Is Tulip Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Tulipa spp.
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Tulipalin A and B, concentrated in the bulb |
| Onset of symptoms | Within a few hours; worse if the bulb was eaten |
| 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
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
Symptoms in cats
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
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What to do
Monitor for mild GI upset if only petals/leaves were eaten; call a vet promptly if a bulb was dug up and eaten.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Tulip is tulipalin a and b, concentrated in the bulb.
Part-specific risk: Petals and leaves are far less concentrated in toxins than the bulb.
What makes this plant different
Tulip toxicity is overwhelmingly a bulb problem rather than a flower problem — dogs that dig up freshly planted bulbs in fall are the classic exposure case, while a dog grazing on tulip petals in a vase rarely needs anything beyond monitoring.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Tulipa spp.
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Also known as
- Tulip
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control