Yew Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 4 min read| 2,617 found this helpful

Taxus spp.

Yew is severely toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, with even small ingestion amounts often leading to sudden fatal cardiac failure

The core toxic compound in all Taxus species is taxine, which directly impairs normal cardiac function

Early signs of yew poisoning in dogs include muscular tremors, dyspnea, and seizures before cardiac collapse occurs

FAQ

Is Yew toxic to Humans?

Limited documented human poisoning cases, but ingestion is expected to cause cardiac dysfunction, tremors, and potentially fatal acute heart failure (High)

Is Yew toxic to Cats?

Sudden death from acute cardiac failure, with potential pre-fatal signs including muscular tremors and respiratory distress (Severe)

Is Yew toxic to Dogs?

Early signs include muscular tremors, dyspnea, and seizures, followed by rapid onset of fatal acute cardiac failure (Severe)

Is Yew toxic to Horses?

Sudden death from acute cardiac failure, with possible early indications of tremors and exercise intolerance (Severe)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

High

Limited documented human poisoning cases, but ingestion is expected to cause cardiac dysfunction, tremors, and potentially fatal acute heart failure

Cats

Severe

Sudden death from acute cardiac failure, with potential pre-fatal signs including muscular tremors and respiratory distress

Dogs

Severe

Early signs include muscular tremors, dyspnea, and seizures, followed by rapid onset of fatal acute cardiac failure

Horses

Severe

Sudden death from acute cardiac failure, with possible early indications of tremors and exercise intolerance

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll plant parts except the soft, red, fleshy aril (berry covering the seed) are toxic; the seed inside the aril is highly toxic

Exposure RouteIngestion of any toxic plant parts; even small nibbles of foliage or seeds can cause poisoning

Toxic CompoundsTaxine

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Immediately remove any remaining yew plant material from the affected animal's mouth and surrounding environment
• Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly directed to do so by a licensed veterinarian
• Collect a sample of the ingested plant and note the approximate quantity consumed to share with your vet

Contact Vet Immediately

• Any confirmed or suspected ingestion of yew plant material, regardless of the amount consumed
• Appearance of clinical signs including tremors, difficulty breathing, seizures, or sudden collapse
• Known access to yew plants in an animal that displays unexpected lethargy or cardiac distress

Prevention

• Remove all yew shrubs and clippings from areas accessible to pets, livestock, and children
• Store yard waste containing yew material in sealed containers away from animal access points
• Educate all household members and pet caregivers on how to identify yew plants to avoid accidental exposure

Treatment & Prognosis

• Emergency veterinary decontamination including activated charcoal administration for recent ingestions
• Continuous cardiac monitoring and supportive care to manage arrhythmias and neurological symptoms
• Administration of targeted medications to counteract the cardiac effects of taxine alkaloids as clinically indicated

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameTaxus spp.

AliasesJapanese yew

Toxicity Grade

HumansHigh

CatsSevere

DogsSevere

HorsesSevere

Target Organs

HeartCentral nervous system

Mechanism of Action

• Taxine alkaloids disrupt cardiac sodium and calcium channel function, impairing normal heart conduction and rhythm, leading to acute cardiac arrest

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle: Severely toxic, ingestion of as little as 100g of yew foliage can cause sudden cardiac death

Sheep: Highly susceptible to taxine poisoning, with most exposures resulting in fatality within hours

Goats: Toxic, ingestion causes rapid onset of cardiac arrhythmias, neurological signs, and death

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

English Holly Ilex aquifolium

Both are common evergreen landscape plants with bright red berries; holly has spiny, stiff leaves while yew has flat, soft, needle-like foliage

Common Boxwood Buxus sempervirens

Both are dense evergreen shrubs used for hedging; boxwood has small, rounded, leathery leaves while yew leaves are flat with pointed tips and grow in distinct rows

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Related Toxic Plants

English Yew

Taxus baccata

Severely toxic, ingestion is fatal for most mammals

Pacific Yew

Taxus brevifolia

Severely toxic to all companion animals and livestock

Canadian Yew

Taxus canadensis

Highly toxic, small ingestions cause acute cardiac failure

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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.

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