Is Yew Pine Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Podocarpus macrophylla
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Unidentified GI irritant (distinct from true Yew's taxine alkaloids despite the name) |
| 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
Symptoms in cats
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
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What to do
Usually resolves with monitoring. Despite the name, Yew Pine (Podocarpus) is not a true Yew and does not carry true Yew's life-threatening taxine cardiotoxicity — don't confuse the two when assessing urgency.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Yew Pine is unidentified gi irritant (distinct from true yew's taxine alkaloids despite the name).
What makes this plant different
Yew Pine (Podocarpus) is not a true Yew despite the shared name — it lacks true Yew's life-threatening taxine alkaloids and causes only mild GI upset, making it one of the few 'Yew' plants that doesn't warrant emergency-level concern.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Podocarpus macrophylla
- Family
- Podocarpacaea
- Also known as
- Yew Pine, buddhist pine
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control