Is Lemongrass Safe For Dogs?

Lemongrass is a herb which — as the name suggests — has a citrus-like flavor. It’s commonly used to add a fresh and fragrant taste to a range of dishes, including curries and stir fries, and is particularly popular in Thai cuisine.

But, while it’s a tasty addition to many recipes and enjoyed by humans, what about canines? Can dogs eat lemongrass? Let’s find out — because feeding your pet food that includes lemongrass could end up being a problem.

This is an important question. We know that many foods we happily consume aren’t safe for dogs. So, where does lemongrass sit on that scale? Is lemongrass safe for dogs?

The answer is a resounding no. Dogs can’t eat lemongrass, and in fact, it’s toxic to them.

When it comes to lemongrass, there are two areas to understand. Lemongrass can be present in the form of lemongrass plants, which may be in gardens and yards. If you inherit lemongrass plants in your home, and have a dog, you may want to remove them out of reach or at least make sure your pet is supervised when near them.

Lemongrass contains a substance called cyanogenic glycosides, which can be converted to cyanide when eaten as they come into contact with enzymes that are present in a dog’s saliva. Large quantities need to be eaten for there to be serious issues, though ingesting lemongrass in smaller amounts can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.

Lemongrass isn’t only present in plant form, though. Lemongrass essential oils are widely used in a range of beauty products — for massage, aromatherapy, in oil burners, for example — but the oil is a much more potent version than the plant/herb.

Is lemongrass oil safe for dogs? 100% not, as it’s so strong and concentrated. And, while it’s unlikely that your dog will eat whatever product contains the lemongrass oil – though some canines will eat just about anything, which can inevitably lead to problems – even coming into close contact with the oil isn’t recommended.

Is lemongrass oil safe for dogs to breathe? Probably not. If it comes into contact with a dog’s skin or fur, it can trigger irritation or even burning, so even being too close to lemongrass oil and inhaling it could affect breathing.

To be on the safe side, if you’re using lemongrass oil in any way it’s better that your dog is in another room of your home completely to reduce any risk. The same rule applies if you have a multi-pet household. Is lemongrass toxic to cats? You might have guessed it, but yet, it is. Keep pets away from exposure to lemongrass!

You should always be watchful if your dog is around any type of food or consumable or (or non consumable). If your dog decides to nibble on any lemongrass located in your garden, for example, he or she may not suffer any ill effects but in any case, eating vegetation can result in perilous intestinal blockages.

• Abdominal pain
• Distended abdomen
• Fever
• Inability to eliminate
• Loss of appetite
• Shock
• Straining on defecation (similar to constipation)
• Vomiting

What can cause lemongrass poisoning in dogs? There might be a few reasons that your dog – or cat – suffers from lemongrass poisoning.

Firstly, consuming large quantities of lemongrass can be toxic to dogs and cats. If you’re cooking with lemongrass as an ingredient, keep your pet well away from it; eating a handful of herbs is likely to cause a negative reaction.

If you have lemongrass plants in your home, don’t let your pet eat them. Cats might leave well alone but dogs have a habit of hoovering up whatever they can find. Eating lemongrass plants can be toxic, while the leaves — as we’ve mentioned already – can cause an intestinal blockage or be a choking hazard.

As we know, lemongrass can be present in many oils. Like citronella, the oil from the lemongrass plant is mildly repellent to insects due to the high citral and geraniol content.

It’s also often used in shampoos and deodorants due to its pleasant odor and skin healing properties. However, while it may have antibacterial and antifungal properties when humans use it, lemongrass oil can prove to be toxic to dogs

Ingesting lemongrass oil, inhaling it, or coming into physical contact with it can all cause lemongrass poisoning, possibly. It’s just best to limit your dog’s exposure to lemongrass as much as possible.

Your vet will evaluate the symptoms your dog is showing before making a diagnosis. Typical methods used to reach a diagnosis include a urinalysis, biochemistry profile, and complete blood count (CBC), which will be ordered to determine if any toxins or imbalances remain in your dog’s system. A physical examination will be completed by the veterinarian.

If intestinal blockages are causing the symptoms, the examiner may discover sensitivity to touch or find a mass where the plant material from the lemongrass has clumped together in the digestive system, which would prompt a recommendation for further imaging.

Ultrasound technology or x-rays may be used for an accurate visual depiction, possibly with a barium study. If your companion’s symptoms seem to be related to a reaction to a toxin, you will be interviewed for information about your pet’s health history and any opportunities for inappropriate eating.

Tests to check for possible pesticides or other plant toxins will be completed to see if the underlying cause can be determined.

Symptoms and the final diagnosis will guide the treatment plan your vet prescribes. Supportive treatments such as treatment with intravenous fluids may be started if your dog appears to be in distress after ingesting lemongrass, even before a diagnosis has been determined.

In the event of an obstruction of the intestinal system, in most cases, therapies such as fluid therapy can be used to flush the mass out of your dog’s system. Imaging will be periodically repeated in order to track the movement of the accumulation until it exits his gastrointestinal system. 

Surgery may be required in acute cases, to remove the mass and correct any damage it caused. If indications point to the ingestion of something that was actually toxic, such as another type of plant, or even pesticides applied to the plant eaten, then appropriate steps will be taken to remove the particular toxin. These actions could include inducing vomiting, gastric lavage, the use of activated charcoal, and toxin specific antidotes.

Observe your dog carefully once treatment has started. If there isn’t at least gradual improvement within a day or two, get in touch with your vet. And, if your dog’s condition worsens, make an urgent call to your veterinarian.

Providing that you follow the recommended treatment from your vet, there’s no reason your dog won’t make a complete recovery.