Is flaming katy toxic to dogs?
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Yes. Flaming Katy is toxic to dogs, graded medium severity by NC State Extension. The agent is bufadienolide cardiac glycosides. 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 bufadienolide cardiac glycosides.
These interfere with the sodium-potassium pump in heart muscle, the same mechanism as foxglove and other cardiac glycoside plants.
Gut upset first, but the concern is the heart rather than the stomach.
Worth watching for. This is a different order of risk from an irritant plant. Abnormal heart rhythm is possible, and any meaningful ingestion is a call-now situation rather than a wait-and-see one.
Reported signs
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- abnormal heart rhythm
Signs as listed by the ASPCA under Kalanchoe spp. Not every animal shows all of them.
What each authority says
- ASPCA — genus-level entry: Kalanchoe spp
- Toxic to cats and dogs · bufadienolide cardiac glycosides
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Medium · bufadienolides · If ingested by humans or pets, it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias. Ingestion of this plant by pets can be fatal and causing abnormal heart rate, seizures, and death.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexican snowballEcheveria elegans | Crassulaceae | 12–24d | 3/5 |
| Burro’s tailSedum morganianum | Crassulaceae | 14–28d | 2/5 |
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 flaming katy toxic to cats. Full care details are on the flaming katy species entry.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Kalanchoe spp Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Checked 2026-09-11.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Kalanchoe blossfeldiana 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.