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Plants · Nerium oleander

Is Oleander Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Cats

Highly toxic — emergency

Cardiac glycosides; death is possible (ASPCA).

Dogs

Highly toxic — emergency

Cardiac glycosides; death is possible (ASPCA).

Yes — oleander is highly toxic to cats and dogs. It contains cardiac glycosides, and the ASPCA lists drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression and death among its effects. Treat any oleander chewing as an emergency and call a vet or pet poison line immediately.

Written by VetExpenses Editorial TeamFact-checked against cited sources · Veterinary review pendingLast reviewed

Educational information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or ate something worrying, call your veterinarian or a pet poison line now. Emergency steps.

Oleander: plant facts

Oleander facts
Scientific nameNerium oleander
FamilyApocynaceae
Other namesRose-bay
Toxic partsAll parts
Toxic principleCardiac glycosides
Where you'll find itoutdoor

Severity scale: “usually mild” means the ASPCA lists only mouth, stomach or skin irritation; “highly toxic” means it lists organ failure, heart effects, seizures or death.

Signs to watch for

Cats

  • drooling
  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
  • depression
  • death

Dogs

  • drooling
  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
  • depression
  • death

My pet ate oleander. What do I do?

  1. Treat this as an emergency: call a vet or poison line now.
  2. Call your veterinarian or a pet poison line: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply.
  3. Don't make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison control tells you to.

What it could cost

If your pet needs care after eating oleander

We publish a price range only after it is checked against named sources — our poisoning treatment and emergency vet visit guide is in verification. A vet bill for this kind of visit is usually built from these line items:

  • Exam or emergency consultation fee
  • Tests: bloodwork, urine tests or imaging
  • Treatment, such as decontamination or medication
  • Hospital stay and monitoring, if needed
  • Follow-up visits and recheck tests
Would pet insurance cover this? Run the numbers How we verify vet prices

Pet-safe alternatives

Related plants

Plants toxic to catsPlants toxic to dogsPlants safe for cats

Sources

  1. Oleander — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Accessed November 8, 2026.

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