Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My dog ate Oleander - what should I do?
Nerium oleander
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, irregular heartbeat, lethargy, and potential collapse.
Escalation note
This plant is extremely dangerous to dogs; even small amounts can be fatal. Contact a veterinarian or emergency animal poison control immediately.
First aid at home
Remove any plant material from your dog's mouth, save a sample for the vet, and head to a clinic now. Do not induce vomiting at home — Pet Poison Helpline specifically warns against unsupervised home emesis, and over-the-counter activated charcoal is not a substitute for veterinary decontamination.
What to watch for
Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are typically first. As the toxin reaches the heart, expect weakness, an irregular heartbeat (bradycardia, tachycardia, or other arrhythmias), and possible collapse. Hyperkalemia (high blood potassium) is a known complication.
Time window
Clinical signs typically begin within the first 2 hours of exposure and may persist for 4-5 days even with treatment.
When to call the vet
Treat any suspected ingestion as an emergency — call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately. Don't wait for cardiac signs, which can follow GI signs after a delay.
What this means for your dog
Oleander is potentially deadly to dogs in any quantity. Every part of the plant is loaded with cardiac glycosides (oleandrin) that interfere with heart-muscle electrolyte balance, and exposure can produce severe cardiac signs after surprisingly small ingestions.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.