Is Boxwood safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Toxic |
| Dogs | Toxic |
Severity: Mild
Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is one of the most common evergreen landscaping shrubs in the US, used for clipped hedges, low foundation plantings, and topiary around houses, front walks, and formal gardens nationwide. Unlike holly or mistletoe, it isn't a seasonal or houseplant item — it's a year-round outdoor fixture sold at nearly every garden center and nursery.
Because it lives outdoors as a hedge or border plant, the realistic exposure for dogs is browsing or chewing hedge foliage during a yard visit, or getting into a pile of fresh clippings after the hedge is pruned. Cats are less likely to encounter it, since boxwood is not typically brought indoors, though an outdoor-access cat could chew a stray sprig.
ASPCA lists Buxus spp. as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with alkaloids as the toxic principle. For dogs and cats specifically, ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, and NC State Extension's Plant Toolbox all describe the reaction as low-severity gastrointestinal upset — vomiting and diarrhea — and Pet Poison Helpline adds that serious poisoning is uncommon in practice because the plant's bitter taste tends to discourage pets from eating much of it. Horses are the exception: ASPCA and NC State both note that horses ingesting boxwood can develop colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure, and seizures, a materially more severe picture than what's documented for cats and dogs. If a dog or cat shows persistent vomiting or diarrhea after chewing boxwood, a veterinarian visit is the right call.
Facts and examples
- ASPCA lists Boxwood (Buxus spp.) as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with alkaloids as the toxic principle and vomiting/diarrhea as the clinical signs in dogs and cats. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
- NC State Extension's Plant Toolbox entry for Buxus 'Green Velvet' independently rates the plant's poison severity as low, confirming alkaloids as the toxic principle and the same vomiting/diarrhea signs in dogs and cats, with colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure, and seizures in horses. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
- Pet Poison Helpline notes boxwood poisoning in pets is relatively uncommon because the plant's bitter taste discourages significant consumption. (source, verified 2026-07-28)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-28 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-28