My dog

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Can dogs eat it?

Can dogs eat rhubarb?

No, toxic No. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to dogs and can damage the kidneys. The stalks hold far less of the toxin, but keep dogs away from the plant.

Why

ASPCA lists rhubarb as toxic to dogs. The leaves contain soluble oxalates, which can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness, trembling, a drop in blood calcium and kidney damage (ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline). Pet Poison Helpline says the stalks used in jam and pies contain very little and are non-toxic, and that dogs are rarely interested in the bitter leaves. PDSA lists rhubarb among common poisonous garden plants, and VCA names it among foods that are toxic to pets and among high oxalate foods that dogs with calcium oxalate stones should not eat. Because the plant can poison dogs, we list it as toxic.

Signs to watch for

If your dog ate rhubarb

If your dog ate rhubarb leaves, call your vet or an animal poison line now and say roughly how much. A bite of cooked stalk, such as a spoonful of crumble, is unlikely to poison a dog (Pet Poison Helpline), but check the rest of the recipe and watch for vomiting.

If your dog has eaten something toxic

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.

Australia: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
  • Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. £35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
  • National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.

Other foods people ask about

Asparagus Yes, in moderation Yes, cooked and cut small. Raw spears are hard to chew and digest, and the asparagus fern in the garden is not safe. Aubergine (eggplant) Yes, in moderation Yes, a little plain cooked aubergine. The leaves and flowers of the plant are the parts to avoid. Beetroot Yes, in moderation Yes, a little plain beetroot, cooked or raw. Skip it if your dog has had bladder or kidney stones, and do not panic at pink wee. Bell peppers Yes, in moderation Yes, plain sweet peppers of any colour in small amounts. Never chilli or jalapeño peppers. Broccoli Yes, in moderation Yes, in very small amounts. Plain raw or steamed broccoli is fine, but too much irritates the stomach. Brussels sprouts Yes, in moderation Yes, a sprout or two, cooked and plain. More than that can cause wind and an upset stomach.

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-29.