Red cat's tail is toxic for dogs
Acalypha reptans 
Red cat's tail is a houseplant native to Australia that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
The perennial shrub, which grows up to 2m high, has egg-shaped large leaves and its striking pink, bushy flower catkins, up to 50cm long, are not unlike cat tails. Its fruits are green.
The leaves as well as the stems contain a milky white sap that is particularly poisonous to dogs.
What should I do if my dog ate Red cat's tail?
How toxic is Red cat's tail?
| Toxicity: | (toxic) |
| Toxic parts: | All parts of the red cat's tail are poisonous, but especially the milky-white liquid from the leaves and stems. |
| Toxic time: | winter, spring, summer, autumn |
| Antidote: | Unknown |
If your dog shows symptoms of poisoning, it is always an emergency! Time is critical for your dog's life. You should immediately call your vet or the animal emergency services and make sure that a vet is on site and then go there immediately. For the treatment, it helps the vet a lot to know what your dog has ingested.
Occurrence Red cat's tail
| Plant species: | Shrub, Indoor plant |
| Occurrence: | Indoor |
| Areas: | Europe |
| Flowering time: | summer |
| Fruit ripening: | - |
Symptoms
The following symptoms may occur in case of poisoning:
- reddening of the mucous membrane of the mouth
- increased salivation
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
In case of severe poisoning, the following symptoms also occur:
- cramps
- death may occur due to respiratory paralysis
Treatment
The vet will always try to remove the ingested poison from the body and alleviate the specific symptoms of poisoning.
There are different methods to remove the poison from the body:
1. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Activated charcoal can absorb toxins. If possible, it should be administered within 2 hours after ingestion of the poison, so that the toxin does not enter the bloodstream.
2. LAXATIVES: The vet may combine the administration of activated charcoal with a laxative.
3. VOMITING: The vet can also induce vomiting using medication to remove the toxin from the body.
In case of severe poisoning, the vet may give infusions and pain and antispasmodic medication.
More information on dog poisonings can be found here:
Preventing, identifying and treating poisoning in dogs
Further poisonous plants from A to Z
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