Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is English Ivy Poisonous to Alpacas?

English Ivy (Hedera helix) — a vine. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — English ivy is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy (Hedera helix). Photo: AnRo0002, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Hedera helix
Family
Araliaceae
Plant type
Vine
Also known as
Common Ivy
Toxic parts
Leaves and berries
Toxic compound
Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin)

Why it matters

Large amounts cause digestive upset and excitement. Ivy climbing trees in a paddock is usually browsed lightly; remove it if alpacas eat it heavily.

Signs of English ivy poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Colic or abdominal discomfort

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate English ivy

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Hedera helix, simply ivy, or common ivy, English ivy, European ivy, or King's choice ivy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae. It is native to most of Europe and parts of western Asia. Ivy is a clinging evergreen vine that grows on tree trunks, walls, and fences in gardens, waste spaces, and wild habitats. Ivy is common as an ornamental plant, but escaped plants become naturalised outside its native range. Ivy has considerable cultural significance and symbolism.From Wikipedia — “Hedera helix”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 1,291,434 recorded observations of Hedera helix L. worldwide, including 30,741 in the United States. It belongs to the Araliaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is English ivy poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — English ivy is toxic to alpacas. Large amounts cause digestive upset and excitement. Ivy climbing trees in a paddock is usually browsed lightly; remove it if alpacas eat it heavily.
What part of English ivy is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and berries.
What are the symptoms of English ivy poisoning?
Drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea and colic or abdominal discomfort.
Is dried English ivy 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 Q26354.