Dogbane Hemp

Dogbane hemp is a wild plant in the genus Apocynum, found along garden edges and in open fields. The whole plant contains cardiac glycosides, so even a small amount can disrupt heart rhythm and progress to cardiac arrest — keep it out of any space your cat uses.

Telling it apart

Dogbane hemp is in the same genus as bitter root and is essentially just as toxic. Both belong to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and, like oleander, carry cardiac glycosides as their main toxin. Treat every plant in this genus as toxic, regardless of species.

How cats get exposed

The toxin is present in the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots, and also in the milky sap that oozes when a stem is cut. Licking that sap, or grooming it off the fur, is enough to cause exposure. Pulled and dried stems stay toxic too.

How symptoms progress

Signs usually begin 6–24 hours after ingestion with vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. As the cardiac glycosides take effect, the pulse may slow or become irregular, and this can advance from arrhythmia to cardiac arrest. The delayed onset — looking fine for the first few hours — is part of what makes it dangerous.

What to do right now

If there is any chance your cat chewed or swallowed it, get to a 24-hour emergency vet immediately, even without symptoms. Once heart rhythm breaks down, cardiac toxicity is hard to reverse, so the key is not to wait for signs. Do not try to induce vomiting at home.