American Yew Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 4 min read| 1,193 found this helpful

Taxus canadensus

American Yew is confirmed toxic to cats, dogs, and horses per ASPCA data

Its core toxic components are Taxine A, Taxine B, and volatile oils

Ingestion can lead to sudden acute heart failure and death even in small amounts

FAQ

Is American Yew toxic to Humans?

May cause nausea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmia, and fatal heart failure in severe ingestion cases (High)

Is American Yew toxic to Cats?

Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and sudden death from acute heart failure (Severe)

Is American Yew toxic to Dogs?

Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and sudden death from acute heart failure (Severe)

Is American Yew toxic to Horses?

Tremors, respiratory distress, unsteadiness, acute cardiac failure, and sudden death (Severe)

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

Toxicity Details

Humans

High

May cause nausea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmia, and fatal heart failure in severe ingestion cases

Cats

Severe

Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and sudden death from acute heart failure

Dogs

Severe

Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and sudden death from acute heart failure

Horses

Severe

Tremors, respiratory distress, unsteadiness, acute cardiac failure, and sudden death

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll plant parts except the fleshy red aril (seed covering), with highest toxicity in leaves, bark, and seeds

Exposure RoutePrimary exposure is via ingestion; dermal contact may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals

Toxic CompoundsTaxine A; Taxine B; Volatile oil

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Immediately remove all remaining plant material from the exposed individual's mouth
• Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly directed by a medical/veterinary professional
• Document the estimated amount ingested and time of exposure to share with care providers

Contact Vet Immediately

• Any confirmed or suspected ingestion of any part of the American Yew plant
• Appearance of symptoms including tremors, vomiting, respiratory distress, or seizures
• If the animal is unresponsive or shows signs of abnormal heart function

Prevention

• Remove all American Yew plants from areas accessible to pets, livestock, and young children
• Teach household members to identify this plant and avoid contact or ingestion
• Never feed unknown wild or garden plant material to pets or livestock

Treatment & Prognosis

• Administration of activated charcoal to bind unabsorbed toxic compounds in the digestive tract
• Supportive care including IV fluids, anti-seizure medication, and continuous cardiac monitoring
• Targeted interventions to correct cardiac arrhythmia and support respiratory function as needed

Emergency? Open PlantFun for real-time AI guidanceGet App

Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameTaxus canadensus

AliasesCanada Yew、Canadian Yew

Toxicity Grade

HumansHigh

CatsSevere

DogsSevere

HorsesSevere

Target Organs

HeartCentral Nervous SystemGastrointestinal TractRespiratory System

Mechanism of Action

• Taxine alkaloids disrupt sodium and calcium channels in cardiac cells, impairing normal heart rhythm and causing acute heart failure

• Volatile oil components contribute to gastrointestinal irritation and neurological dysfunction including tremors and seizures

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle: Highly susceptible to toxicity, even small amounts of clippings can cause acute cardiac failure and sudden death

Sheep: Ingestion leads to rapid onset of tremors, respiratory distress, and fatal heart failure in most untreated cases

Goats: Exposure causes cardiac arrhythmia, seizures, and death if prompt veterinary intervention is not provided

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana

Visually similar due to evergreen needle-like foliage; key difference: Eastern Red Cedar produces small blue berry-like cones, while American Yew produces red fleshy arils around seeds

Balsam Fir Abies balsamea

Shares short flat evergreen needles; key difference: Balsam Fir needles have rounded tips and release a fragrant resin when crushed, unlike American Yew's pointed, non-resinous needles

Use PlantFun to scan and avoid misidentificationGet App

Related Toxic Plants

English Yew

Taxus baccata

Severe Toxicity

Japanese Yew

Taxus cuspidata

Severe Toxicity

Pacific Yew

Taxus brevifolia

High Toxicity

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

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

View Full Plant Wiki