Are Climbing Roses Toxic to Dogs? Pet Safety Facts

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·

Are Climbing Roses Toxic to Dogs? Pet Safety Facts

Is climbing roses toxic to dogs? No. Rose plants, including climbing varieties, are listed as non-toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center [1]. That means the plant itself does not contain a poison that will harm your dog if he nibbles a leaf or a petal. The real dangers around climbing roses are physical and chemical, not botanical.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

  • Rose plants (genus Rosa) are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with no toxic principle identified [1].
  • Thorns are the main hazard. They can cut the mouth, throat, eyes, and paws, or cause internal injury if swallowed.
  • Pesticides, fertilizers, and rose care products on or near the plant are often more dangerous than the rose itself.
  • If your dog eats a small amount of rose leaf or petal, offer water and watch for stomach upset, which is usually mild.
  • Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 if your dog ate a rose product, a large amount of plant material, or anything sprayed on the plant.

Is Climbing Roses Toxic to Dogs? What the Plant Record Shows

The ASPCA classifies the rose as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and lists no toxic principle [1]. This applies to the Rosa species as a group, which includes climbing roses, shrub roses, hybrid tea roses, and wild species such as dog rose (Rosa canina) [1].

So when owners ask whether climbing roses are toxic to dogs, the honest answer is no. A dog that chews a rose leaf or eats a fallen petal is not at risk of poisoning from the plant tissue itself.

Which Parts of the Rose Plant Are Non-Toxic

The non-toxic listing covers the plant as a whole [1]. In practice, that means:

  • Leaves
  • Petals and flowers
  • Stems and canes (the plant tissue itself, not the thorns)
  • Hips (the fruit that forms after blooming)

Rose hips and rose petals are even used in human food and cosmetics. Research on Rosa canina flowers has identified compounds such as rutin, kaempferol, quercetin, cyanidin, and delphinidin in the petals [2]. These are plant pigments and flavonoids, not poisons. A separate laboratory study in rats found that Rosa canina fruit extract actually protected kidney tissue from chemical injury [3]. That is a rat study using an extract, not a reason to feed your dog roses, but it supports the idea that rose plant material is not toxic.

Rose Products Are a Different Story

The plant is safe. Products made from roses or used on roses may not be.

  • Rose essential oils and potpourri: Concentrated oils can irritate a dog's mouth and stomach and may cause drooling, vomiting, or wobbliness. Potpourri often contains other ingredients and sharp pieces.
  • Rose-flavored foods and candies: Chocolate, xylitol, raisins, or alcohol in these products are the problem, not the rose.
  • Rose-scented cleaners and cosmetics: These can contain detergents, alcohols, or other chemicals that cause vomiting or mouth irritation.
  • Pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers: These are the most common real-world poisonings linked to garden plants. Roses are prone to fungal diseases such as black spot, powdery mildew, and gray mold, so many owners spray them regularly [4]. A dog that eats sprayed leaves or laps up runoff can be exposed to those chemicals.

If your dog ate something rose-related and you are not sure what was in it, treat it as a possible poisoning and call for advice. For a broader list of garden and household risks, see Plants Poisonous To Dogs and Common Houseplants Toxic to Cats and Dogs.

Toxic Principle and What It Does in the Body

There is no toxic principle in roses [1]. That is the official wording from the ASPCA plant record, and it means the plant does not produce a chemical that damages dog tissue the way, say, sago palm or oleander does.

Because there is no toxin, there is no toxin pathway to describe. What you may see instead is simple mechanical or stomach upset:

  • Chewing tough plant fiber can cause mild vomiting or loose stool.
  • Thorns can puncture or scrape the mouth, gums, tongue, esophagus, or stomach lining.
  • Pesticide residue can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or lethargy depending on the chemical.

The severity depends on how much was eaten, whether thorns were involved, and what was on the plant. Your veterinarian can sort out which of these is most likely in your dog.

Signs to Watch For and Typical Timeline

Signs after rose exposure usually fall into three groups.

Mild stomach upset

Vomiting or soft stool can start within a few hours of eating a lot of plant material. This is usually short-lived and mild.

Thorn injuries

Drooling, pawing at the mouth, reluctance to eat, or crying when swallowing can appear right away if a thorn is stuck in the mouth or throat. A thorn in the paw causes limping and licking at the foot. These signs show up within minutes to hours.

Pesticide or product exposure

Timing depends on the product. Some cause drooling and vomiting within 30 to 60 minutes. Others, especially certain fertilizers and rodenticides, can take longer and cause more serious signs such as weakness, tremors, or bleeding. If you know or suspect your dog ate a treated plant or a rose product, do not wait for signs to appear.

What to Do Right Now

Stay calm and take these steps in order.

  1. Move your dog away from the plant. Remove any plant material from his mouth if you can do it safely. Do not put your fingers deep into his throat.
  2. Identify what was eaten. Was it a leaf, a petal, a stem, a hip, a thorn, or a product? Was the plant sprayed recently? Keep the label or packaging if you have it.
  3. Call for advice. Contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. These services can tell you whether the exposure matters and whether you need to come in.
  4. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to. Making a dog vomit can cause more harm than good, especially if thorns are involved or if the swallowed product is caustic.
  5. Watch for the signs listed above. Note the time each sign started so you can report it accurately.

If your dog ate a non-plant item along with the rose, such as a plastic tie, a pen, or a garden tie, the blockage risk may matter more than the plant. That situation is covered in My Dog Ate a Pen: Is It Toxic or Just a Blockage Risk?.

Veterinary Treatment

Treatment depends on what actually happened, not on the rose itself.

  • If only a small amount of rose leaf or petal was eaten: Your veterinarian may simply recommend monitoring at home, with water available and a bland meal if the stomach seems settled.
  • If thorns were swallowed or are stuck in the mouth: Your veterinarian will examine the mouth, throat, and sometimes the stomach with imaging. Thorns may need to be removed manually or with instruments.
  • If a pesticide or rose product was eaten: Treatment may include decontamination, activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medication, or other supportive care. Your veterinarian calculates any medication dose from your dog's weight and health status.
  • If your dog is already showing severe signs: Emergency care may include oxygen, seizure control, or blood work to check organ function.

There is no antidote for roses because there is no rose toxin [1]. Care is supportive and aimed at the actual problem.

Outlook

For a dog that nibbles a rose leaf or petal, the outlook is excellent. Most dogs have mild or no signs.

For thorn injuries, the outlook is good when the thorn is found and removed. Problems arise when a thorn stays lodged and causes infection or damage.

For pesticide exposure, the outlook depends on the product, the amount, and how fast treatment starts. Early calls to a veterinarian or poison control line make a real difference.

Prevention and Safer Alternatives

You do not need to dig up your climbing roses. You do need to manage the risks around them.

  • Train your dog to leave the roses alone. A simple "leave it" cue and a fence or barrier around the bed prevents most problems.
  • Pick up fallen petals, leaves, and prunings. These are the easiest things for a dog to grab.
  • Keep thorny canes trimmed and tied back. This reduces face and eye injuries.
  • Store rose products out of reach. Fertilizers, sprays, and rose-scented cleaners belong in a closed cabinet.
  • Wait before letting your dog back into a sprayed area. Follow the product label for re-entry time, and keep your dog away until the plant is dry.
  • Choose non-toxic garden plants if you want a dog-safe yard. Roses already qualify. If you want more options, see Plants That Aren't Toxic To Cats And Dogs.

One more note on rose care: roses are prone to fungal disease, and breeders are working on disease-resistant cultivars to reduce the need for chemical sprays [4]. If you can grow a resistant variety, you lower the amount of pesticide in your yard, which lowers your dog's exposure.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

The non-toxic listing for roses is clear [1], but it does not cover every situation. It does not cover pesticides, fertilizers, essential oils, or other products. It does not tell you how much plant material your dog ate or whether a thorn is stuck somewhere you cannot see.

Contact your veterinarian the same day if:

  • Your dog vomited more than once or has diarrhea that lasts more than a few hours.
  • Your dog is drooling heavily, pawing at the mouth, or refusing food.
  • You think a thorn may be stuck in the mouth, throat, or paw.
  • You are not sure whether the plant was sprayed.

Go to an emergency clinic now if:

  • Your dog is having trouble breathing, collapsing, or having tremors or seizures.
  • There is bleeding from the mouth that will not stop.
  • Your dog swallowed a large amount of a pesticide, fertilizer, or rose product.
  • Your dog's gums look pale, blue, or yellow.

Schedule a routine visit if:

  • Your dog had mild signs that resolved but you want him checked.
  • You want help dog-proofing your garden.

Every case is different, and your own veterinarian is the person who should evaluate your dog in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my dog get sick from eating rose petals?

Rose petals are non-toxic, so they will not poison your dog [1]. A dog that eats a lot of petals may vomit or have soft stool from the plant fiber, but this is usually mild and short-lived.

Are rose hips safe for dogs?

Rose hips come from the same non-toxic plant [1], so the fruit itself is not poisonous. The bigger concern is what the hips are mixed into, such as jams, teas, or supplements that contain sugar, xylitol, or other additives.

What if my dog ate a thorn?

A swallowed thorn can scratch or puncture the mouth, throat, or stomach lining. Watch for drooling, gagging, pawing at the mouth, or refusal to eat, and call your veterinarian if any of these appear.

Do rose-scented candles and oils hurt dogs?

The rose scent itself is not the issue. Burning candles, diffusers, and concentrated essential oils can irritate a dog's airways or stomach, and some oils are toxic to dogs. Keep these items out of reach and use them in ventilated rooms away from your pet.

Should I worry if my dog chews the climbing rose canes?

The cane tissue is non-toxic [1], so chewing alone is not a poisoning risk. The thorns on those canes are the real hazard, and they can injure the mouth or eyes, so redirect your dog to a chew toy and block access to the plant.

Related Articles

References

  1. Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Rose. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
  2. Molecular and Phytochemical Characteristics of Flower Color and Scent Compounds in Dog Rose (Rosa canina L.). Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2024.
  3. Protective effects of Rosa canina fruit extract against kidney damage induced by CCl4. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP, 2025.
  4. Advances and prospects in fungal disease resistance breeding of roses. PeerJ, 2026.

Further Reading