Is oleander poisonous to dogs?

Updated 11/07/2023

Oleanders are delicate flowers that bloom their sweet colors throughout the summer through fall, so it’s no wonder that they’re pretty popular on the gardening scene. But if you’ve got furry friends at home, you’ve probably wondered before - is oleander poisonous to dogs? The answer is yes, very much so, and they’re highly poisonous to us humans, too. The oleander plant contains cardiac glycosides, a toxin which can cause serious gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiovascular issues - so much so that the plant can cause death, even if only small amounts have been ingested.

Can dogs eat oleander?

Are oleanders poisonous to dogs if eaten? Absolutely - oleander and dogs simply don’t mix. Oleander is highly toxic (poisonous) to both dogs and humans. The roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, nectar and sap are all incredibly toxic, and can cause serious reactions, even with only the smallest ingestion of the plant. In fact, oleanders are so toxic that the water they stand in could be poisonous to dogs.

Oleander poisoning in dogs

Symptoms

Oleanders are severely toxic to our canine friends (and us humans as well). So, if you suspect your pooch has ingested even the smallest fragment of an oleander plant, don’t wait for the symptoms to develop. Instead, make an emergency appointment with your veterinarian as quickly as you can. Seeking prompt veterinary attention will give your pet the best chance of making a successful recovery from oleander poisoning. For your information, oleander poisoning in dogs can cause various symptoms, which we’ll explore below.

• Sickness
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Drooling
• Drowsiness
• Incoordination
• Lethargy
• Loss of consciousness
• Dilated pupils
• Abdominal pain
• Heart quivering
• Collapse
• Death

Diagnosis

If you suspect your precious pooch has ingested even the smallest amount of an oleander plant, contact your veterinarian as a matter of urgency. Even just a petal or two can cause adverse effects if not treated quickly. If you can, try to know the time your pooch ingested the plant and take a small sample in a sealed bag with you - this will help with accurate diagnosis. On arrival, there are various tests your veterinarian might recommend carrying out on your dog. These could include abdominal examination, pulse rate check, blood tests and glucose levels - this is by no means an exhaustive list, and your vet may recommend carrying out other tests depending on your pet’s symptoms. These tests will help assess how sick your pet is and help with making a treatment plan for them.

Treatments

Pups who have ingested oleander plants will most likely be hospitalized, and if they’re not vomiting already, this is likely to be induced. They may need intravenous fluids (a drip) and other supportive medications. Your veterinarian will monitor your pet’s response to treatment and may repeat blood tests to assist with this. Unfortunately, oleander toxicity (poisoning) can be fatal, even with every possible treatment. Seeeking prompt veterinary care for your pet if they have eaten oleander will give them the best chance of recovery, so don’t wait to phone the veterinarian!

Meet our veterinary expert, Evie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Evie Moloney RCVS. Evie is a vet surgeon who graduated from the University College Dublin, which is the only university offering the veterinary medicine degree in Ireland. She really enjoys surgery and has also worked as an emergency and critical care vet. She is passionate about sharing education about preventative health care 
for pets, especially the importance of regular dog and cat teeth brushing at home. She also enjoys helping owners find practical solutions for keeping pets as comfortable as possible while living with conditions such as arthritis. When not working, she enjoys hiking and swimming. 

Other plants that are poisonous for dogs

Lots of the plants us humans love are seriously poisonous to our canine friends, so it’s vital learn about which plants are safe and which aren’t. To get you started, below are a few plants to avoid if you’ve got furry friends at home.

• Geraniums
• Aloe vera
• Lilies
• Tulips