Is Borage Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Borage officinalis
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (low concentration) |
| Onset of symptoms | Cumulative with repeated exposure rather than acute |
| 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
- Mild GI upset with large or repeated ingestion
Symptoms in cats
- Mild GI upset with large or repeated ingestion
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What to do
An occasional taste is a low concern; repeated or large-scale ingestion carries the same cumulative liver-toxin concern as other pyrrolizidine-alkaloid plants like Ragwort, just at a much lower concentration.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Borage is pyrrolizidine alkaloids (low concentration).
What makes this plant different
Borage is a popular culinary and medicinal herb, and its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content is low enough that occasional culinary use is generally considered low-risk — the concern scales with quantity and frequency, following the same cumulative-liver-damage logic as its much more concentrated relative, Ragwort.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Borage officinalis
- Family
- Boraginceae
- Also known as
- Borage, Starflower
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control