Why it's dangerous
The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides which, when ingested, release cyanide, interfering with the body's ability to utilize oxygen at a cellular level.
Toxic compound: cyanogenic glycosides
How vets treat it
The vet gives oxygen and supports breathing, with a ventilator if needed. Cyanide has antidotes, given through an IV line: hydroxocobalamin (a form of vitamin B12), or sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate. Vets also give IV fluids and seizure medicine if needed, and run blood tests to check for acid buildup (lactate).
Outlook
Most dogs that nibble this plant don't get seriously ill. The ASPCA says death is rare in pets, and Anthony Knight's Guide to Poisonous House and Garden Plants, a veterinary reference, says the plant is rarely a problem for household pets. Livestock are poisoned by it more often than dogs and cats. Published reports in dogs are few, including a puppy that had seizures after eating the berries. When true cyanide poisoning does happen, it is serious and moves fast: Merck says death usually comes within 30 to 45 minutes, during severe seizures. Animals that survive about 2 hours after signs begin may recover, unless cyanide is still being absorbed from the gut.
Where pets are exposed
- Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), also called nandina, sacred bamboo or Chinese sacred bamboo. Despite the name, it belongs to the barberry family (Berberidaceae).
- Yards, gardens and landscaping. It is a common ornamental shrub in many parts of North America, so pets often reach it outdoors.
- The clusters of bright red (sometimes white) berries. They stay on the shrub through fall and winter, and animals find them attractive.
- The leaves and stems. Every part of the plant contains compounds that release cyanide when chewed, and the leaves are strongly cyanide-producing all year round.
- Crushed or frost-damaged plant material, such as clippings. Damage to the plant tissue frees cyanide.
Prevention
- Keep pets away from heavenly bamboo, especially in fall and winter, when the berry clusters hang on the shrub and attract animals.
- If you are planting, consider a sterile (non-fruiting) cultivar such as 'Fire Power' or 'Gulf Stream'. These have no berries, but their leaves still contain cyanide-forming compounds, so they are not pet-safe.
- Don't leave crushed or frost-damaged clippings where pets can chew them. Damaged plant material releases cyanide.
- In the US, save the Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 and ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 numbers in your phone.
Good to know
The bright red-orange berries are particularly attractive to pets and contain the highest concentration of toxins.
Common questions
Is heavenly bamboo (nandina) poisonous to dogs?
Yes. All parts of the plant contain compounds that release cyanide when chewed, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs. Serious poisoning is uncommon in pets, and livestock are affected more often. It can still cause seizures and breathing trouble, so call your vet or a pet poison line if your dog eats it.
Is nandina toxic to cats?
Yes. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats because it releases cyanide. No published reports of poisoned cats were found, and the ASPCA says deaths are rare in pets. A cat that eats it should still be checked by a vet promptly.
My dog ate a few nandina berries. What should I do?
Call your vet or a pet poison line now, and don't try to make your dog vomit at home. In the US: Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435. No source gives a safe or toxic number of berries. Ripe red berries usually carry much less cyanide than green berries or leaves, but levels vary from plant to plant.
Are the berries or the leaves of heavenly bamboo more dangerous?
A year-long study published in Poisonous Plant Research in 2022 found that the leaves release a lot of cyanide all year round. Green, unripe berries did too, while most ripe red berries released little and some none at all. Levels vary between plants, and every part contains cyanide-forming compounds, so treat every part as dangerous.
How fast do symptoms of nandina poisoning appear in pets?
Cyanide from plants usually acts fast. Signs typically start within 10 to 60 minutes, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says they can take up to a few hours. These times come from cyanide-producing plants in general. Don't wait for symptoms before calling for help.
Is a berry-free nandina like 'Fire Power' safe for pets?
No. Sterile cultivars such as 'Fire Power' and 'Gulf Stream' don't produce berries, but their leaves still contain compounds that release cyanide, so they are not pet-safe. Keep pets from chewing them.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version) — Cyanide Poisoning
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Overview of Cyanide Poisoning
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Heavenly Bamboo
- Pet Poison Helpline — Heavenly Bamboo Is Toxic To Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline — Pets vs Toxic Plants: How to Tilt the Balance to Favor Your Patient (veterinary lecture handout, 2019)
- IVIS (Anthony Knight, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine) — Nandina domestica: Heavenly bamboo (Guide to Poisonous House and Garden Plants)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Nandina domestica (Chinese Sacred Bamboo, Heavenly Bamboo)
- Poisonous Plant Research — Fruits of Nandina domestica are (Sometimes) Cyanogenic and (Sometimes) Hazardous to Birds (2022)
- Pet Poison Helpline
This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
