Is Bishop's Weed Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Ammi majus
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Furocoumarins (cause skin photosensitization on contact with sap plus sunlight) |
| Onset of symptoms | Skin reaction over 24-48 hours after sap contact plus sunlight |
| Indoor / outdoor | outdoor |
If your pet ate this plant
Both lines are staffed 24/7. A consultation fee applies to each. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling.
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Symptoms in dogs
- Skin burns/blistering after sap contact and sun exposure
- Vomiting if eaten
Symptoms in cats
- Skin burns/blistering after sap contact and sun exposure
- Vomiting if eaten
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What to do
Keep the pet out of sunlight and wash any sap-contacted skin with soap and water; this plant is dangerous primarily through skin contact plus sunlight, not ingestion alone.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Bishop's Weed is furocoumarins (cause skin photosensitization on contact with sap plus sunlight).
What makes this plant different
Bishop's Weed is grown for its delicate white flower clusters resembling Queen Anne's Lace, but its sap contains the same furocoumarin compounds responsible for severe sunburn-like skin reactions in Giant Hogweed — a far less famous plant with a similar hidden hazard.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Ammi majus
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Also known as
- Bishop's Weed, Greater Ammi, False Queen Anne's Lace
- Typically found
- outdoor
Pet-safe alternatives
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Related plants
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Cow parsnip
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Cowbane
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Dill
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Giant Hogweed
Heracleum maximum
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control