Is Bear Claw Toxic to Dogs?

If severe discomfort and pain occur, a visit to the veterinarian is always recommended after first aid.

Giant Bear Claw is also called Hercules shrub

As a dog owner, you can protect yourself and your animals from contact with giant hogweed when you go for a walk.

The herbaceous plant, which is more than three meters tall, has several rosettes on a stem that are covered with white flowers. Characteristic are red spots that can be seen on the lower part of the stem.

The plant originally comes from the Caucasus. In the meantime, however, it also feels at home in local forests, on meadows, on rivers and streams as well as on the side of the road.

Recognize the difference between Meadow Bear Claw and Giant Bear Claw

The giant hogweed is often confused with the harmless meadow hogweed. As a dog owner, you can easily tell the two plants apart.

Primarily by the height of the plants and size of the flowers:

1. The meadow bear’s hog grows 50 to 150 centimeters high and has plate-sized flowers.
2. The giant hogweed grows to a height of 2 to 3.5 meters. The flowers can reach a diameter of 80 centimeters.

What should I consider when going for a walk?

The best protection against bear hogweed is a vigilant dog owner. Pay attention to the path to spot Bärenklau as early as possible and call your dog if necessary.

In unfamiliar regions, the dog should not run free. In the best case, you should also avoid the immediate area around the perennial.

Because even the smaller, immature plants, which are more likely to be overlooked, can produce painful symptoms of poisoning.

Treat symptoms immediately

Are you walking the dog and you don’t have water to wash up because you have to spend some time in the sun on the way back to the car?

Then you can cover the affected area with a piece of clothing or something similar. That at least provides some relief.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is poisonous about Bear Claw?

The juice of the hogweed contains the toxin furocoumarin, which triggers allergic reactions even in small amounts: depending on the intensity of the contact and personal constitution, the symptoms range from reddening of the skin and itching to swelling, fever, and circulatory problems.

Is dried bear’s claw still dangerous?

If the stalks, blossoms, or leaves of the Bear Claw are injured, for example when picking, the substances can get onto the skin via the juice. Dried flowers, leaves, and seeds also contain furocoumarins. If these come into contact with UV rays, i.e. sunlight, a phototoxic reaction occurs.

How poisonous is the meadow bear claw?

Meadow Bear Claw is quite common and a real delicacy. However, very few people know that it is edible and a very aromatic vegetable. The mighty giant Bärenklau, also known as Hercules perennial, is not edible.

How do I recognize meadow hogweed?

The meadow hogweed is often found on nutrient-rich meadows and the edges of paths, forests, and hedges. The meadow hogweed can be recognized by its angular, sometimes reddish stem, which is hairy like the coarse, lobed leaves.

What animals eat Bear Claws?

The plant is not only a source of food for wild animals but also cows, sheep, goats, and rabbits like to eat the young meadow hogweed.

What looks similar to Bear Claw?

Hercules perennial: Not to be confused with the meadow bear’s hogweed

Incidentally, the Hercules perennial is related to the native meadow hogweed and looks confusingly similar to the rather harmless plant. Unlike the giant hogweed, the meadow hogweed has no spots on its stems.

When does Bear Claw grow?

The giant hogweed is usually a biennial plant. In the first year, it only forms a rosette of leaves. Only in the second year does it flower from June to July.

Who removes Giant Bear Claw?

If you spot giant hogweed in your yard, you are not required to report the population. As the owner, you are responsible for removing the plant.