Digitalis purpurea
Why is it risky?
Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides, principally digitoxin and digoxin, which inhibit the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump in cardiac muscle, causing profound effects on heart rhythm and contractility. All parts are toxic: leaves, flowers, seeds, and water from a vase containing foxglove. Cats are highly sensitive to cardiac glycosides. These are the same compounds used medically in human cardiology (digoxin), but plant ingestion provides an uncontrolled, potentially lethal dose.
Affected Systems
Digestive · Nervous · Cardiovascular
Symptoms
Vomiting, diarrhea, severe cardiac arrhythmias, bradycardia or tachycardia, weakness, incoordination. Severe cases: fatal cardiac arrest.
What To Do
Emergency vet. Cardiac monitoring and antiarrhythmic treatment required. Digoxin-specific antibody fragments (Digibind) are available for severe cases.
Notes
Foxglove is a common cottage garden plant that self-seeds prolifically. Dried foxglove in floral arrangements or potpourri retains its glycoside content, the dried plant is equally toxic. Water from vases containing foxglove flowers dissolves glycosides and is also toxic if ingested.
Sources
→ ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/foxglove
→ Pet Poison Helpline — petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/foxglove/
→ Merck Veterinary Manual — merckvetmanual.com