| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Short answer | Azaleas are poisonous to dogs. This is poisoning, not an ordinary allergy. |
| Signs | Vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, weakness; in serious cases paralysis, shock, coma or heart problems. |
| What to do | Call your vet or a pet poison helpline now. Do not wait for signs. |
Azaleas are not an allergy problem. They are a poison risk for dogs, and the whole plant is the issue.
The ASPCA lists azalea (also called rosebay or rhododendron) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Its toxic principle is grayanotoxin, and its listed clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and cardiac failure.
The American Kennel Club says azalea and rhododendron are extremely dangerous to dogs: “Even a few leaves may cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, paralysis, shock, coma, or death.”
If your dog has eaten any part of an azalea, call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away. This page is general information, not veterinary advice.
What are azaleas?
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Rhododendron group. They are common in gardens, parks and pots, and bloom in pink, red, purple and white.
Because they are so common in gardens, a curious dog can meet one on a walk or at home. Know which plants you have, and keep dogs away from any azalea or rhododendron.
Signs of azalea poisoning
- Drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Weakness.
- In serious cases, the American Kennel Club lists paralysis, shock and coma, and the ASPCA lists cardiac failure.
We found no primary source on exactly how long signs take to appear, or on how much plant is dangerous for a dog of a given size, so we do not give figures. Treat any chewing of an azalea as an emergency.
What to do
- Remove your dog from the plant and take any plant material out of its mouth, if you can do so safely.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away. In the US the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number is (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply); elsewhere, use your local vet or poison service.
- Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, and when. Take a leaf or photo of the plant.
- Do not try home remedies or give human medicines unless your vet tells you to.
Some pages say to make a dog vomit at home. We did not find a primary source advising that for azaleas, so leave that decision to your vet.
Is it an allergy?
Dogs can have allergies to plants and pollen, which usually show as itching, redness and licking. That is a separate problem from poisoning. We found no primary source describing azalea allergy in dogs, and because the plant is toxic, any reaction after contact or chewing should go to your vet. See why dogs lick their paws for common itching causes.
Keeping dogs safe
- Keep azaleas and rhododendrons out of reach, or do not plant them where your dog goes.
- Fence off beds, or use raised planters your dog cannot reach.
- Keep your dog on a lead where you do not know the plants.
- Check any plant before bringing it indoors. The ASPCA has a searchable list of toxic and non-toxic plants.
- Do not assume other garden shrubs are safe: the American Kennel Club says varieties of holly also vary in toxicity and are best kept from dogs.
Before you go
Azaleas are beautiful, but they are a real danger to dogs. If your dog may have eaten any, do not wait: call your vet.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are unsure, talk to your vet.
