Intoxication with Ornithogalum arabicum is a potential cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness in dogs

Abstract

We describe two dogs with persistent visual impairment after initially mild intoxication signs following ingestion of Ornithogalum arabicum plant material. Additionally, a 12-year analysis of the Dutch Poisons Information Centre database additionally reveals that ingestion of Ornithogalum plant material can be potentially life-threatening to companion animals. Further studies are necessary to confirm the involvement of cardiac glycoside-like toxins present in Ornithogalum arabicum and the toxicity of these substances to the retina. Keywords: Ornithogalum arabicum, Cardiac glycosides, Retinal degeneration, Blindness