Toxic to cats · Plants

Is Rhododendrons toxic to cats?

Extreme severity No safe amount — No amount is considered safe.

Yes. Even a small amount can be life-threatening — treat any exposure as an emergency and contact a vet immediately.

Symptoms to watch for

  • drooling
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • inappetance
  • abnormal heart rate
  • heart arrhythmias
  • weakness
  • hypotension
  • depression
  • tremors
  • transient blindness
  • seizures
  • coma

How vets treat it

Immediate veterinary care is required for stabilization and supportive treatment; prognosis is fair with professional intervention.

Why it's dangerous

Grayanotoxins disrupt sodium channels, which negatively affects the function of skeletal and cardiac muscles.

Toxic compound: grayanotoxin

Good to know

All parts of the plant are poisonous; ingestion of as little as 0.2% of an animal's body weight can cause poisoning.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

More substances toxic to cats

African Wonder Tree Extreme severity Andromeda Japonica Extreme severity Angel's Trumpet Extreme severity Autumn Crocus Extreme severity Everything toxic to cats →

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