Is Purslane Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Portulaca oleracea
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | No |
| Toxic component | Soluble oxalates and nitrate accumulation (varies significantly with growing conditions) |
| 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
- Drooling
- Tremors with very large ingestion
Symptoms in cats
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
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What to do
Usually resolves with monitoring for typical garden exposure; Purslane is also a common edible foraged green for humans, which somewhat limits how concerning ordinary ingestion is.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Purslane is soluble oxalates and nitrate accumulation (varies significantly with growing conditions).
What makes this plant different
Purslane is a common lawn and garden weed that doubles as an edible foraged green for humans, which creates a confusing safety signal — its actual toxicity is mild and concentration-dependent on growing conditions (nitrate levels vary with soil and weather), unlike most fixed-toxin plants on this list.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Portulaca oleracea
- Family
- Portulacaceae
- Also known as
- Purslane, Wild Portulaca, Rock Moss, Pigweed, Pusley, Moss Rose
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control