Is Fetter Bush Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Leucothoe spp.
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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.
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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
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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 Fetter Bush is grayanotoxins.
What makes this plant different
Fetter Bush shares the grayanotoxin mechanism with Azalea and Mountain Laurel — all three belong to the Ericaceae family and cause the same cardiac-rhythm danger, which is disproportionate to how ordinary these evergreen shrubs look in a garden setting.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Leucothoe spp.
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Also known as
- Fetter Bush, Dog Laurel, Dog Hobble, Black Laurel
- Typically found
- outdoor
Pet-safe alternatives
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Related plants
Andromeda Japonica
Pieris japonica
Azalea
Rhododendron spp
Black Laurel
Leucothoe spp.
Bog Laurel
Kalmia poliifolia
Dog Hobble
Leucothoe sp.
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control