Is horsetail grass toxic to cats and dogs?

Last checked 2026-08-02

Short answer

There is no reference answer yet.

We checked all 4 veterinary reference sources used by this website on August 2, 2026.

There is no single source that determines deciduous grass for cats or dogs. Both in a toxic and non-toxic way.

Therefore, we do not include de-jointed grass in this website's plant database.

Guessing the answer from nearby plants. or from research in large animals It is not a standard that this website uses.

What does each source say?

The ASPCA has two pages for this plant: Field Horsetail and Scouring Rush. Both pages are for the same species, Equisetum arvense.

Both pages say the same thing: Toxicity: Toxic to Horses.

There was no word cat or dog in that line.

The toxic substance is thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1).

The ASPCA explains the context: It is about horses eating this plant when there was no other grass to nibble on. and eat for several days to several weeks in a row

Pet Poison Helpline does not have a page for this plant. We looked through all 328 of his venom pages and couldn't find horsetail, Equisetum, and scouring rush.

VCA does not have a page for this plant. His page about plants poisonous to cats doesn't mention it at all.

The Merck Veterinary Manual does not include this plant in its houseplants and houseplants table.

Merck mentions the word horsetail only once. In the paragraph that talks about horses and ferns. without naming science And not talking about cats or dogs.

No information does not mean safe.

This page does not say that stripped grass is safe for cats and dogs.

And I didn't say it was toxic.

What we do know is that no one can be trusted to judge it.

The ASPCA listed this plant on its list of horses. It is not guaranteed to be safe for other animals.

Many websites and blogs answer this question definitively. even though there is no supporting reference source

If you find a definitive answer, where? Try clicking to see which page he references.

What is this tree? And it's not a tree of any kind.

The Thai name that is commonly used is Ya Nad Plong. Some people call it bong grass or mermaid grass.

The scientific name for this group is the genus Equisetum. The species mentioned by the ASPCA is Equisetum arvense.

Grows in wet places, along waterways and in deserted places.

Very important, the segmented grass is different from the horsetail plant.

The Ponytail Palm, scientific name Beaucarnea recurvata, is an ornamental houseplant and is listed as safe for cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

These two Thai names are very close to each other. But they are not the same group of plants at all.

Don't use one answer to another.

Japanese ツクシ and スギナ are the same tree.

In Japan, this plant has two names. Because people call them separated according to the parts of the tree.

スギナ is the green stem that performs photosynthesis.

ツクシ or 土筆 is the shoot that is raised to produce spores in the spring.

Japanese Wikipedia states that both parts come from the same underground rhizome. and is the same type, Equisetum arvense.

ツクシ is a seasonal food in Japan. People gather them and cook them from March to April.

This means that during that time dogs walking along the road have a real chance of encountering this plant.

People who search only with the word スギナ will not find information written with the word ツクシ and vice versa.

If your little one eats it, what should you do?

There is no need to wait for someone to decide whether this plant is poisonous or not.

Take a photo of the plant your little one eats, both the plant and the leaves.

Write down approximately how much you eat. And what time do you eat?

Call the animal hospital and said that it is a plant that does not yet have toxicity data on cats and dogs.

Do not induce vomiting at home. If the veterinarian has not ordered

First aid steps are detailed in our manual for accidentally eating a poisonous plant.

If you have a seizure, have difficulty breathing, have pale or purple gums, or walk unsteadily, go to the hospital immediately. No need to call and ask first.

Frequently asked questions

Can cats eat grass with the segments removed?

None of the main veterinary references have answered this question. The ASPCA has a page on this plant but lists its toxicity only to horses. Pet Poison Helpline, VCA and Merck do not have a page on this plant. If the cat eats it, call the animal hospital.

Can dogs eat grass and remove the segments?

The answer is the same as a cat. That is, there is still no main reference source that has been decided. The substance in this plant that the ASPCA identified was thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1, but the information he provided was based on horses eating it over several days in a row. Not dog information

Horsetail tree and stripped grass Is it the same tree?

The Ponytail Palm, scientific name Beaucarnea recurvata, is a houseplant that the ASPCA says is safe for cats and dogs. The segmented grass is Equisetum that grows in moist places. Thai names are close to each other but not the same group of plants.

What is the difference between ツクシ and スギナ?

They are the same plant, Equisetum arvense, but Japanese people call them according to the parts of the plant. ツクシ is the spore-producing shoot that grows in the spring and people pick it up to eat, while スギナ is the green stem. Both parts emerge from the same rhizome.

Why doesn't this website add grass with its segments removed in the plant database?

Because our plant database can only list plants that have been clearly judged by veterinarian references. If no one decides We do not guess the answer and do not enter it into the database. But we write this page to tell you what we've checked.

Reference source: www.aspca.org · www.aspca.org · www.aspca.org · www.petpoisonhelpline.com · vcahospitals.com · www.merckvetmanual.com · th.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org