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Pet safety

Is Forest Pepper toxic to dogs?

Piper sylvaticum

Mildly toxic to dogs

Mildly. The ASPCA lists forest pepper as mildly toxic to dogs — a chewing dog typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. This classification follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List. Piper sylvaticum is a member of the Piperaceae family. It is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but as with other Piper species, the genus contains piperine and related alkaloids. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets and is not considered severely toxic. Treat with caution around pets and children.

What to do if your dog ate forest pepper

  1. Remove any plant material from your dog's mouth and move forest pepper out of reach.
  2. Note how much was eaten and when, and watch for drooling, vomiting, or lethargy.
  3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison-control specialist instructs you to.
  4. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice.
  5. Bring a leaf or photo of forest pepper to the appointment so it can be treated correctly.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. If you think your dog has eaten forest pepper, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Is forest pepper toxic to dogs? — FAQ

Is forest pepper toxic to dogs?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists forest pepper as mildly toxic to dogs — a chewing dog typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. Piper sylvaticum is a member of the Piperaceae family. It is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but as with other Piper species, the genus contains piperine and related alkaloids. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets and is not considered severely toxic. Treat with caution around pets and children.

What are the symptoms if a dog eats forest pepper?

Piper sylvaticum is a member of the Piperaceae family. It is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but as with other Piper species, the genus contains piperine and related alkaloids. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets and is not considered severely toxic. Treat with caution around pets and children. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your dog has had access to forest pepper.

What should I do if my dog ate forest pepper?

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your dog's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

Is forest pepper toxic to cats too?

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Forest Pepper is mildly toxic to cats as well. See the full forest pepper pet-safety guide for both species.

What is a dog-safe alternative to forest pepper?

For a similar look without the risk, see the best dogs-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Full forest pepper pet-safety