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Marigolds are among the mildest garden flowers for dogs. The common Tagetes marigold can cause minor stomach upset if eaten and mild skin irritation from the sap, but it is not a serious poisoning. A dog that samples one is very unlikely to come to harm.
Check Marigold for your dog
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Why Marigold needs caution
Garden marigolds (Tagetes) contain mild irritant compounds in the foliage and sap. Eating them can cause minor digestive upset, and contact with the sap can irritate the skin, but the effects are minor.
Signs to watch for
Mild vomiting or diarrhea, drooling, mild skin or mouth irritation
What to do next
No emergency action is needed. Rinse skin that touched the sap, keep water available, and call your vet only if stomach upset continues.
A nibble usually causes little or nothing, at most mild stomach upset. Even larger amounts tend to produce only more of the same minor irritation, so this is a low-severity plant.
Can I treat this at home?
Yes, in almost all cases. Watch for mild stomach upset or skin irritation and keep water available.
When should I call the vet?
Only if vomiting or diarrhea is repeated or persists, or if skin contact causes a reaction that does not settle.
•ASPCA APCC, toxic and non-toxic plants: marigold (Tagetes)
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.