Ranunculus spp. is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is severe. Also known as Buttercups, Poppies, and Allies, Buttercups and Buttercup Family.
If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Fees may apply.
Vomiting Diarrhea Depression Loss Of Appetite Drooling Oral Ulcers Incoordination Colic Recumbency Paralysis Abdominal Pain
The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.
Ranunculus is a large genus of about 1750 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus are known as buttercups, spearworts and water crowfoots.
All Ranunculus (buttercup) species are poisonous when eaten fresh, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning in livestock can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms of poisoning include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, colic, and severe blistering of the mouth, mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in extensive handling of the plants. The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe.
Also recorded as Buttercup, Crowsfoots, Water Crowfoot, `awa Kanaloa genus, buttercup genus and crowfoot.
More from the Ranunculaceae family:
Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.