Is Loco Weed Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Astragalus spp.
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | No |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | No |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Swainsonine (causes irreversible cumulative neurological damage) |
| Onset of symptoms | Weeks to months of continuous grazing — damage can be irreversible even after exposure stops |
| 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 horses
- Depression
- Incoordination
- Weight loss
- Abnormal behavior with prolonged grazing
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What to do
A chronic grazing-exposure hazard for horses and livestock, not established as a dog or cat risk. The neurological damage from swainsonine can be permanent even if the horse is removed from exposure.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Loco Weed is swainsonine (causes irreversible cumulative neurological damage).
What makes this plant different
Loco Weed's name comes directly from the bizarre, disoriented behavior it causes in livestock after weeks of grazing — the neurological damage from swainsonine can be permanent even after the animal is removed from the plant, a genuinely unusual and severe long-term consequence among plants on this list.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Astragalus spp.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Also known as
- Loco Weed, Locoweed
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control