PlantFunCatawba rhododendron Toxic?
All parts of the plant, especially leaves, pollen, and honey made from its pollen, are highly toxic.
Symptoms appear within 6 hours of ingestion and can lead to coma and death without prompt medical/veterinary care.
Toxic compounds disrupt normal nervous system and cardiovascular function in exposed organisms.
FAQ
Is Catawba rhododendron toxic to Humans?
Oral irritation, excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, seizures, potential coma or death in severe cases (High)
Is Catawba rhododendron toxic to Cats?
Excessive drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, weakness, tremors, seizures, risk of fatal outcome without treatment (High)
Is Catawba rhododendron toxic to Dogs?
Excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heart rhythm, weakness, tremors, seizures, high risk of aspiration pneumonia (High)
Is Catawba rhododendron toxic to Horses?
Colic, excessive salivation, abnormal heart rate, respiratory depression, weakness, seizures, potential fatal outcome if untreated (High)
Toxicity Details
Oral irritation, excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, seizures, potential coma or death in severe cases
Excessive drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, weakness, tremors, seizures, risk of fatal outcome without treatment
Excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heart rhythm, weakness, tremors, seizures, high risk of aspiration pneumonia
Colic, excessive salivation, abnormal heart rate, respiratory depression, weakness, seizures, potential fatal outcome if untreated
Toxicity Snapshot
First Aid & Prevention
First 30 Minutes
- • Immediately remove any remaining plant material from the mouth of the exposed individual or animal.
- • Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by a medical or veterinary professional to reduce aspiration risk.
- • Contact a poison control center, doctor, or veterinarian right away to report the exposure.
Contact Vet Immediately
- • Any confirmed or suspected ingestion of the plant, its pollen, or honey sourced from areas with this plant present.
- • Onset of symptoms including excessive drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, or abnormal heart rate after exposure.
- • Presence of severe symptoms such as seizures, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness.
Prevention
- • Keep potted or garden Catawba rhododendron plants out of reach of children, pets, and grazing livestock.
- • Avoid consuming wild honey harvested from regions with dense Catawba rhododendron growth.
- • Learn to identify this plant to avoid accidental ingestion during hiking or outdoor foraging activities.
Treatment & Prognosis
- • Perform decontamination (e.g. activated charcoal administration) under the guidance of a qualified clinician.
- • Provide symptomatic supportive care including analgesics for pain and antibiotics if aspiration pneumonia develops.
- • Administer intravenous 20% lipid solution at a dose of 1.5 ml per kg of body weight over 5 minutes for severe cases.
- • Administer atropine to treat bradycardia as prescribed by a supervising veterinarian or doctor.
Professional Toxicology
• Grayanotoxins bind to and prolong the activation of voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve and muscle cells, disrupting normal nervous system and cardiovascular function.
Information from CliniTox veterinary text.
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Data Sources
This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.