Is it toxic to dogs?
Roses
Rosa spp. · Rosaceae
Also called Garden roses, Rosa
Non-Toxic to dogs
No. ASPCA lists roses (Rosa species) as non-toxic to dogs. The risks around a rose bush are thorns, treated flowers, and garden products such as fertilizers, not the plant itself.
Why it’s considered safe for dogs
True roses (Rosa species) are listed by ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, and its pet-safe bouquet guide names roses among the flowers considered safe for pets. A dog that grabs a fallen petal or a cut stem is unlikely to be poisoned by the plant.
Three things still deserve attention. First, thorns can scratch a nose, mouth or paw. Second, garden products: Pet Poison Helpline warns that some rose-garden fertilizers contain organophosphate insecticides such as disulfoton, and that bone meal and blood meal can cause trouble. Third, anything sprayed or fed to the roses: in that case the product, not the rose, is the concern.
Look-alike names are the other trap. Christmas rose and Lenten rose are hellebores, desert rose is a different succulent, and "rosebay" is another name for azalea. ASPCA lists the hellebore and azalea as toxic to dogs. A rose by any other name is not always a rose.
If your dog ate roses
A few rose petals are not an emergency. ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic, though its pet-safe bouquet guide notes that eating any flower can cause mild stomach upset, so a little vomiting or loose stool is possible.
Call your vet if your dog ate a lot of plant material, has vomiting or diarrhea that will not stop, seems painful, or got into a thorny stem and is bleeding or limping. Call right away if the roses were treated with a fertilizer, insecticide or spray, or if your dog ate bone meal, blood meal or rose food from the bag or soil. In the US, ASPCA Animal Poison Control is at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply); elsewhere, call your local emergency vet.
Do not make your dog vomit at home. Keep the product label so your vet can see the ingredients.
Keeping your dog safe
Fence off the rose bed or plant roses on the side of the yard your dog does not use. Store rose food, fertilizer, bone meal and sprays in a locked shed, and ask your vet before applying anything your dog could reach.
Pet Poison Helpline notes that bone meal can form a hard ball in the stomach and that blood meal can lead to vomiting and severe pancreatitis, so dogs should not dig in either. Skip systemic rose-care products with insecticide in them if a dog shares the yard.
Bouquets belong on a high counter. If your dog likes flowers, sunflowers and orchids are also on ASPCA's pet-safe list.
Frequently asked questions
Are rose petals safe for dogs to eat?
ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic, so petals are not poisonous. They are not a normal part of a dog's diet, though, and florist or garden roses may have been sprayed. Any plant material can cause mild stomach upset.
Are rose thorns dangerous to dogs?
Thorns are a mechanical hazard rather than a poison. They can scratch skin, noses and paws, so check your dog after a run-in with a rose bush and call your vet if a wound looks deep or a thorn stays in.
Is rose fertilizer toxic to dogs?
It can be. Pet Poison Helpline says some rose-garden fertilizers contain organophosphates, and meal-based fertilizers can cause blockage or pancreatitis. Keep dogs away and call your vet if one was eaten.
Are Christmas roses and desert roses the same as roses?
No. Christmas rose is a hellebore, which ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs, and desert rose is an unrelated succulent that the rose listing does not cover. Check the Latin name before assuming a plant with rose in its name is safe.
Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy