Yellow Oleander — (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte
Photo by (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets ReverteiNaturalistCC BY
dog safety reference

Is Yellow Oleander safe for dogs?

Thevetia peruviana

Yellow Oleander is a highly toxic evergreen shrub known for its bright, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers and narrow, leathery leaves. All parts of this plant contain potent cardiac glycosides that are dangerous if ingested by pets.

Be-still TreeCascabela thevetiaLucky NutThevetia peruvianaYellow Oleander
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Habit
Evergreen shrub or small tree
Care
Moderate

Safety status

Dogs

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your dog

For dogs, yellow oleander is one of the most dangerous garden plants. Every part of the plant contains cardenolide cardiac glycosides that inhibit the sodium/potassium pump in heart muscle, causing potentially fatal arrhythmias even from small ingestions. Dogs that chew on fallen leaves, seeds, or yard clippings are at immediate risk.

What to watch for

Earliest signs are vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea, often within an hour. Cardiac signs follow: a slow or irregular heartbeat, weakness or wobbliness, cold limbs, and lethargy. Severe cases progress to collapse and sudden death from heart-rhythm failure.

Time window

Gastrointestinal signs typically appear within 1–2 hours; cardiac arrhythmias can follow within hours and persist for 24+ hours, requiring inpatient ECG monitoring. Sudden death has been reported within hours of ingestion in serious cases.

When to call the vet

Call immediately — any ingestion is an emergency. Get to an ER vet right now and phone the ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) en route. Do not wait for cardiac symptoms; once arrhythmias appear, the window for intervention narrows quickly.

First aid at home

Take any plant material (or a clear photo) with you to the clinic to confirm identification. Do not induce vomiting at home and do not give activated charcoal without veterinary instruction — call ASPCA APCC (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) and follow their guidance while you transport your dog.

Sources: ASPCA.

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Dogsconcern notes

Common signs

Vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, irregular heartbeat, and weakness.

Escalation note

The cardiac glycosides in this plant can cause life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities. Immediate veterinary intervention is required if your dog has chewed or swallowed any part of this plant.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

ASPCA Toxic Plant List

toxicology · 99% reliability

Open source

Yellow Oleander contains cardiac glycosides which are toxic to both cats and dogs.

Cats & dogs pagecats pageMy dog ate Yellow Oleander

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