Houseplant
Is Lucky bamboo toxic to cats and dogs?
Dracaena sanderiana · also called Ribbon plant
Cats
Mildly toxicDogs
Mildly toxicLucky bamboo is not a bamboo but a dracaena, and it is mildly toxic. Chewing it can cause vomiting and drooling; cats may get dilated pupils.
By Maya Hart
If your pet chewed it
- Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink.
- Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Dilated pupils (cats)
What is harmful
- Parts
- Leaves and stems
- Substance
- Saponins
The details
True bamboo (Bambusoideae) is non-toxic to pets. Lucky bamboo, sold in water with stones or twisted into shapes, is a dracaena — and so are the “corn plant” and “dragon tree”, which share the same mild toxicity.
Pet-safe alternatives
Questions owners ask
Is Lucky bamboo toxic to cats?
Yes — mildly toxic to cats. Harmful parts: leaves and stems.
Is Lucky bamboo toxic to dogs?
Yes — mildly toxic to dogs. Harmful parts: leaves and stems.
What happens if a pet eats lucky bamboo?
vomiting (sometimes with blood), drooling, loss of appetite, dilated pupils (cats).
What should I do if my pet chewed it?
Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a drink. Most pets recover within a few hours; call your vet if drooling, vomiting or pawing at the mouth continues.
What are pet-safe alternatives to lucky bamboo?
Parlour palm, Areca palm, Spider plant.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
