Taxus sp.
Taxaceae
japanese yew
Taxine
Acute cardiac failure resulting in sudden death, Early Symptoms can include trembling, muscular tremors, seizures, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The English and Chinese Yew are among the most toxic plants present in North America. The amount of material that needs to be ingested to obtain a dose capable of lethality is quite small; in dogs as little as 2 or 3 grams of material is enough to cause a fatality. So it is conceivable that a dog could ingest a potentially lethal dose while playing with a branch or stick from a Yew plant. Taxine absorbtion in animals with a single chambered stomach such as dogs is extremely rapid with recorded cases of animals collapsing and dying within 15 minutes of ingesting material from plants of the Taxus species. Taxine the poisonous substance found within the Yew plant is cardio toxic (creating a negative or toxic effect on the heart), and is present in the plant throughout the year with the highest concentration of Taxine appearing in the winter months.
Induce vomiting within 30 minutes of ingestion and administer activated charcoal slurry. Warning by inducing vomiting there is the risk of triggering cardiac or central nervous system complications. Seek Emergency Medical Veterinary Attention.