Toxic to dogs · Plants

Is Geranium toxic to dogs?

Low severity

Geranium is mildly toxic to dogs. Severe cases are rare, but it can cause discomfort and is best kept out of reach.

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Are geraniums toxic to dogs and cats?

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What to do right now

  1. Move your dog away from the plant and remove any pieces within reach, so it can't eat more.
  2. Call your vet or a pet poison line for advice, and don't wait for signs to get worse. In the US: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (fees apply).
  3. Don't make your dog vomit, don't give it anything and don't try home remedies unless a vet or poison line tells you to.
  4. Have the plant or its label ready, so the vet can tell what your dog ate and roughly how much.

Go to an emergency vet if

  • Your dog has a seizure.
  • Your dog has trouble breathing.
  • Your dog doesn't respond to you or is unconscious.

Symptoms to watch for

  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • depression
  • lethargy
  • anorexia
  • lack of appetite
  • dermatitis
  • skin irritation

How much is dangerous

No toxic dose for dogs has been published. Signs are usually mild and short-lived: vomiting, diarrhea, not wanting to eat, low energy, or red, irritated skin where the plant touched. NC State notes vomiting and loss of appetite when a lot of the plant is eaten. Larger amounts can also cause wobbly walking, muscle weakness, depression or a low body temperature.

Why it's dangerous

The plant contains essential oils that act as irritants to the gastrointestinal tract and skin upon contact or ingestion.

Toxic compound: Linalool, geraniol

How vets treat it

Sources don't describe a treatment specific to geraniums. A poison control vet first decides whether your dog can be watched at home or needs care at a clinic, and ASPCA says many poisonings can be managed at home. If your dog got into concentrated essential oil, such as geranium oil, vets give supportive care until the signs pass. That can include fluids, stomach medicines, a bath to wash the oil off and fresh air. Vets don't make the dog vomit after oil, because the oil can be breathed into the lungs.

Outlook

Signs are usually mild and short-lived, and none of the sources describe deaths or organ damage from the plant. They don't give recovery times for dogs.

Where pets are exposed

  • Garden geraniums, also called pelargoniums (Pelargonium species). There are many cultivars, including regal pelargoniums and ivy geraniums.
  • Scented geraniums, such as rose-, lemon- and peppermint-scented types, and Pelargonium graveolens.
  • Geraniums in pots, window boxes and patio planters, and geraniums grown as houseplants or brought indoors over winter. NC State lists the leaves as the poisonous part. The toxins are geraniol and linalool.
  • Skin contact. Brushing against or rubbing on the leaves can cause mild skin irritation, even if your pet eats nothing.
  • Geranium essential oil. Oil from a diffuser can settle on fur and be swallowed during grooming, a tipped-over diffuser can spill, and oil put directly on a pet is also a risk.

Prevention

  • Keep geraniums where your pets can't reach them, including potted plants you bring indoors. Take extra care if you have a cat, because cats are the most sensitive species.
  • Don't put geranium oil, or any concentrated essential oil, on your pet.
  • Keep pets out of the room while a diffuser is running.
  • Keep plant labels, so you can tell your vet or a poison line exactly what your pet ate.

Good to know

Symptoms are usually mild and temporary.

Common questions

Are geraniums poisonous to dogs?

Yes, but usually mildly. ASPCA lists garden and scented geraniums (Pelargonium) as toxic to dogs. Most dogs that chew one get only a mild stomach upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea or not eating, or some skin irritation, and Pet Poison Helpline says these signs are usually short-lived. Call your vet or a poison line for advice, especially if your dog ate a lot.

Are geraniums toxic to cats?

Yes. ASPCA lists them as toxic to cats, and ASPCA and NC State say cats are the most sensitive species. Usually a cat only gets an upset stomach or skin irritation, but eating more can cause wobbliness, weakness, depression or a low body temperature. Call your vet or a poison line if your cat has chewed one.

What should I do if my pet ate a geranium leaf?

Move your pet away from the plant and call your vet or a pet poison line for advice. In the US: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. Don't make your pet vomit or give any home remedy unless a vet tells you to. Go straight to an emergency vet if your pet has a seizure, has trouble breathing or doesn't respond to you.

Can touching geraniums irritate my pet's skin?

Yes. ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline both list skin irritation, and NC State describes the skin reaction as mild. It can happen when a pet brushes against or rubs on the leaves, without eating any.

Is geranium essential oil safe to use around cats?

No. Texas A&M's vet school lists geranium oil among the essential oils that are toxic to pets. The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats are especially sensitive to essential oils, because they are short of a liver enzyme needed to process some oil compounds and because they lick oil off their fur when grooming. Don't put oils on your cat, and keep it out of rooms where a diffuser is running.

Are scented geraniums toxic to pets?

Yes. Scented geraniums, such as rose- and lemon-scented types, are Pelargonium too, and ASPCA lists them as toxic to dogs and cats. ASPCA names their essential oils as the toxin. The signs are mainly a stomach upset, and cats are the most sensitive.

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