Are Roses Poisonous to Dogs?

True roses (Rosa species) are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The plant contains no known toxic principles, and eating petals or leaves does not cause poisoning. That said, non-toxic does not mean entirely risk-free. Caveats: (1) Thorns are the main hazard — chewing on stems or pushing through a rose bush can cause mouth, gum, paw, and skin punctures or lacerations, and swallowed thorny stems can scratch or irritate the mouth, throat, and GI tract. (2) Eating any large amount of plant material (petals, leaves, stems) can cause mild, self-limiting GI upset such as vomiting or diarrhea simply from the indigestible roughage, not from a toxin. (3) Rose hips are non-toxic and even used in some dog supplements, but the seeds inside contain fine irritant hairs and the volume of hips could cause stomach upset or, in small dogs, a choking/obstruction risk if eaten whole in quantity. (4) The biggest real-world danger is not the rose itself but garden chemicals on or around it — systemic rose fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and "rose food" (some of which contain disulfoton or other organophosphates) can be highly toxic to dogs; snail/slug bait (metaldehyde) and cocoa-shell mulch near rose beds are also dangerous. Always confirm the plant is a true Rosa and not a look-alike with "rose" in its name — several of those (e.g., Desert Rose, Rosebay/Oleander, Christmas Rose, Moss Rose, Primrose) ARE toxic to dogs.

Are roses poisonous to dogs if they eat the petals or leaves?

No. The ASPCA classifies true roses (Rosa species) as non-toxic to dogs, with no toxic principles. Eating petals or leaves will not poison a dog, though gorging on a large amount of plant material can cause mild, temporary vomiting or diarrhea from the roughage.

If roses aren't toxic, what's the actual danger to my dog?

The thorns. A dog chewing rose stems or pushing through a bush can suffer puncture wounds and lacerations to the mouth, gums, paws, or skin, and swallowed thorny stems can scratch the throat or gut. Watch for bleeding, pawing at the mouth, or signs of pain, and see a vet if a thorn is lodged or a wound looks serious.

My dog ate flowers labeled as a 'rose' — are all roses safe?

Only true Rosa species are safe. Several toxic plants share the word 'rose': Desert Rose, Rosebay (Oleander), Christmas Rose (Hellebore), Moss Rose, and Primrose are all toxic to dogs. Also beware of garden chemicals — some rose fertilizers and insecticides are far more dangerous than the plant itself. Identify the exact plant and product before deciding it's harmless.

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Rose (per-plant page)

Last updated 2026-06-25