plant
Daffodils
DANGEROUS
Yes, daffodils are poisonous to dogs. The bulbs are the most dangerous part.
If your dog has eaten this item, contact your vet or an emergency veterinary service now.
If your dog is showing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, collapse, severe vomiting, unconsciousness or other serious symptoms, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
What to do
Contact your vet for advice, mentioning whether a bulb was eaten. Remove any remaining plant material from your dog's reach.
When to contact a vet: Contact a vet promptly, and immediately if a bulb was eaten or your dog is trembling, collapsing or struggling to breathe.
Symptoms to look for
- drooling
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- abdominal pain
- lethargy
- tremors
- irregular heartbeat
- difficulty breathing
Why
All parts of the daffodil are toxic to dogs, with the bulb containing the highest concentration of lycorine and related alkaloids. Dogs that dig up bulbs in the garden are most at risk. Eating daffodils typically causes drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea, and larger amounts can affect the heart rhythm and breathing. Water from a vase of cut daffodils can also be harmful.
- Substances of concern
- lycorine, alkaloids, calcium oxalate crystals
- Parts to avoid
- All parts, especially the bulb; also the water from a vase of cut daffodils.
- How much matters
- Bulbs are the most concentrated. Any ingestion of a bulb should be reported to a vet promptly.
- Severity
- Moderate to high
Identifying this plant
- Scientific name
- Narcissus
- Plant family
- Amaryllidaceae
- UK common names
- Daffodil, Narcissus, Jonquil, Lent lily
- Poisonous parts
- bulb, flower, leaves, stem, vase water
- Toxic principle
- Lycorine and other alkaloids, plus calcium oxalate crystals, concentrated most heavily in the bulb.
- When it's a risk
- Bulbs are planted in autumn and flower from late winter through spring in the UK; bulbs left in bags or freshly planted are a common risk.
- Easily confused with
- Onion bulbs, Snowdrop bulbs, Hyacinth bulbs
Plants that look alike can differ greatly in how poisonous they are. A photograph is never proof of identity — if your dog may have eaten a plant you can't name with certainty, ask your vet or a qualified professional to identify it.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison ControlPrimary authoritative — Plant toxicity
- PetMDVeterinary information — Plant toxicity
Information reviewed against recognised veterinary and animal-safety sources. Source organisations are independent of Is It For Dogs unless otherwise stated.
Last reviewed 6 September 2026 · next review due September 2027.
Safety classifications are based on available expert and veterinary information. Individual dogs may react differently, particularly dogs with allergies, existing health conditions or specific dietary requirements.
Important: Is It For Dogs provides general information about the safety of foods, plants, drinks, ingredients and other items around dogs. Our information is based on sources we consider reliable and is intended to help dog owners make informed decisions. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified veterinary professional. Read more
Dogs can react differently depending on their size, age, health, allergies, medications, the amount consumed and other circumstances. An item classified as Safe is not necessarily suitable for every individual dog.
If your dog has eaten something potentially poisonous or dangerous, has eaten an unknown substance, or is showing concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary service immediately.
Do not induce vomiting or give your dog medication unless specifically instructed to do so by a veterinary professional.
Also known as daffodil, daffodils, narcissus, daffodil bulb, jonquil · Narcissus