Dog Daisy
Achillea millefolium · Asteraceae
How it looks
Yarrow is a plant with fine, feather-like deeply divided leaves and small white to pink flowers gathered flat like an umbrella. Crushing the leaves releases a strong herbal scent. It stands 12–31 in (30–80 cm) tall and is common in the wild and in gardens.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Dog Daisy contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and depression if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Dog Daisy rarely leads to serious trouble, but its terpenoids and alkaloids can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, depression
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Achillea millefolium
- Common name
- Dog Daisy
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Terpenoids, Alkaloids
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, depression
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
