Ezina · A Field Manual for Plant Care · United States Vol. I · Ed. 2027 · Proof copy

§ Toxic plants · Portulacaceae · Checked Oct 2026

Is common purslane toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Plant Smart rates its effects Critical, level 4 of 4.

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Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Photo: (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), via iNaturalist

§ 010 · Signs

What to watch for

Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, tremors, drooling, weakness, dullness or depression, lying down and unable to get up and coma. Signs can start within hours; some take a day or more to show.

§ 020 · If it happened

What to do if your pet ate it

Call your vet or a pet poison hotline straight away, even if your pet seems fine: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661. Both are open 24 hours and charge a fee. Have the plant or a photo of it to hand, and don’t make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.

§ 040 · Questions

Questions about common purslane and pets

Is common purslane toxic to cats?

Yes. ASPCA lists common purslane as toxic to cats.

Is common purslane toxic to dogs?

Yes. ASPCA lists common purslane as toxic to dogs.

What happens if my pet eats common purslane?

Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, tremors, drooling, weakness, dullness or depression, lying down and unable to get up and coma. Plant Smart rates it Critical, level 4 of 4.

What should I do if my pet ate it?

Call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away, even before signs appear: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both charge a fee. Have the plant, or a photo of it, to hand.

What else is common purslane called?

Common purslane is also sold or known as pigweed.

Changes

5 Oct 2026: page drafted.

Sources

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List.

Plant Smart: Plant Smart: plants toxic to pets.

Photo: (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), via iNaturalist, source.

Checked Oct 2026.