Is Dog Hobble Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Leucothoe sp.
Advertisement
Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Grayanotoxins |
| Onset of symptoms | Within a few hours |
| Indoor / outdoor | outdoor |
If your pet ate this plant
Both lines are staffed 24/7. A consultation fee applies to each. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling.
Advertisement
Symptoms in dogs
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Abnormal heart rate
- Collapse
Symptoms in cats
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Symptoms in horses
- Colic
- Weakness
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Advertisement
What to do
Treat as an emergency — grayanotoxins affect heart rhythm and can progress quickly even if the pet seems fine initially.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Dog Hobble is grayanotoxins.
What makes this plant different
Dog Hobble is another common name for Leucothoe, sharing Black Laurel's grayanotoxin mechanism — the name reportedly comes from how densely the shrub can entangle a hunting dog's legs in the underbrush, unrelated to its toxicity.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Leucothoe sp.
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Also known as
- Dog Hobble, Dog Laurel, Fetter Bush, Black Laurel
- Typically found
- outdoor
Pet-safe alternatives
Advertisement
Related plants
Andromeda Japonica
Pieris japonica
Azalea
Rhododendron spp
Black Laurel
Leucothoe spp.
Bog Laurel
Kalmia poliifolia
Fetter Bush
Leucothoe spp.
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control