Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Burdock?

Burdock (Arctium spp.) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Burdock (Arctium spp.)
Burdock (Arctium spp.). Photo: Epukas, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Arctium spp.
Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Weed
Toxic parts
Burs (seed heads)
Toxic compound
None significant

Why it matters

Not toxic, but the burs ruin fleece value. Cut plants before burs form.

Signs of burdock poisoning in alpacas

  • Burs matted into fleece
  • Eye irritation from bur fragments

If your alpaca ate a lot of burdock

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Arctium is a genus of biennial plants commonly known as burdock, in the family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and Asia, several species have been widely introduced worldwide. Burdock's clinging properties, in addition to providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal, led to the invention of velcro.From Wikipedia — “Arctium”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 725,837 recorded observations of Arctium L. worldwide, including 24,968 in the United States. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, together with Cocklebur, Common Groundsel, Rayless Goldenrod, Tansy Ragwort, White Snakeroot. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is burdock poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Not toxic, but the burs ruin fleece value. Cut plants before burs form.
What part of burdock is toxic to alpacas?
Burs (seed heads).
What are the symptoms of burdock poisoning?
Burs matted into fleece and eye irritation from bur fragments.
Is dried burdock safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q27257.