Can dogs eat rhubarb?
✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-06-17
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The full picture
Rhubarb is a classic American garden plant that causes vet visits every spring. The leaves are the most toxic part — high in oxalic acid and oxalate crystals that bind with calcium and can cause kidney problems. Stems contain less but still enough to cause issues. Rhubarb desserts add sugar and sometimes pastry. Keep dogs away from rhubarb plants in the garden and never offer rhubarb in any form.
If your dog has already eaten rhubarb
- Call your vet, especially if leaves were eaten
- Watch for drooling, weakness, tremors — call immediately if these appear
- Bring photos of the plant if possible
Risks to watch for
- Kidney damage from oxalates
- Low blood calcium
- Tremors
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Excessive drooling
Safe portion size
None.
Safer alternatives
- Apple slices
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
Does size or breed matter?
The toxicity risk is almost entirely in the leaves (oxalates), not the stalk — small dogs reach a dangerous dose from a smaller amount of leaf material than large dogs, simply due to body weight. There's no specific breed sensitivity beyond this; the stalk itself, cooked and unsweetened, carries minimal risk at any size.