- The bulb is the most toxic part
- Within hours
- Affects: Gut & heart
Why this verdict for dogs
Daffodils — especially the bulbs — contain lycorine, which causes severe vomiting and drooling and can affect the heart and breathing. Mistaking a bulb for an onion is a real risk.
Warning signs to watch for
- Severe vomiting
- Drooling
- Wobbliness
- Irregular heartbeat
⚠ If your dog ate daffodil
Act immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away.
- Note how much was eaten and when.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.
Daffodils are one of the first signs of spring and one of the first seasonal poisonings of the year. Most cases involve the bulb rather than the flower, and often it is a dog digging in a border or finding a bag of bulbs waiting to be planted.
How much is safe?
All parts contain lycorine, but the bulb holds by far the most, so a dog that eats a bulb is in a different situation from one that chews a petal. Bulbs also contain sharp calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and gut directly. A single bulb can make a medium dog seriously unwell. Cut flowers in a vase are a lower but real risk, and the vase water carries toxin too.
What happens if a dog eats too much?
Heavy drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea usually start within a couple of hours, often with obvious mouth discomfort. With larger amounts — typically bulbs — the effects go beyond the gut: wobbliness, tremors, low blood pressure and heart-rhythm disturbances. Persistent vomiting also brings a dehydration risk of its own, particularly in small dogs.
⚠ What to do if your dog ate daffodil
Call your vet with an estimate of how much and which part was eaten (ASPCA 888-426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661). Bulb ingestion should be seen; a nibbled petal often just needs monitoring, but let the vet make that call. Treatment is generally anti-nausea medication and fluids, with heart monitoring if a bulb was involved.
⚠️ Worried your pet got into this?
Frequently asked questions
Are other spring bulbs dangerous too?
Yes — tulips, hyacinths and amaryllis all cause similar problems, with the bulb again being the most toxic part. Store bulbs where pets cannot reach them.
My cat drank from a vase with daffodils — does that count?
It can. The water picks up the toxin. Rinse the mouth, offer fresh water and call your vet for advice.
More plants for dogs
By the CanMyPet Editorial Team · Reviewed against ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Pet Poison Helpline · Last updated July 31, 2026.
Sources
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- American Kennel Club — Dog Nutrition
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poison List