Is Purslane Toxic to Dogs?

Purslane is the low, fleshy weed that shows up in sidewalk cracks and vegetable beds all summer, and a close cousin is sold as a flowering ground cover. People eat it in salads, which is exactly why the question about dogs comes up so often. Here is what the ASPCA actually says, and what to plant if you want a low dog-safe mat instead.

What the ASPCA says

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The toxic principle is soluble calcium oxalates. In the amounts a curious dog usually eats, the common signs are drooling and mild tremors. Heavy ingestion can strain the kidneys, though serious kidney failure is rare in dogs and cats. A dog that grazed a few stems is in a different situation from one that ate a large mat, but both are worth a call to poison control.

Purslane, moss rose, and the Portulaca mix-up

Two plants get called purslane, and both sit in the genus Portulaca. Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is the sprawling weed. Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora), also sold as purslane in hanging baskets, is the ornamental with bright pink, orange, and yellow flowers. The ASPCA lists both under the same soluble calcium oxalate warning, so buying the pretty one does not buy a safer plant.

People eat purslane. Can dogs?

Purslane is a popular edible for people, high in omega-3s, and that is where most of the confusion starts. Human-edible does not carry over to dogs here. Our digestion handles the oxalates that give dogs trouble, and the ASPCA lists the plant as toxic to dogs no matter how it is prepared. Do not offer purslane to your dog as a treat, cooked or raw.

Dog-safe native ground covers to plant instead

If you were eyeing purslane as a low, sun-loving ground cover, these Edwards Plateau and Hill Country natives (San Antonio area) give you a dense dog-safe mat instead. Native ranges per the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. None are on the ASPCA toxic plant list.

For the fuller list and placement tips, see pet-friendly ground cover for Texas and dog-safe native plants for Texas.

What to do if your dog ate purslane

• Note roughly how much was eaten and whether it was the weed or an ornamental basket.
• Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or your vet.
• Watch for drooling, tremors, vomiting, or reduced appetite and report them on the call.
• Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.

Checking the rest of the yard before your next nursery run? Start with the six Texas yard plants most toxic to dogs.