Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb? What to Know About Dogs and Rhubarb

Whether it is the raw leaves, the stalks, or in a jam or pie, can dogs eat rhubarb? Or is it poisonous? Read this guide to find out.

As a common backyard or garden plant, you might be afraid of what would happen if your dog happened to munch on it while he is outside. This guide will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this plant and your pup.

For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating rhubarb.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb

No, dogs cannot eat rhubarb. This guide will explain in detail all the different reasons and parts of the plant that are bad for your dog (and what to watch out for).

For anyone that ever wondered, “is rhubarb safe for dogs” the answer is “definitely not.” This plant is not ok for dogs and you should make sure they do not eat it.

Rhubarb is a perennial plant that is easy to spot in your yard or garden. It has bright red stalks and thick green leaves. People enjoy making pies, crumbles, and jams out of it – but you should definitely keep your dog away from this plant.

Is Rhubarb Bad For Dogs

Yes, rhubarb is bad for dogs. So, if you are wondering, “can dogs eat raw rhubarb?” The answer is no.

Is rhubarb poisonous to dogs? Yes, and some parts of the plant are even less safe than other parts.

Every single part of the rhubarb plant contains soluble calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals contain poisonous crystalline acid. When dogs chew or swallow the crystals from this plant, they might experience pain and irritation.

At worst, this toxic plant can cause irritation of the mouth and even kidney stones. Since it has such high levels of oxalic acid, you should not let your dog eat it.

Thankfully, rhubarb also tastes horrible to dogs, so chances are that after they take one taste they won’t swallow it. If your pup is one of the unlucky ones that happens to eat raw rhubarb plants, you need to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Even though it’s a beautiful plant and fun to grow, rhubarb is toxic to dogs and the leaves are harmful to dogs. Do not let them eat it.

Are Rhubarb Leaves Poisonous To Dogs

Yes, the rhubarb leaves are the most poisonous part of the plant to dogs. It has the highest concentration of calcium oxalate crystals.

Unfortunately, there is a really long list of symptoms that your pet could experience after eating rhubarb leaves. According to Wag, these are the symptoms that you need to watch out for:

• Blood in urine
• Heart problems like Cardiac arrhythmia
• Coma 
• Diarrhea
• Dilated eyes 
• Difficulty swallowing
• Excessive drooling
• Hoarse barking
• Kidney failure
• Labored breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Numbness of exposed area
• Obstruction of the airway
• Pawing/rubbing at the face or mouth
• Swelling of the lips or tongue
• Tremors
• Vocalization
• Vomiting

If you notice any of those symptoms, take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you can.

So, can dogs eat rhubarb leaves? Definitely not! If you are growing this plant in your yard, put a fence around it to keep your dog away from it.

Rhubarb Health Benefits

There are health benefits of this common rhubarb pie plant – but they are mostly for us humans, not for dogs. It’s a good idea to keep dogs away from it.

It has vitamin C in it and leaves of rhubarb is a good source of dietary fiber. Rhubarb greens also have vitamin B6 and is a good source of magnesium. It is a delicious fruit that is healthy for humans, but dangerous for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Stalks

The leaves are very unsafe for dogs, but can dogs eat rhubarb green stalks?

The stalks are not as dangerous to dogs as the leaves, but they still have calcium oxalates in them. What happens when you dog eats the soluble calcium oxalates is is binds with your dog’s calcium and cause their calcium levels to experience a sudden drop.

This is why in rare cases some dogs experience acute renal failure.

To be safe, keep your furry friend away from rhubarb plants as much as you can. Even a small amount is dangerous for them.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb After It Flowers

Dogs should not eat rhubarb after it flowers. Even after these garden plants go to seed, it still has the harmful soluble oxalate salts that can cause harm to their little bodies. Do not let your dogs eat raw rhubarb in any form.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Cooked

The good news is that cooked rhubarb stems – which are the parts we use when we cook with it – aren’t poisonous for dogs. The worst thing they might experience if they eat cooked rhubarb is an upset stomach.

It still has a lot of fiber and so large quantities of this common plant are not a good idea for dogs of any size – large animals or small animals.

The real danger lies in what else you add to the recipe. Here are a few of the most common ways people use rhubarb and how safe they are for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Stewed Rhubarb

Stewed rhubarb is a lot like a jam – it’s made with a lot of sugar and cooked until the rhubarb releases its natural sugars too. Try not to let your dog eat stewed rhubarb.

It has too much sugar to be healthy for your dog to eat. Dogs that eat lots of sugar are at a higher risk for obesity and its related health issues – heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Pie

No, dogs should not eat rhubarb pie. This is extremely high in sugar and carbs. Even though your dog might want to eat the entire pie, you should keep it away from them.

When dogs eat too much sugar, they could gain too much weight and be at a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Crumble

No, dogs should not eat rhubarb crumble. Even though flour or oats aren’t inherently bad for your pet, it’s the sugar that poses the real problem. Too much sugar is unhealthy for dogs. In fact, large amounts of sugar can lead to weight gain and put your pup at risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Jam

Even though it is safe for dogs to eat a little bit of rhubarb jam, you should still keep it away from your dog. It has too much sugar in it for it to be healthy for them.

Can Dogs Eat Rhubarb Yogurt

Dogs that are sensitive to dairy should avoid rhubarb yogurt as much as possible. Dairy is one of those things that might give your pet an upset stomach but isn’t exactly poisonous.

It’s safest to just keep it away from your dog entirely.

Final Thoughts

If you ever wondered, “can my dog eat rhubarb” the answer is just, no. Do not let your dog eat rhubarb. When dogs eat too much rhubarb they are at risk for a huge list of side effects – and the worst one is kidney failure. Even though parts of the rhubarb plant are safe for edible consumption by humans, the soluble oxalate crystals are not safe for dogs to eat.

Do whatever you can to keep your dog away from rhubarb plants – even after you cook them.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some articles about other human foods and whether they are safe or toxic for your dog to eat.

• Can Dogs Eat Black Pepper
• Can Dogs Eat Crackers
• Can Dogs Eat Garbanzo Beans
• Can Dogs Eat Persimmons
• Can Dogs Eat Yams
• Is Cottage Cheese Good for Dogs

Find even more articles on human food dogs can and can’t eat here on Spoiled Hounds!

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