Foxglove: A Garden Beauty With a Genuinely Dangerous Heart Effect

Foxglove is a striking cottage-garden flower that contains cardiac glycosides — compounds closely related to digoxin, a medication actually used to treat certain heart conditions in controlled doses. Outside of that controlled medical context, ingestion by a dog produces genuinely dangerous effects on heart rhythm, and this is one of the plants where severity doesn't require a large amount to be a real concern.

Symptoms to watch for: vomiting and diarrhea initially, followed by an irregular heartbeat, weakness, tremors, and in serious cases collapse or cardiac arrhythmias that can be fatal without treatment.

What to do right now: any known or suspected ingestion of foxglove — leaves, flowers, or stems — should be treated as an emergency immediately. As with oleander, the cardiac mechanism here means waiting to see how symptoms develop isn't a safe approach.

When it's an emergency: always, for any part of the plant and any amount, given the direct effect on heart rhythm.

## Related Reading

• Castor Beans: An Uncommon but Extremely Dangerous Seed
• English Ivy: A Common Houseplant With Real Toxicity Risk
• Onions and Garlic: The Slow-Building Danger for Dogs and Cats

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This is general information, not a substitute for an actual assessment of your specific pet, weight, and situation. If you're ever unsure whether something your pet ate needs immediate attention, a quick video vet consultation can tell you in minutes whether to monitor at home or head to a clinic.