Chives Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 4 min read| 3,737 found this helpful

All parts of the chive plant are toxic to susceptible animals, even in small repeated doses.

The primary toxic principle is N-propyl disulfide, which causes oxidative damage and breakdown of red blood cells.

Symptoms may appear within 24 hours of ingestion or be delayed for days to weeks after repeated low-level exposure.

FAQ

Is Chives toxic to Humans?

Generally safe for human consumption in typical culinary quantities; very large ingestions may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals. (Low)

Is Chives toxic to Cats?

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination (High)

Is Chives toxic to Dogs?

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination (High)

Is Chives toxic to Horses?

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination (High)

Not sure which plant? Snap a photo to ID in 1 secondGet App

Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

Generally safe for human consumption in typical culinary quantities; very large ingestions may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals.

Cats

High

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination

Dogs

High

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination

Horses

High

Vomiting, hemolytic (Heinz body) anemia, blood in urine, weakness, elevated heart rate, panting, lethargy, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, reduced appetite, incoordination

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsWhole plant (all fresh, dried, or processed parts are toxic)

Exposure RouteIngestion (eating any part of the plant or food containing chive material)

Toxic CompoundsN-propyl disulfide; Allyl-propyl disulfide; Diallyl disulfide; S-methylcysteine sulfoxide (SMCO, kale anemia factor); Alliin derivatives (sulfur-containing non-proteinogenic amino acids)

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Remove any remaining chive material from the animal's mouth and surrounding area immediately
• Do not induce vomiting or administer home remedies without explicit veterinary guidance
• Collect a sample of the ingested plant for confirmation of identity by veterinary staff

Contact Vet Immediately

• You witness or suspect your cat, dog, or horse has ingested any quantity of chives
• The animal exhibits symptoms including vomiting, blood in urine, weakness, pale/jaundiced gums, or labored breathing
• Symptoms persist or worsen after initial exposure, even if onset was delayed by days or weeks

Prevention

• Store fresh, dried, or cooked chives and chive-containing foods out of reach of susceptible pets and livestock
• Avoid supplementing animal feed or treats with any Allium species including chives
• Learn to distinguish chives from non-toxic lookalike plants if grazing areas are accessible to your animals

Treatment & Prognosis

• Veterinarian-supervised decontamination including activated charcoal administration if ingestion was recent
• Symptomatic supportive care including fluid therapy and oxygen supplementation as needed
• Blood transfusion for cases of severe, life-threatening hemolytic anemia
• Ongoing monitoring of red blood cell counts and organ function for 1-2 weeks post-exposure

Emergency? Open PlantFun for real-time AI guidanceGet App

Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameAllium schoenoprasum

AliasesCommon chives、Culinary chives

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsHigh

DogsHigh

HorsesHigh

Target Organs

Red blood cellsKidneysLiverCardiovascular systemRespiratory system

Mechanism of Action

• Sulfur-containing non-proteinogenic amino acids (alliin derivatives) are converted to toxic disulfide compounds when plant cells are damaged by cutting, chewing, or processing

• Toxic disulfides cause oxidative damage to red blood cell membranes, leading to Heinz body formation and hemolysis (red blood cell breakdown)

• Reduced oxygen transport capacity from hemolysis leads to systemic hypoxia and secondary organ damage if left untreated

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats): Susceptible to hemolytic anemia, may exhibit reduced rumen motility, onion-scented breath, and abortion in pregnant individuals after ingestion

Small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents): Lower susceptibility than cats, dogs, and horses, but large ingestions may cause mild hemolytic symptoms and gastrointestinal upset

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Rushes Juncaceae family

Visually similar to young chive plants; key differentiator is that rushes do not have the distinct onion/garlic odor of chives when crushed, and are non-toxic to animals.

Use PlantFun to scan and avoid misidentificationGet App

Related Toxic Plants

Common onion

Allium cepa

High toxicity to cats, dogs, horses and other susceptible mammals

Garlic

Allium sativum

High toxicity to cats, dogs, horses and other susceptible mammals

Wild garlic (bear leek)

Allium ursinum

High toxicity to cats, dogs, horses and other susceptible mammals

Download PlantFun App

Identify, grow and care for plants effectively!

Instant Plant ID

Take a photo to quickly identify plants.

Smart Care Reminders

Generate watering and care schedules.

Toxicity & Disease Diagnosis

Identify toxic plants and pests with treatment advice.

Data Sources

1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control

2. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.