Is Vinca Poisonous to Cats and Dogs?

Vinca

The Vinca is poisonous for both cats and dogs.

Typical symptoms include coma, death, depression, diarrhea, hypotension, incoordination, low blood pressure, seizures, tremors and vomiting.

Vinca is a flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native and endemic to Madagascar. Commonly grown as ornamental plant, Vinca is also used to treat cancer because it is a source of the drugs vincristine and vinblastine. It features oval to oblong leaves, white to dark pink flowers and the fruit that is a pair of follicles.

The scientific name for this plant is Vinca rosea. Additional name for this plant include Greater Myrtle, Greater Periwinkle, Periwinkle and Running Myrtle.

Image: Istock.com / Pinrath Phanpradith