Are morning glories poisonous to dogs?

Updated 11/07/2023

Found in all shades of violet, it’s no surprise that morning glories are a popular plant for anyone who loves a spot of color in their garden. But if you’re a pet parent, it’s important to be cautious about the sorts of plants and flowers you welcome into your yard - many can be toxic to our ever-curious canine companions. That’s why today, we’re answering are morning glories poisonous to dogs? Explore below to get in the know.

Are morning glories poisonous to dogs?

Yes, some species of morning glories are toxic to dogs. The seeds are the most toxic part of this flower, whilst eating the foliage may cause mild gastrointestinal effects. Like with lots of flowers, there are many different species in the family of morning glories. Those most poisonous to dogs are referred to as Ipomoea violacea and Ipomoea carnea. The lysergic alkaloids present in the seeds of these plants are particularly harmful for dogs, and should be treated with extreme caution by pet parents.

Can dogs eat morning glories?

Is morning glory poisonous to dogs if ingested in small amounts? Yes, your pooch shouldn’t be munching on any of the flowers in your yard (or anyone else’s, for that matter). Many of the plants we humans love are sadly poisonous to dogs, so it’s vital that pet parents get in the know about which are safe to plant around curious canines, and which aren’t.

Morning glory poisoning in dogs

Symptoms

If you think your pooch has ingested all or part of a morning glory plant, you should get to a veterinarian as a matter of emergency, whether they’re experiencing symptoms of morning glory toxicity or not. For your peace of mind, below are the symptoms pups are likely to display if they’ve ingested part of the plant.

Eating morning glory foliage generally results in mild gastrointestinal symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Sickness
• Loss of appetite

Ingestion of the seeds from the two more toxic species can affect the neurological and cardiovascular systems of your pooch and display more severe signs:

• Lack of coordination
• Confusion
• Tremors
• Dilated pupils
• Lethargy
• Liver failure
• Hallucinations
• Hyperthermia
• Rapid heartbeat

Diagnosis

If you think your pup has ingested part of a morning glory plant, get to your veterinarian as a matter of emergency. While it might not be possible, try to take a sample of the plant your pooch nibbled on with you - this will help your vet make a more accurate diagnosis more quickly. Once with your vet, they’ll perform a variety of tests to conclude the type of toxicity your dog is experiencing - we’ve listed a few of these below so that you know what to expect.

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Fecal analysis
• Induced vomiting to assess stomach contents

Treatments

Depending on the severity of the toxicity, your pooch will undergo various treatments. Unfortunately, due to how quickly lysergic alkaloids are digested, induced vomiting is often ineffective at reducing the toxicity. The following are treatments you might expect from your veterinarian:

• Intravenous fluids
• Medication to reduce anxiety, tremors and seizures
• Monitoring

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community. 

Other plants that are poisonous to dogs

So, it’s safe to say that morning glories are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided at all costs. If you’re curious about what other plants are poisonous to dogs, get started with the list below.

• Oleander
• Daffodils
• Hydrangea
• Yucca
• Sweet peas