Is Purslane safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Toxic |
| Dogs | Toxic |
Severity: Moderate
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
Purslane is one of the most common weeds in American vegetable gardens and landscape beds. The University of California's Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) calls common purslane "an important agricultural weed" that "grows rapidly in spring and summer" and is "found throughout California to about 4600 feet (1400 m)," turning up in orchards, vineyards, crop fields, landscaped areas, gardens and roadsides. It thrives in dry conditions but competes well under irrigation too, which is why it persists in watered beds where other summer weeds fade. Two insects introduced into California by accident now help hold it back: UC IPM reports that where the purslane sawfly has established, the California Department of Food and Agriculture "has rated it as providing excellent control of common purslane populations."
Purslane also has a following as a foraged green. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach notes it is "high in omega-3 fatty acids and significant amounts of vitamins A, C, and E as well as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium," and some home cooks add the leaves to salads or use them to thicken soups. But the same extension guidance flags a catch for humans: "like spinach, it also contains high amounts of oxalates so can cause kidney stones in those who are susceptible."
That oxalate content is exactly what makes purslane risky for pets. The ASPCA lists soluble calcium oxalates as the toxic compound in purslane, which can cause muscle weakness, lethargy, and diarrhea in cats and dogs that eat it. Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) if a pet eats purslane and shows these signs.
Facts and examples
- UC IPM's Common Purslane profile describes it as "an important agricultural weed" that "grows rapidly in spring and summer," is "found throughout California to about 4600 feet (1400 m)," and though it "thrives under dry conditions, common purslane competes well under irrigated conditions"; UC IPM further reports that where the purslane sawfly (Schizocerella pilicornis) has established, "the California Department of Food and Agriculture has rated it as providing excellent control of common purslane populations." (source, verified 2026-08-01)
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's AnswerLine notes purslane is "high in omega-3 fatty acids and significant amounts of vitamins A, C, and E as well as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium," but cautions that "like spinach, it also contains high amounts of oxalates so can cause kidney stones in those who are susceptible." (source, verified 2026-08-01)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-08-01 — 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 2026-08-01