Is Mahonia poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Mahonia is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The bark, leaves, roots and sap/juice are poisonous.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today
What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
  4. Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
  5. Keep your pet calm.

Don't

  • Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Mahonia is listed as a problem for dogs and cats.[1]

Scientific name
Berberis
Poisonous parts
bark, leaves, roots, sap/juice

What the experts say

“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Children, Problem for Dogs, Spines/Thorns”

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Is Mahonia dangerous for dogs?

Mahonia is listed as a problem for dogs.[1]

Is Mahonia dangerous for cats too?

Mahonia is listed as a problem for cats too.[1]

Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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