Rhubarb
ToxicRhubarb leaves contain soluble oxalates that bind blood calcium, causing acute hypocalcemia and oxalate nephrosis. The stalks contain very little and are essentially non-toxic.
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
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Sustained muscle spasms
- Reduced urine output
- Raised nitrogen waste in blood
More about this food
With rhubarb, the leaf-versus-stalk distinction is the entire entry, and it is the part consumer lists most often get wrong. Rhubarb leaves contain soluble oxalates. Once absorbed, they chelate ionized calcium out of the bloodstream, producing acute hypocalcemia, while calcium oxalate crystals deposit in the renal tubules and cause secondary acute kidney injury. The stalks — the part that goes into pie and jam — contain very little soluble oxalate and are essentially non-toxic.
No canine dose threshold has been published. Dogs that are dehydrated or already have chronic kidney disease are at higher risk from the same exposure. The timeline runs in stages: GI signs appear within 0 to 6 hours as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and inappetence; hypocalcemic signs also come early, with malaise, weakness, tremors, tetany and ataxia; and renal injury declares itself later, generally 24 to 36 hours out, as reduced urine output and azotemia on bloodwork.
Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog ate rhubarb leaves. Calcium levels and kidney values cannot be assessed at home, and the decision about IV fluids and calcium support belongs to a veterinarian. Tremors or muscle rigidity make this an emergency visit. Pet Poison Helpline is reachable 24/7 at (855) 764-7661. Do not induce vomiting at home. In practice most US exposures happen around a backyard patch in spring, when trimmed leaves are tossed on the compost pile or left at the edge of the bed — bag them where the dog cannot reach them.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog chewed a rhubarb leaf in the garden. Do I wait and see?
- No. Leaves are the soluble-oxalate part and there is no published safe amount for dogs. Call your vet or (855) 764-7661 now. GI signs come within 0 to 6 hours, but kidney injury may not show up until 24 to 36 hours later, so bloodwork matters.
- Is rhubarb pie or jam a problem?
- The stalk itself is not the oxalate hazard, so a lick of stalk-based jam is not a leaf exposure. Check the rest of the recipe instead — sugar load, and above all whether any sweetener used was xylitol, which is a separate emergency.
- My senior dog has kidney disease and got into the leaves.
- That raises the stakes considerably. Dogs with pre-existing chronic kidney disease and dehydrated dogs are more vulnerable to oxalate nephrosis at the same exposure. Do not wait for symptoms; call your veterinarian now and tell them the kidney history.