Is Lantana Toxic to Rabbits?

Identification

• The most common garden species of lantana is Lantana camara. Native to parts of Central and South America, this herbaceous perennial is winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 and therefore is often grown as an annual in most American gardens. Its bright flowers come in shades of white, yellow, orange, red and purple and are often mixed in the same plant. In frost-free locations the plants has a tendency to become invasive.

Symptoms

• Lantana contains triterpenes, specifically lantadene A and B, which is toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. The poisons are contained within the foliage and ripe berries, and green berries show even higher concentrations of the poisonous compounds. A toxic dose constitutes 1 percent or more of the animal’s body weight. Rabbits that have been exposed may display jaundice within one to two days of ingestion, in addition to constipation, weakness and sometimes bloody diarrhea. Less acute poisoning may still be fatal, taking the animal between one and three weeks to die if poisoning is not identified.

Other Animals Affected

• In addition to rabbits, cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and guinea pigs may also show symptoms of poisoning after eating lantana. Many animals will avoid lantana due to its pungent odor and taste, but those that do not know better or don’t have anything else to eat might go for it anyway. When newly exposed, 50 percent to 90 percent of animals that eat lantana will demonstrate symptoms of poisoning. Lantana is also toxic to humans and can cause brief skin irritation when exposed externally. It may cause death to humans when eaten.

Response and Prevention

• If you believe your animal may be suffering from lantana poisoning, do not wait to take it to the vet. Call the Poison Control Center or your doctor immediately if you think a person might have ingested lantana. Avoid planting lantana where rabbits or other animals might come into contact with it. If you have a rabbit that roams freely about your property, you can either fence off the lantana or provide plenty of other forage for it to minimize the chances that it will turn to lantana as a food source. Warn children of the risk of touching or eating this plant, and keep smaller children who cannot understand away from it entirely.