Is rhubarb leaves poisonous to dogs

The quick answer: Use caution. The stalks may be safe, but the leaves are poisonous to pets.

Should you be worried if your dog eats some rhubarb plant, and can dogs eat rhubarb safely? If your dog manages to munch some rhubarb leaves, they can suffer from gastrointestinal illness including stomach cramps, vomiting , and diarrhoea , as well as other symptoms such as excessive drooling and lethargy. However, we humans only eat the stems and stalks of rhubarb plants. So is the edible stem safer for our furry friends to eat? Discover delicious food your dog deserves Learn more. Again, not really. In fact, some dogs might eat a bit of stalk and seem fine, or suffer from mild GI upset.

Is rhubarb leaves poisonous to dogs

Whether baking it into a pie, crumble, or cooking it down into a tasty preserve, you may be wondering if it's safe to share your rhubarb with your four-pawed pal. But is rhubarb poisonous to dogs , or can dogs eat rhubarb without any nasty repercussions? Yes, rhubarb is toxic to dogs. It contains soluble oxalate crystals, which can cause serious illness if eaten. Soluble oxalate is absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream and goes on to damage organs within the body using the blood as a highway. Plants that contain soluble oxalate are therefore more dangerous than those containing in soluble oxalate found in other plants , causing whole-body symptoms rather than just at the site of chewing and swallowing as does the insoluble form. Are rhubarb leaves poisonous to dogs, too? Yes - while all parts of the rhubarb plant contain these nasty, pooch-harming crystals, the leaves contain the highest concentration, making them the most toxic part of the plant. Eating them can cause a sudden drop in calcium - and a whole host of nasty, unpleasant symptoms. According to the Pet Poison Helpline , the most common symptoms of rhubarb poisoning to watch out for include:. Consuming rhubarb, which contains soluble oxalate crystals, results in the absorption of the crystals from the stomach into the bloodstream where it binds to calcium in the blood to form insoluble calcium oxalate. These newly formed insoluble crystals travel around the body within the blood, causing irritation, swelling, and damage. The first symptoms are usually related to damage at the site of toxin absorption and calcium oxalate formation, the gastrointestinal system. As the toxin moves around the body and the levels of toxin increase in the body, the symptoms worsen and progress. In more severe cases, with high volumes of ingestion, the crystals can go on to block the vessels of the kidneys, for example, leading to kidney failure.

All posts.

Rhubarb is a common plant grown for edible consumption, and is also known as the pie plant. The leaves contain soluble oxalate crystals, with less of the crystals being prevalent in the stalk. Rhubarb is a soluble oxalate-containing plants contain oxalic acid and oxalate salts, and must be differentiated from insoluble oxalate plants which are less toxic. Examples of other soluble calcium oxalate-containing plants include: star fruit and the shamrock plant. In general, soluble calcium oxalate poisoning is more commonly associated with large animals from livestock chronically grazing. However, when ingested in large enough quantities in small animals, it can result in poisoning in dogs, cats, and even humans. Soluble calcium oxalates are present in varying degrees in all parts of the plant.

If you own a dog, one of your most important jobs is monitoring what your dog eats. If you have owned a dog for a while, you are probably well aware that they are opportunistic eaters. This means that whenever a dog picks up an interesting aroma, they will most likely go and investigate. This is why dogs commonly rummage through the trash, or spend 30 minutes tracking one mole in the ground. While having an indoor cat might seem like there is less risk, this is not always the case.

Is rhubarb leaves poisonous to dogs

As a holistic veterinarian and a dog parent myself, I understand the constant worry about what our furry friends can and cannot eat. You might be wondering, is rhubarb leaves toxic to dogs? Rhubarb leaves contain a high concentration of oxalic acid, a substance that can be dangerous to our furry friends. Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants, including the leaves of the rhubarb plant. This can result in severe health complications such as kidney failure and even death. If your dog has eaten rhubarb leaves, the effects can be immediate or long-term, depending on the amount consumed. Immediate effects may include drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Long-term effects can be more severe and include kidney failure, tremors, changes in urination, and even coma. The oxalic acid present in the rhubarb leaves can cause several physical symptoms in dogs. Some of the most common ones include:.

Jmancurly

We are what we eat, and it shouldn't be any different for our pets. Danielle Petch January 17, 4 min read. By Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Pure is packed with human-quality ingredients that you would buy for yourself, our dogs are family so we think they should be getting the best quality food you can give them! Are rhubarb leaves poisonous to dogs, too? Soluble oxalate is absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream and goes on to damage organs within the body using the blood as a highway. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Can dogs eat rhubarb? Can Dogs Eat French Fries? A visit to the vet is likely to be necessary, especially in cases where the rhubarb leaves have been ingested. As with all cases of toxicity in pets, treatment will depend on a number of factors such as the amount ingested and the severity of symptoms your pooch is experiencing. In fact, there are many more poisonous plants that dogs should avoid - here are a just few to get you started:. Working with high profile veterinary professionals and nutritionists, Pure Pet Food are changing dog food for the better.

Whether it is the raw leaves, the stalks, or in a jam or pie, can dogs eat rhubarb? Or is it poisonous? Read this guide to find out.

Find a pet sitter chevron-right Search for homes to sit chevron-right. This is because rhubarb contains calcium oxalate crystals which are an irritant to our furry friends. While salad and raw veg might be your bunny buddy's go-to snack, we wouldn't…. Benefits of rhubarb Rhubarb stalks contain dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. The first symptoms are usually related to damage at the site of toxin absorption and calcium oxalate formation, the gastrointestinal system. Can Dogs Eat French Fries? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. May 4, Should you be worried if your dog eats some rhubarb plant, and can dogs eat rhubarb safely? What Can My Dog Eat? She currently lives in Florida with her boyfriend and Taiwanese rescue dog, Kaya. Rarely, acute renal failure can be seen from ingestion of plants or fruit containing these soluble oxalate crystals.