Is Privet Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Ligustrum japonicum
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Ligustrin and related glycosides |
| Onset of symptoms | Within a few hours |
| 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
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
Symptoms in cats
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
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What to do
Contact a vet, especially for berry ingestion. Privet is an extremely common hedge plant, making unsupervised backyard access a likely exposure route.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Privet is ligustrin and related glycosides.
What makes this plant different
Privet berries ripen to a dark purple-black in fall, coinciding with when hedges are often left untrimmed and berry-laden — a seasonal exposure pattern worth watching for in yards with mature privet hedges.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Ligustrum japonicum
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Also known as
- Privet, amur, wax-leaf, common privet
- Typically found
- outdoor
Pet-safe alternatives
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Related plants
Common Privet
Ligustrum vulgare
Alocasia
Alocasia spp.
Aloe
Aloe vera
Amaryllis
Amaryllis spp.
Ambrosia Mexicana
Chenopodium botrys
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control