Oleander poisoning occurs from eating the oleander plant (
Nerium oleander), or its relative, yellow oleander (
Thevetia peruviana). Oleander is an attractive evergreen shrub that is commonly found in gardens and landscapes due to its beautiful (usually pink) showy flowers. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions, and grows in the wild in many parts of Texas, Arizona, Nevada and California. It is sold at nurseries during the spring and summer months throughout most of the Unites States as an ornamental.
Oleander is one of the leading causes of poisoning cases in animals. All parts of oleander are highly toxic--in both fresh or dried form. It contains several powerful cardiac glycosides that are found in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds and fruit as well as sap, plant nectar and even water in which oleander leaves have been floating.
In an intoxication study, when just a couple of dried oleander leaves were given to healthy male chickens, clinical signs of poisoning begin within one hour after ingesting the leaves. All of the birds developed heart arrhythmias and died.
