Wormwood is a plant that is poisonous to dogs and cats. The toxin in wormwood is Thujone, which is a monoterpene. Clinical signs of wormwood poisoning in dogs and cats include mucosal irritation and erythema, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your pet has ingested wormwood, please contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately.
What is Wormwood?
Artemisia absinthium is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family. It is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The plant grows to a height of 30-100 cm (12-39 in). The leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long and 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) wide. The flowers are yellowish green and borne in capitula. The fruit is a dry achene.
The common names of Artemisia absinthium include wormwood, sagewort, and sagebrush. The plant is used to make the spirit absinthe as well as the traditional medicine wormwood oil.