Is compost poisonous to dogs?

Updated 06/09/2023

Anyone with green fingers will know that compost can work wonders on the garden - providing the nutrients plants need to thrive, it’s no wonder it’s used so widely. Plus, it’s not uncommon for people to make homemade compost by simply allowing plant and discarded food scraps to decompose - it’s better for the environment than fertilizer, and is a great way to make use of leftover food. So, it’s a great choice for the environment and our plants, but is compost safe for pet parents to scatter about their gardens, or is compost poisonous to dogs? Find out here.

Is compost poisonous to dogs?

So, is compost toxic to dogs? Yes, it’s harmful to dogs and should be taken very seriously if they’ve ingested it. Not only does compost pose a serious choking hazard or risk of intestinal blockage (think egg shells, avocado stones, bones and large vegetable cuttings), it’s also decaying matter. Decaying food develops mold and the spores produce mycotoxins which are seriously toxic to dogs. 

If you have homemade compost, there could be other toxins hiding inside your plant nutrient-rich compost pile, too - table scraps such as raisins, grapes, onions, and garlic are just some examples of food items you don’t want your pup to get a hold of, in the compost or otherwise, as they are toxic whether they’re composted down or fresh. 

So, if you see your dog eating compost, be sure to contact a veterinarian as a matter of emergency, even if your dog isn’t showing symptoms yet. 

And is potting compost poisonous to dogs? Yes, unfortunately, all forms of compost will be toxic to dogs - containing decaying matter is bad news to pups. And sadly, they’re pretty attracted to the stuff - giving off the fumes of food, it’s easy to see why our furry friends might be inclined to take a sniff or even a nibble.

Compost poisoning in dogs

So, now we know that compost can cause your dog to become seriously unwell, it’s important that pet parents be informed on what compost poisoning in dogs looks like (although any ingestion of it should be responded to with an emergency visit to your vet). So below, find the symptoms your pup may experience after ingesting compost, methods of diagnosis and the treatments that your vet might choose to administer.

Symptoms

• Tremors
• Imbalance
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Excitability
• Agitation
• Drooling
• Hyperthermia
• Seizures

Diagnosis

If you can, take a sealed sample of the compost your pup ingested to your veterinarian - identifying the type of compost (and the presence of any fertilizers) may help them make a quicker and more accurate diagnosis. Your vet will assess your pup’s symptoms and perform a physical examination to determine whether it’s compost poisoning they’re suffering from, or if it’s something else. A blood test may be performed to check organ function.

Treatment

The treatments your vet decides to administer depends on a few things, including how long ago your pup ingested the compost, and how severe their current symptoms are. Below are some of the treatments your vet may administer…

• Induced vomiting (administering medication to force your dog to be sick and rid the body of the offending toxic food items, reducing the volume of toxin the body absorbs and so reducing the potential for your dog to become very unwell)
• Activated charcoal (a medication that binds with toxins that have been eaten, to reduce the body’s absorption of the toxin and therefore reduce the effect of the toxin within the body)
• IV fluids for rehydration
• Medication to control seizures and spasms

Without quick intervention, it’s possible for your dog to experience uncontrolled seizures leading to death. Your pup may be required to stay in the hospital in more severe cases, to control seizure activity and ensure they stay safe. Your vet team will be administering medication and constantly monitoring your dog's heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and temperature, ensuring the body system is as supported as possible whilst the body tries to clear the toxin. 

The earlier you seek help, the more likely you will have a happy outcome. Compost ingestion, leading to toxicity, is a very real, potentially life-threatening situation - so seek advice from your veterinarian as a matter of urgency if you know or suspect your dog has eaten compost. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion. 

Other garden finds toxic to dogs

As well as compost which (literally) lays the groundwork for the plant we humans love to decorate our gardens with, there are many plants, flowers and shrubs that are pretty toxic to our furry friends. So, as a pet parent, make sure you’re clued-up on the plants poisonous to dogs so that you can avoid your pup getting sick.

• Heavenly bamboo
• Lilies
• Aloe vera
• Poinsettia