Is Borage Toxic to Dogs?

☠️ ToxicSeverity: Moderate

✅ Cross-checked against veterinary poison-control guidance · Oct 2026 audit

⚠️ Educational info only. If your pet just chewed something and looks unwell, skip the reading and call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline (US): (855) 764-7661.

Yes, borage is toxic to dogs. One meal causes vomiting and diarrhea, and repeated grazing can lead to cumulative liver damage.

Also known as: Starflower, Bee Bush, Borago officinalis · Borago officinalis

What makes it toxic

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids concentrated in the foliage, which irritate the gut acutely and are hepatotoxic with repeated exposure.

Warning signs to watch for

Acute: vomiting, diarrhea and drooling within hours. Chronic: weight loss, lethargy, poor appetite and jaundice as liver injury builds.

What to do if your dog eats it

Offer water and call your vet after a substantial meal of the plant. If your dog has grazed on borage repeatedly, ask for liver values to be checked.

Common questions

How much borage is dangerous for a dog?

A small taste may cause nothing at all, but a meal of leaves causes GI upset. Repeated exposure is the pattern that damages livers, so prevent grazing.

Is borage oil in supplements the same risk?

No. Refined borage oil is processed to remove pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is dose-controlled — very different from eating the raw plant.

More plants checked for dogs

Pothos☠️ ToxicYes, pothos is toxic to dogs. Chewing any part of the vine releases calcium oxalate crystals tha Aloe Vera⚠️ Mildly ToxicAloe vera is mildly to moderately toxic to dogs. The skin and latex layer of the leaf contain co Spider Plant✅ Non-ToxicNo, spider plants are non-toxic to dogs. A dog that nibbles the arching leaves is not at risk of Easter Lily⚠️ Mildly ToxicEaster lilies are only mildly toxic to dogs — they usually cause stomach upset, not the fatal ki Sago Palm☠️ ToxicYes — sago palm is severely toxic to dogs, with a documented fatality rate around 50% when untre Boston Fern✅ Non-ToxicNo, Boston ferns are non-toxic to dogs. Chewing a frond will not poison your dog.

This page is general educational information, not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Every pet is different — if your animal ate something concerning, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline right away. Checking what your pet can eat? Visit our sister site SafeOrToxic.