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Lantana is one of the more serious garden plants for dogs. It contains triterpenoids that can injure the liver, and the unripe green berries are the most toxic part. Beyond stomach upset, a real ingestion can bring weakness and liver damage, so lantana deserves genuine caution.
Check Lantana for your dog
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Why Lantana is dangerous
Lantana contains pentacyclic triterpenoids that can cause liver injury in dogs, on top of gastrointestinal irritation. The whole plant is toxic, and the unripe green berries carry the highest concentration.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellow gums or eyes) with liver injury
What to do next
Keep dogs away from lantana, especially the green berries, and call your vet or poison control promptly for any real ingestion; watch for weakness and jaundice over the following days.
Lantana is more than a stomach-upset plant; the liver is what is at stake.
1. Triterpenoids and the liver
The compounds in lantana can injure the liver, and the unripe green berries concentrate them, so a dog that strips berries off a lantana shrub is a bigger concern than one that chews a leaf. The signs of poisoning to watch for →
FAQ
How much Lantana is dangerous?
A nibble of leaf usually causes stomach upset, but the green berries and larger ingestions are where the liver risk lies. There is no comfortable safe amount to aim for, and a small dog or a berry ingestion is the higher-risk case.
Can I treat this at home?
This is not a wait-and-see plant beyond a tiny leaf nibble. Berry ingestion or any real amount warrants a call rather than a guess.
When should I call the vet?
Any berries eaten, a large amount, a small dog, or signs of vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, or yellowing of the gums or eyes.
Compiled from veterinary poison-control and medical reference sources, including the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the Pet Poison Helpline, and the Merck Veterinary Manual. This is general educational information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for examination by your veterinarian. DogSafe's severity ratings are our own assessment, calculated from published guidance and your dog's weight. In an emergency, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.