Hound's Tongue Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 3 min read| 3,428 found this helpful

Confirmed toxic to horses, while toxicity status for cats and dogs remains unconfirmed

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are the primary toxic component of this plant

Liver damage in horses only occurs after ingestion of large quantities or long-term repeated exposure

FAQ

Is Hound's Tongue toxic to Humans?

No confirmed clinical toxicity data available for humans (Unknown)

Is Hound's Tongue toxic to Cats?

Toxicity status unknown, no documented clinical signs reported (Unknown)

Is Hound's Tongue toxic to Dogs?

Toxicity status unknown, no documented clinical signs reported (Unknown)

Is Hound's Tongue toxic to Horses?

Liver disease, including potential jaundice, reduced appetite and lethargy after large or prolonged ingestion (Low)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Unknown

No confirmed clinical toxicity data available for humans

Cats

Unknown

Toxicity status unknown, no documented clinical signs reported

Dogs

Unknown

Toxicity status unknown, no documented clinical signs reported

Horses

Low

Liver disease, including potential jaundice, reduced appetite and lethargy after large or prolonged ingestion

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll plant parts (foliage, roots, seeds) contain the identified toxic compounds

Exposure RouteIngestion is the only confirmed harmful exposure route

Toxic CompoundsPyrrolizidine alkaloids

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Immediately remove any remaining plant material from the exposed animal's environment and mouth
• Collect a sample of the ingested plant for official identification to guide next steps
• Monitor exposed horses for appetite changes, lethargy or unusual behavior for 72 hours post-exposure

Contact Vet Immediately

• Horse has ingested large volumes of the plant in a short time frame
• Horse has had repeated long-term access to the plant in grazing areas
• Any signs of jaundice, reduced appetite or lethargy appear after confirmed exposure

Prevention

• Remove all Hound's Tongue plants from horse pastures, hay storage and accessible grazing areas
• Inspect hay and forage supplies regularly for contamination with this plant
• Ensure horses have access to sufficient high-quality forage to reduce motivation to graze on toxic weeds

Treatment & Prognosis

• Veterinarians may administer activated charcoal for recent large ingestions to reduce alkaloid absorption
• Supportive care including fluid therapy and liver-protective supplements may be prescribed
• Long-term liver function monitoring is recommended for horses with confirmed repeated exposure

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameCynoglossum amabile

AliasesChinese Forget-Me-Not、Chinese Hound's Tongue

Toxicity Grade

HumansUnknown

CatsUnknown

DogsUnknown

HorsesLow

Target Organs

Liver

Mechanism of Action

• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolized in the liver into reactive toxic metabolites that cause cumulative, irreversible liver cell damage over time

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle: Toxicity unconfirmed, but suspected to be at risk of liver damage from pyrrolizidine alkaloid exposure

Sheep: Toxicity unconfirmed, but similar liver damage risk from high or prolonged exposure is expected

Goats: Toxicity unconfirmed, with limited documented data on exposure effects

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Common Forget-Me-Not Myosotis sylvatica

Visually similar small bright blue clustered flowers; key difference: Hound's Tongue has larger, fuzzy, tongue-shaped leaves while Common Forget-Me-Not has smaller, smooth, narrow leaves

Common Borage Borago officinalis

Related Boraginaceae species with similar blue flowers; key difference: Hound's Tongue lacks the coarse bristly stems and distinct cucumber-like leaf scent of Borage

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Related Toxic Plants

Common Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Moderate toxicity to livestock and humans

Common Heliotrope

Heliotropium europaeum

High toxicity to horses, cattle and sheep

Yellow Burweed

Amsinckia intermedia

Moderate to High toxicity to horses and cattle

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Data Sources

1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control

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