Azalea (Rhododendron)
ToxicAzaleas and rhododendrons are toxic to dogs. The ASPCA names grayanotoxin as the toxic principle and lists vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and cardiac failure among the clinical signs.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Poor coordination or balance
- Slow heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Reduced activity and responsiveness
- Seizures
- Collapse
More about this food
Azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the same genus, and the ASPCA lists them as toxic to dogs. The toxic principle is grayanotoxin, and the clinical signs on the ASPCA entry are "vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure." That last item is the reason this plant does not belong in the mild-GI category with poinsettia.
Grayanotoxin binds sodium channels in cell membranes and keeps nerve and muscle cells from switching off normally. Exposure usually opens with drooling and vomiting, but with a larger dose the heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, and the dog becomes weak, wobbly or unable to stand. Severe cases progress to arrhythmias, seizures and coma. The toxin is present in leaves, flowers and young twigs, and honey made from rhododendron nectar is also reported to carry it.
In US yards this is a landscaping plant, which is exactly why it causes trouble. Foundation plantings along the house, hedges lining a walkway, azaleas in a spring container on the porch, and prunings left in a yard-waste pile that a dog investigates later. Dried clippings are not safer than fresh growth. Small dogs cross a dangerous dose with much less plant material than large ones.
Call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now. Note which part, roughly how much, and what time, and take a photo or a cutting of the plant with you. Do not let an early round of vomiting talk you into waiting, because the cardiac signs can arrive later than the GI ones. Do not induce vomiting at home; in a dog that is already weak or bradycardic that makes things worse. Decontamination, activated charcoal, IV fluids, ECG monitoring and treatment of bradycardia and hypotension are veterinary decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate a few fallen azalea flowers. Is that enough to matter?
- Flowers contain grayanotoxin too. Note how many, when, and your dog's weight, then call your veterinarian or the APCC at (888) 426-4435. Looking fine after one round of vomiting is not reassurance, because cardiac signs can show up later.
- Are dried clippings from pruning safer?
- No. Grayanotoxin does not disappear when the cuttings dry out, and a pile of prunings is easy for a bored dog to chew through. Bag yard waste from azaleas and rhododendrons and keep the dog away from it.
- He chewed a leaf and spat it out. Do we still need the vet?
- Chewing releases sap that can be swallowed, so spitting the leaf out does not make it a non-exposure. Go in immediately if you see drooling, vomiting or weakness, and call your veterinarian even if he currently looks normal.