Is heavenly bamboo poisonous to dogs?

Updated 01/09/2023

Heavenly bamboo, otherwise known as sacred bamboo and nandina domestica, is a shrub commonly used in landscaping, and native to eastern Asia - all the way from the Himalayas to Japan. The plant’s fiery shades make it obvious why many of us would choose this pretty filler in our gardens, but is it a safe choice for pet parents, or is heavenly bamboo poisonous to dogs? Let’s find out.

Is heavenly bamboo poisonous to dogs?

So, is heavenly bamboo toxic to dogs? Yes - sacred bamboo is poisonous to dogs, and other animals, too. The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides (otherwise known as cyanide) which causes cyanide poisoning. All parts of the plant are filled with this toxic compound, so a munch on any part of the plant could put your dog's health at risk.

And are heavenly bamboo berries poisonous to dogs? Yes, they contain cyanide, just as the rest of the sacred bamboo plant does. If you think your pup has licked or eaten a heavenly bamboo berry, you should contact your veterinarian as a matter of emergency.

Heavenly bamboo poisoning in dogs

So, now we know that sacred bamboo is toxic to dogs, let’s explore a bit more about cyanide poisoning, i.e. the result of consuming any part of the plant. Below we’ll take a look at the symptoms your pup might experience with cyanide poisoning, along with methods of diagnosis and possible treatments your vet might administer. Before we get into it, it’s worth noting that if your pooch has eaten any part of the heavenly bamboo plant, you shouldn’t wait for symptoms to arise before contacting your vet.

Symptoms

• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Dark red gums
• Difficulty breathing
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• High blood pressure
• Collapse

Diagnosis

Like with ingestion of any potentially toxic plant, it’s worth taking a sealed sample with you to your veterinarian, if you can. This can help with more efficient identification of the cause of your pup’s symptoms and consequently, the treatment needed. During your appointment, the methods of diagnosis may include…

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Blood pressure readings 
• ECG readings

Treatment

Once your veterinarian has confirmed it’s cyanide poisoning your pup is suffering from, the treatments they may administer include IV fluids, oxygen therapy and various medications to counteract the cyanide and help ease the signs of toxicity.

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

Other plants poisonous to dogs

Unfortunately, many common plants should be avoided by pet parents with particularly curious pups, so be sure to get in the know about plants poisonous to dogs, starting with the list below.

• Laurel
• Lupine
• Cyclamen
• Cordyline