Hedera cypria
Araliaceae
Cyprus Ivy, Cypriot Ivy, Cyprus Hedera, Ivy, True Ivy, Hedera Ivy
Triterpenoid saponins and related Hedera saponins, including hederasaponin C, hederasaponin B, hederasaponoside B and C, alpha-hederin and hederagenin-related compounds; polyacetylene terpenoids including falcarinol and didehydrofalcarinol; additional phenolic compounds such as rutin, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid may be present. The practical toxic concerns are gastrointestinal irritation from saponins and allergic or irritant contact dermatitis from ivy sap and polyacetylene compounds.
Potent irritant; the cell sap has shown the ability to create redness, itching and/or blisters when it comes in contact with living tissue. Symptoms of ingestion include an immediate burning sensation in throat and mouth; possibly followed by redness, blisters, rash and obvious visible irritation of oral mucosa; excessive drooling, obvious pain or discomfort of the mouth, pawing at the mouth, hoarse or weak sounding vocalization; excessive desire to drink; gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. In cases of an extremely large ingestion: stupor, loss of coordination, hypotension, bradycardia, convulsions, and coma. Unconfirmed livestock deaths reported in old 20th century literature, none in modern literature.
Cyprus Ivy, Hedera cypria, is a woody, evergreen, climbing or ground-creeping vine of the genus Hedera, in the family Araliaceae. Like other members within the genus, this plant has distinctive juvenile and adult life stages. In the juvenile stage, the plant will have characteristically lobed leaves and exhibit herbaceous growth, forming dense patches on the ground. The transition from juvenile to adult growth is usually triggered when the plant climbs a host structure, such as a fence, wall, trellis, or tree. At that point, the plant develops woodier vines, the leaves may transition from lobed to less-lobed or unlobed forms, and the plant may eventually produce umbels of small flowers on secondary branches followed by berries.
Ivy is probably best known for its use in landscape decoration. In 2010, it was estimated that approximately 8 million potted ivy plants were sold in the United States alone. Ivy is not a newcomer to ornamental landscaping, having been used for decorative purposes for at least the last 300 years. During that time, a remarkable diversity of species, forms, and cultivars has been developed. Ivy, generically treated as Hedera species, is considered native across western, central, and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa, and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.
Hedera cypria, specifically, is associated with Cyprus and is one of the true ivies. Although it is not as commonly encountered in the pet-poisoning literature as English Ivy, the practical toxicology is the same general Hedera pattern. All species within the genus should be considered toxic, as they can cause a negative physical reaction when ingested or when they make contact with unprotected skin or mucous membranes.
The primary toxins are triterpenoid saponins, including hederasaponin C, hederasaponin B, hederasaponoside B and C, alpha-hederin, and related hederagenin compounds. Cyprus Ivy and other true ivies may also contain the polyacetylene terpenoids falcarinol and didehydrofalcarinol, along with additional phenolic compounds such as rutin, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid. A polyyne, falcarinol is capable of inducing a relatively severe allergic or irritant reaction, commonly described as contact dermatitis, on the skin or mucous membranes of sensitive individuals and animals.
The reflex expectorant effect of saponins has also helped ivy find use by some individuals in the holistic community for the treatment of dry cough. That medicinal or traditional use should not be confused with safety for pets. The same saponin activity that can produce expectorant effects can also irritate the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines when the plant is chewed or swallowed.
Like many species of potentially harmful plant, the actual toxicity or lethality of ivy, regardless of species, seems to have been greatly exaggerated in some older accounts. In Poisonous Plants in Britain and Their Effects on Animals and Man (1984), authors Cooper, M. R. and Johnson, A. W. note:
“Cattle that ingested large quantities of English ivy vine became ill and excitable, started staggering, and bellowed loudly. The odor of crushed ivy leaves was on the breath and in the milk. Recovery was quick and complete in three days.”
That older livestock account is useful because it shows that large ivy ingestion can produce obvious clinical illness, including excitement, staggering, and behavioral change, while also demonstrating that recovery may be complete with time and supportive care. It also helps place the plant in the correct risk category. Ivy should not be treated as harmless, but it should also not be framed like oleander, castor bean, water hemlock, or cycad poisoning.
Additionally, this author was unable to find a single well-documented fatality, human, animal, or otherwise, caused by ingestion of any species in the genus Hedera. In fact, most reputable scientific, veterinary, and medical sources point out that the primary effect of ingestion seems to be irritation of the digestive tract, manifesting as vomiting and/or diarrhea. The most commonly reported symptoms are vomiting, coughing, drooling, and oral irritation.
Hederin, one of the saponins isolated from the leaves of Hedera species, is a strong and near-immediate irritant of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. This tends to dissuade all but the most stubborn animals from consuming anything more than a negligible amount of the plant. Dogs and cats that chew ivy often stop quickly because the taste and irritation are unpleasant. This is one reason severe systemic intoxication is considered uncommon in ordinary pet exposures.
However, even with a small ingestion there is still a risk of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis of the oral mucosa due to the polyacetylene compound falcarinol. The associated discomfort can include redness, irritation, blisters in the mouth or throat, drooling, pawing at the mouth, coughing, hoarse vocalization, reluctance to eat, and difficulty drinking. In a sensitive animal, that oral discomfort could make eating or drinking difficult for a few days, and veterinary fluid support may be needed if the animal cannot maintain hydration.
Cyprus Ivy is therefore best treated as a low-to-moderate toxicity plant with strong irritant potential. Typical exposures are expected to involve mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and possible skin or mucous-membrane dermatitis. More serious signs such as stupor, loss of coordination, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, convulsions, or coma are not expected from ordinary nibbling but may be possible in extreme, unusual, or large-volume ingestion cases, especially in grazing animals or animals with access to large amounts of vine material.
Landscape exposure is also important. Ivy can form dense mats, climb fences and trees, and create large amounts of accessible plant material after pruning or removal. Dogs may chew trailing vines, puppies may play with pulled stems, cats may mouth leaves, and livestock or other animals may encounter discarded clippings. Freshly cut or pulled ivy should not be left where animals can chew it, and ivy should not be fed intentionally as browse or yard waste.
The safest practical approach is to prevent access, especially for plant-chewing pets, young animals, and animals with known skin sensitivity. Cyprus Ivy and other Hedera species should be kept out of pet-accessible indoor containers, kennel areas, grazing areas, and yards where animals are likely to chew vines or clippings.
Immediate Response to Cyprus Ivy Ingestion
- Remove the Source: Prevent further ingestion by removing the pet or grazing animal from Cyprus Ivy, Hedera ivy, leaves, stems, vines, berries, clippings, groundcover beds, or any remaining plant material.
- Identify the Plant: Confirm whether the plant is Hedera cypria, Cyprus Ivy, or another true ivy species. True ivies in the genus Hedera should be treated as toxic to pets, even when severe poisoning is uncommon.
- Remove Plant Material from the Mouth: If ingestion was recent and it is safe to do so, remove visible leaves, stems, vine fragments, berries, or clippings from the mouth.
- Rinse the Mouth: Flush the mouth gently with water to remove remaining sap, plant material, saponins, or irritating residue.
- Wash Skin Exposures: If sap contacted the skin, paws, lips, muzzle, belly, or other exposed areas, wash the area with mild soap and water to reduce the risk of redness, itching, blistering, or contact dermatitis.
- Watch for Symptoms: Monitor for drooling, mouth pain, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, coughing, reduced appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, rash, redness, itching, blisters, tremors, loss of coordination, collapse, or seizures.
- Contact Veterinary Help if Needed: Consult a veterinarian, emergency veterinary clinic, Pet Poison Helpline, or another animal poison-control professional if a large amount was eaten, if symptoms are persistent or severe, if oral blistering or swelling occurs, if the plant identity is uncertain, or if the exposed animal is very small, young, elderly, pregnant, medically fragile, or already ill.
Inducing Vomiting and Decontamination
- Usually Low-to-Moderate Severity: Life-threatening intoxication from ordinary Cyprus Ivy ingestion is considered uncommon, and most pet cases are expected to involve mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort rather than fatal poisoning.
- Getting Plant Material Out Matters: If a dog has recently swallowed a meaningful amount of ivy leaves, stems, berries, or clippings, removing remaining plant material from the stomach may reduce continued gastrointestinal irritation and saponin exposure.
- Spontaneous Vomiting May Occur: The pet may vomit naturally as the body attempts to expel bitter, irritating, non-digestible plant material.
- Inducing Vomiting in Dogs Only: If ingestion was recent and the dog is alert, breathing normally, able to swallow, and not showing weakness, collapse, repeated vomiting, severe depression, breathing difficulty, tremors, seizures, loss of coordination, abnormal heart signs, or neurologic signs, a veterinarian or animal poison-control professional may recommend inducing vomiting with fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide.
- Cat Warning: Hydrogen peroxide should not be used to induce vomiting in cats unless a veterinarian specifically directs it. Cats are more prone to irritation and complications from hydrogen peroxide, and home vomiting attempts may create more risk than benefit.
- Do Not Induce Vomiting in an Unstable Animal: Vomiting should not be attempted in any animal that is weak, collapsed, sedated, having trouble breathing, unable to swallow normally, already vomiting repeatedly, showing tremors, seizures, abnormal heart signs, low blood pressure, severe oral irritation, or neurologic signs.
- Activated Charcoal: Activated charcoal may be considered by a veterinarian or poison-control professional in unusually large, concentrated, or clinically significant ingestion cases, but ordinary Cyprus Ivy exposures rarely require aggressive decontamination.
- Gastric Lavage: If a very large amount was ingested or if severe signs are developing, a veterinarian may consider gastric lavage or additional decontamination in a controlled setting.
Symptomatic Care and Treatment
- No Specific Antidote: There is no specific antidote for Cyprus Ivy ingestion. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
- Hydration: Ensure the pet receives adequate fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration caused by vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or reduced drinking.
- Monitor Vomiting and Diarrhea: Repeated vomiting, persistent diarrhea, blood in stool, inability to keep water down, weakness, or worsening lethargy should prompt veterinary evaluation.
- Oral Irritation: Mouth pain, visible redness, blisters, hoarse vocalization, refusal to eat, or difficulty drinking may require veterinary care, especially if the pet cannot maintain hydration.
- Skin Irritation: Redness, itching, swelling, rash, or blistering after contact with ivy sap should be washed gently. Persistent or severe dermatitis may require veterinary treatment.
- Neurologic or Cardiovascular Monitoring: Tremors, loss of coordination, weakness, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, collapse, convulsions, or coma are not expected in ordinary exposures but require emergency veterinary evaluation if they occur.
- Gastrointestinal Protection:
- Kapectolin: To alleviate gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea, Kapectolin may be given at a dose of 1 to 2 ml/kg four times daily to help coat and protect the stomach lining.
- Sucralfate: Sucralfate may be used for gastrointestinal irritation because it reacts with stomach acid to form a paste-like protective barrier between irritated tissue and stomach contents.
- Dogs greater than 60 lbs: 1g every 6 to 8 hours.
- Dogs less than 60 lbs: 0.5g every 6 to 8 hours.
- Cats: 0.25g every 8 to 12 hours.
Groundcover and Landscape Prevention
- Keep Pets Out of Dense Ivy Beds: Dense mats of Cyprus Ivy or other Hedera ivy can hide chewed leaves, berries, clippings, and broken vines. Keep plant-chewing pets away from established ivy beds.
- Clean Up Yard Waste: Do not leave freshly pulled, pruned, or cut ivy material where dogs, puppies, cats, livestock, or other animals can chew it.
- Do Not Feed Clippings: Ivy leaves, stems, berries, or landscape clippings should not be fed to horses, goats, sheep, cattle, rabbits, or other animals.
- Protect Sensitive Animals from Sap: Animals with sensitive skin, thin coats, allergies, or repeated exposure may be more prone to contact dermatitis from ivy sap.
- Control Access to Climbing Vines: Ivy growing on fences, kennels, patios, walls, or trees may place leaves and berries at pet height. Prune or remove vines from animal-accessible areas.
Prognosis and Recovery
- General Outlook: Serious intoxication of animals from Cyprus Ivy is exceptionally rare, and fatal intoxication is rarer yet.
- Expected Recovery: In most cases, symptoms are expected to be limited to oral irritation and gastrointestinal upset, including drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, with recovery after supportive care and prevention of further ingestion.
- Higher-Risk Cases: Prognosis becomes more guarded if the animal consumes a large amount, develops persistent vomiting or diarrhea, cannot maintain hydration, develops oral blistering, shows a severe skin reaction, or develops neurologic or cardiovascular signs.
- Veterinary Care: Veterinary evaluation is recommended when symptoms are persistent, severe, neurologic, cardiovascular, involve significant oral or skin irritation, or when the plant identity is uncertain.
- Prevention: Prevent further ingestion of the plant, keep Cyprus Ivy and other true ivies away from pets that chew plants, and remove clippings from animal-accessible areas.