Are castor beans poisonous to dogs?
On One Hand: Castor Beans Contain RicinCastor bean seeds contain ricin, which is lethal even in extremely small amounts. Ingestion of castor beans by dogs causes vomiting, extreme abdominal pain, diarrhea and convulsions.On the Other: Ricin is Lethal in Small DosesAs little as 0.2 mg of ricin will kill an adult human; since dogs weigh less than humans, even smaller amounts of ricin will kill them. A single castor bean seed is enough to kill a dog.Bottom LineCastor beans are poisonous for dogs. Emergency veterinary services are necessary at the earliest suspicion of ingestion for ricin-poisoning treatments.
