaine, procainamide) for tachyarrhythmias, transvenous pacing in extreme bradycardia cases. Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) for severe confirmed cases.
Supportive: IV fluids carefully balanced to support kidney excretion without worsening cardiac fluid overload, monitoring of potassium and renal function, continuous ECG. Hospitalization typically 48–96 hours for symptomatic cases because of the long elimination half-life.
What not to do
- Do not assume vase water is safe. Cardiac glycosides leach into water from cut foxglove flowers. Empty and rinse any vases after foxglove arrangements come out.
- Do not handle foxglove without gloves when removing it — sap can be a mild skin irritant.
- Do not give your dog any human heart medication (digoxin or digitoxin tablets) at home for foxglove poisoning. The dose math is completely different and home dosing can worsen rather than help.
- Do not wait to see if symptoms appear — the time-to-vet is the biggest outcome predictor for cardiac glycoside poisoning.
- Do not let a dog with known foxglove ingestion exercise during recovery. Cardiac stress during the multi-day clearance window can precipitate arrhythmia.
Frequently asked
How much foxglove is toxic to dogs?
A few chewed leaves can be toxic to a medium-sized dog. There is no established safe dose — treat any ingestion as a vet emergency. Vase water from cut foxglove is also a meaningful exposure source.
What does foxglove look like?
Tall flowering plant (1–5 feet) with tubular bell-shaped flowers in purple, pink, white, or yellow arranged along a tall spike. Leaves are large, oval, and slightly fuzzy. Common in cottage gardens, naturalized along roadsides and forest edges in temperate US regions.
My dog drank vase water from cut foxglove — is that dangerous?
Yes — cardiac glycosides leach from cut stems and flowers into the water, and dogs are attracted to flower-arrangement water. Treat as a real exposure: call your vet, especially if you notice the water level dropped or your dog showed interest in the vase.
Is foxglove the same as digitalis?
Yes — Digitalis is the scientific genus name. Digitalis purpurea is the common purple foxglove. The same plant family produces digoxin and digitoxin, which are cardiac-failure medications in humans at carefully controlled doses. The raw plant at uncontrolled doses is dangerous.
Is there a specific antidote?
Yes — digoxin immune Fab (brand name Digibind in the US) is a digoxin-specific antibody that binds and neutralizes cardiac glycosides. It is the same antidote used for human digoxin overdose and works for foxglove and related plant glycosides. Expensive and not stocked at most clinics, but a real option for severe confirmed cases.
How long does foxglove poisoning take to show?
GI signs (vomiting, drooling) often within 1–4 hours. Cardiac signs (bradycardia, arrhythmia) can appear at 4–12 hours and persist for 24–48 hours because of the long elimination half-life. Recovery usually starts after 48 hours of supportive care.
Primary sources
This guide draws on the following authorities. Specific clinical decisions for your pet should always be made with your vet.
Double-check another food, get a personalised follow-up, or talk to CRO about your pet’s specific situation.
This guide is educational and based on US veterinary sources (ASPCA APCC, AVMA, and peer-reviewed literature). It is not a substitute for a vet call. When in doubt, phone your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control — the fee is far cheaper than a delayed case.