Climbing Bryony
Bryonia dioica
Horse
Severe
Any suspected ingestion is an immediate veterinary emergency. Around fifty berries or a large piece of root (rarely excavated by a horse).
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Intensive symptomatic and supportive care (IV fluids, anti-diarrheals, antispasmodics).
- Time to signs
- 1 to 6 hours
- Prognosis
- Guarded. Diarrhea can lead to a fatal shock state within 24 hours.
- Veterinary emergency.
- Aggressive IV fluid therapy to compensate for watery diarrhea.
- Administration of strong antispasmodics.
- Close monitoring of vital signs.
Its ID card
- Height
- 2 m – 10 m (vine length)
- Flowering
- June to September
- Toxic parts
- Especially the enormous fleshy root and the red berries. Stems and leaves are highly irritating.
- Toxin
- Glycosides (bryonin, cucurbitacins)
- Habitat
- Hedges, bushes, fences, woodland edges.
- Soil indicator
- Cool, calcareous, nitrogen-rich soils (often at the base of trees).
- Regions
- Western Europe, Central Europe, Mediterranean Basin
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Low (very bitter), but the red berries are sometimes ingested in autumn when grass is scarce.
When the risk rises
August to October (ripe red berries).
Spotting it in the field
Black Bryony (Tamus communis) which has heart-shaped leaves and lacks tendrils (also toxic). — smell : acrid and unpleasant smell when leaves and stems are crushed.
- Herbaceous vine that clings with corkscrew-like tendrils.
- Rough-textured leaves, deeply lobed into 5 segments (resembling small grape leaves).
- Small greenish-white flowers.
- Clusters of small green berries that turn bright red.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity
Dose : Approximately 50 berries or a significant piece of root for an adult horse.
- Fulminant, liquid, and often bloody diarrhea
- Excruciating colic
- Hypothermia (horse feels very cold, cold sweats)
- Bloody urine or stopped urination (renal blockage)
- Tetanus-like spasms (generalized muscle cramps) and collapse
Who is affected
Other species : Highly toxic to pigs, dogs, and humans.
In pregnant mares : abortion is probable due to the severity of colic and shock.
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the entire plant, including the root, wearing gloves. Prevent seed dispersal. Burn uprooted parts.
- Regularly inspect and clear paddocks and fence lines to remove climbing bryony.
- Educate owners about the dangers of this plant and its intoxication signs.
- Utilize hedge management methods that exclude this plant.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Climbing Bryony from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Climbing Bryony dangerous in hay?
This entry flags hay vigilance. Isolate suspicious forage and ask for professional advice if exposure is possible.
This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.