Is florist’s cyclamen toxic to dogs?
Cyclamen persicum
Yes. Florist’s cyclamen is toxic to dogs, graded low severity by NC State Extension. The agent is terpenoid saponins. Call your vet if a dog has eaten any.
- Take any remaining plant material out of their mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
- Call someone. Your own vet first. Otherwise ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 — both charge a fee.
- Take a photo of the plant, and note roughly how much was eaten and when. It is the first thing you will be asked.
- Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
What it does, and why
The agent is terpenoid saponins.
Saponins concentrated overwhelmingly in the underground tuber rather than the leaves or flowers.
A nibbled leaf and a dug-up tuber are not the same event. The tuber is where the dose is.
Worth watching for. A pet that has excavated the pot warrants a call. Large ingestions have been associated with heart rhythm abnormalities.
Reported signs
- vomiting
- excessive salivation
- diarrhoea
- abnormal heart rhythm with large ingestions
Signs as listed by the ASPCA under Cyclamen spp. Not every animal shows all of them.
What each authority says
- ASPCA — genus-level entry: Cyclamen spp
- Toxic to cats and dogs · terpenoid saponins
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Triterpenoid saponins
What to keep instead
Species in this database listed non-toxic to cats and dogs, chosen for a similar look or similar care rather than at random.
| Plant | Family | Water | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| African violetStreptocarpus ionanthus | Gesneriaceae | 5–10d | 3/5 |
| Nerve plantFittonia albivenis | Acanthaceae | 3–6d | 3/5 |
Swapping the plant is the only measure that reliably works. Height and hanging baskets buy less time than people expect with a determined cat.
The other animal
Looking for cats? See is florist’s cyclamen toxic to cats. Full care details are on the florist’s cyclamen species entry.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Cyclamen spp Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Cyclamen persicum Checked 2026-09-11.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Cyclamen persicum Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-11.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — emergency line, fee applies
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a veterinarian.
Severity is reproduced from the authority that published it and is never
originated here. How this is sourced.
This page is a reference, not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call rather than read.