ADULTPLANTS
Plants / Asteraceae / String of pearls / Toxic to dogs

Is string of pearls toxic to dogs?

Curio rowleyanus

Yes

Yes. String of pearls is toxic to dogs, graded low severity by NC State Extension. The agent is pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Call your vet if a dog has eaten any.

Poison severity Low as published by the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Their grade, not ours.
If your dog has eaten some
  1. Take any remaining plant material out of their mouth and rinse the mouth with water.
  2. Call someone. Your own vet first. Otherwise ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 — both charge a fee.
  3. Take a photo of the plant, and note roughly how much was eaten and when. It is the first thing you will be asked.
  4. Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.

What it does, and why

The authorities we cite record this species as toxic without identifying the responsible compound. We are not going to guess at one. The reported signs below are what is actually documented.

Reported signs

Signs as listed by the ASPCA . Not every animal shows all of them.

What each authority says

What each authority says
ASPCA
No record page found under any name tested.
NC State Extension
Poison severity: Low · Pyrrolizideine alkaloid · Ingestion of the leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The plant's sap can cause skin irritation and rash.

What to keep instead

Species in this database listed non-toxic to cats and dogs, chosen for a similar look or similar care rather than at random.

PlantFamilyWaterDifficulty
Burro’s tailSedum morganianum Crassulaceae 14–28d 2/5
String of heartsCeropegia woodii Apocynaceae 10–18d 2/5

Swapping the plant is the only measure that reliably works. Height and hanging baskets buy less time than people expect with a determined cat.

The other animal

Looking for cats? See is string of pearls toxic to cats. Full care details are on the string of pearls species entry.

Sources

  1. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Curio rowleyanus Checked 2026-09-12.
  2. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Curio rowleyanus Accepted name and family. Checked 2026-09-12.
  3. Wikidata entity Q50840601 — entity identity, so this record can be matched against other databases.
  4. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Curio rowleyanus Cultivation record. Checked 2026-09-12.
  5. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — emergency line, fee applies

Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-11
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a veterinarian. Severity is reproduced from the authority that published it and is never originated here. How this is sourced.
This page is a reference, not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call rather than read.