Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Fiddleneck Poisonous to Alpacas?

Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spp.) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

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

Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spp.)
Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spp.). Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Amsinckia spp.
Family
Boraginaceae
Plant type
Weed
Toxic parts
Leaves and seeds (seeds contaminate grain)
Toxic compound
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Region
Western North America

Why it matters

A bristly yellow-flowered weed of western grain fields.

Signs of fiddleneck poisoning in alpacas

  • Weight loss and poor condition weeks to months after exposure
  • Jaundice (yellow gums/eyes)
  • Photosensitization (sunburn-like skin lesions)
  • Neurological signs from liver failure: aimless walking, head pressing
  • Death from chronic liver failure

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 fiddleneck

  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

Amsinckia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as fiddlenecks. The common name is derived from the flower stems, which curl over at the top in a manner reminiscent of the head of a fiddle. Fiddlenecks are in the family Boraginaceae, along with borage and forget-me-nots. The genus is named after the patrician Amsinck family in honour of the Hamburg head of state and patron of botany Wilhelm Amsinck (1752–1831).From Wikipedia — “Amsinckia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Western North America. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 53,437 recorded observations of Amsinckia Lehm. worldwide, including 31,636 in the United States. It belongs to the Boraginaceae family, together with Houndstongue, Viper's Bugloss, Comfrey. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is fiddleneck poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — fiddleneck is toxic to alpacas. A bristly yellow-flowered weed of western grain fields.
What part of fiddleneck is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and seeds (seeds contaminate grain).
What are the symptoms of fiddleneck poisoning?
Weight loss and poor condition weeks to months after exposure, jaundice (yellow gums/eyes), photosensitization (sunburn-like skin lesions), neurological signs from liver failure: aimless walking, head pressing and death from chronic liver failure.
Is dried fiddleneck 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 Q2354690.