Are Azaleas Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

Azaleas and rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) are toxic to both cats and dogs.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

Why

Azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the same plant group and contain grayanotoxins. These substances disrupt the normal function of nerves and muscles, including the heart.

Eating even a few leaves can cause problems, and larger amounts can be life-threatening.

How to recognize it

Azaleas and rhododendrons are shrubs with oval leaves and clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in pink, red, purple, white or orange, usually flowering in spring. Rhododendrons are generally larger with bigger, leathery leaves, and azaleas are also sold as potted flowering gifts.

Signs to watch for

• Drooling, vomiting and diarrhea
• Weakness and lethargy
• Loss of coordination
• Abnormal heart rate or low blood pressure
• Tremors, seizures or collapse in severe cases

What to do

• Contact a veterinarian promptly if your pet eats azalea or rhododendron.
• Fence off shrubs in the garden if your dog likes to chew plants.
• Keep potted azaleas out of reach of cats, which may nibble indoor plants.

Which other shrubs contain the same toxin?

Grayanotoxins are not limited to azaleas and rhododendrons. Evergreen azaleas, deciduous azaleas and the big-leaved rhododendrons are all one genus, Rhododendron, so the flower color or leaf size makes no difference. Several relatives in the heath family carry them too, and they are often planted in the same shady beds.

• Mountain laurel (Kalmia)
• Japanese pieris, also called andromeda (Pieris)
• Fetterbush and dog hobble (Leucothoe)
• If a pet chewed any of these, give the vet the plant name or a photo; the advice is the same as for azalea

Is the gift azalea on the table as risky as the one in the yard?

Yes. Potted florist azaleas are the same genus as garden shrubs, and they turn up as spring and holiday gifts. Indoors, the most likely nibbler is a cat, and a small cat does not need to eat much for signs to appear.

Outdoors, dogs are more likely to chew fallen leaves, strip a low branch, or eat prunings left on the lawn. Puppies that chew anything within reach are a particular concern. Cutting back shrubs and clearing the clippings the same day removes an easy source.

What does treatment usually involve?

There is no specific antidote for azalea poisoning. The vet may decide to empty the stomach and give activated charcoal if the plant was eaten recently. Pets with vomiting or weakness are often given fluids and anti-nausea medicine.

Because grayanotoxins can slow the heart and lower blood pressure, the vet will check heart rate and rhythm and may keep the pet for monitoring. A slow heart rate can be treated with medication. Most pets that receive prompt care recover, but a pet that looks mildly ill at first should still be seen.

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicAfrican violet
• Non-toxicOrchids (moth orchid)

Common questions

Are azaleas and rhododendrons poisonous to pets?

Cats: Toxic. Dogs: Toxic. Yes. Azaleas and rhododendrons are toxic to dogs and cats.

Is it safe to keep azaleas and rhododendrons in a home with cats and dogs?

Not within your pets' reach. Keep potted azaleas out of reach of cats, which may nibble indoor plants.

What should I do if my pet chews azaleas and rhododendrons?

Contact a veterinarian promptly if your pet eats azalea or rhododendron. Fence off shrubs in the garden if your dog likes to chew plants.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of azaleas and rhododendrons?

African violet and orchids are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

← All plants

Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.