Plant
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
A veterinary emergency. Every part of the plant is toxic and even dried clippings remain dangerous.
Life-threateningDogsCatsHorsesRabbitsBirds
What to do right now
- 1.Go to an emergency vet immediately
- 2.Take a sample of the plant if it can be identified
- 3.Do not attempt to make the animal vomit at home
Symptoms
- Vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes bloody
- Irregular or slowed heart rate
- Tremors
- Collapse
- Sudden death in severe cases
Details
- Category
- Plant
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats, Horses, Rabbits, Birds
- Routes of exposure
- Eating leaves, flowers or stems, drinking water a cutting was stood in, or grazing on garden clippings
- Urgency
- A veterinary emergency. Every part of the plant is toxic and even dried clippings remain dangerous.
Veterinary treatment
Cardiac glycosides in oleander act similarly to digoxin, disrupting heart rhythm. Treatment includes decontamination, ECG monitoring and management of arrhythmias.