Plant
Rhubarb leaves
Contact a vet promptly, especially for small animals or large amounts.
ModerateDogsCatsRabbits
Illustrative cover using relevant category imagery; it does not depict the exact subject.
What to do right now
- 1.Remove leaf material
- 2.Offer water
- 3.Call your vet with the amount eaten
Symptoms
- Drooling and mouth irritation
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- In large amounts: kidney damage and tremors
Details
- Category
- Plant
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
- Routes of exposure
- Eating the leaves, which contain soluble oxalates; the stalks are far less toxic.
- Urgency
- Contact a vet promptly, especially for small animals or large amounts.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Compost heaps and allotments are the usual source. Small nibbles usually cause mild upset; large amounts can affect the kidneys.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Rhubarb leaves, report the exposure route: Eating the leaves, which contain soluble oxalates; the stalks are far less toxic. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Sources on this topic
Pages on this specific subject from recognised organisations. They are cited for further reading and do not mean the organisation has reviewed this page.
- Rhubarb: toxicity to pets — Pet Poison Helpline
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Rhubarb — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.