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Poinsettia and pets


Poinsettia Are Toxic To Pets

Poinsettia Are Toxic To Pets | Pet Poison Helpline

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plants

Alternate names

Euphorbia, lobster flower, flame leaf flower, Flower of the Holy Night, Flower of Christmas Eve, Crown of the Andes, Easter flower

During the holidays, poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant. Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) plants are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents. While poinsettias are commonly “hyped” as poisonous plants, they rarely are, and the poisoning is greatly exaggerated. When ingested, mild signs of vomiting, drooling, or rarely, diarrhea may be seen. If the milky sap is exposed to skin, dermal irritation (including redness, swelling, and itchiness) may develop. Rarely, eye exposure can result in mild irritation. Signs are generally self-limiting and typically don’t require medical treatment unless severe and persistent. There is no antidote for poinsettia poisoning. That said, due to the low level of toxicity seen with poinsettia ingestion, medical treatment is rarely necessary unless clinical signs are severe.

Common signs to watch for:

 

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Dogs

Toxicity Level

Mild

Cats

Toxicity Level

Mild

Disclaimer

The content of this page is not veterinary advice. A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, call Pet Poison Helpline or seek immediate veterinary treatment.

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Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Dogs?

Back To Vet's Corner

QUESTION:

My two-year-old Basenji is a very curious pup and still gets into things and chews on occasion. For the past two years, as a safety precaution, I kept holiday decorating to a minimum. I did not have poinsettias, lights, or candles – in fact, I hardly decorated at all aside from a tabletop tree. This year I would really like to decorate and feel more relaxed about doing so without worrying that my dog will ingest or destroy my holiday decorations. I especially love live Poinsettias, but I’m concerned about my dog getting into it. Are these plants highly toxic to dogs? While I can try to keep her away from the actual plant, I’m a bit worried about the leaves dropping and her getting into them. Any pointers you can provide to help me keep my dog safe this Holiday season would be excellent.

 

ANSWER:

It sounds like you are taking a responsible-dog-owner approach to your Christmas decorating. Pet owners need to be aware of hazards posed to their dogs from the puppy years all throughout their lives. From ingestion dangers to electric shock, many customary Christmas decorations can be hazardous to dogs and cats.

Poinsettias are a mildly toxic plant and should certainly be used with caution, but the dangers are hardly ever serious or fatal. The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals similar to those in detergents and when large quantities are ingested, mild signs of vomiting, drooling, or sometimes diarrhea may be seen. Skin irritation can occur when in contact with the milky white sap as well. Due to the low level of toxicity seen with poinsettia ingestion, you are safe to use them in your house with caution. All reasonable precautions should be made such as keeping plants and decorations out of your dog’s reach and never leaving your dog unattended when decorations, plants and potentially hazardous foods are present.

While medical treatment is rarely necessary when a dog ingests a leaf from a poinsettia plant, you should contact your veterinarian if clinical signs appear in your dog. Below is a more detailed list of common Christmas plants that are dangerous to dogs.

And a helpful video on ways to keep your dog safe this Christmas

Happy and Safe Holidays to you and your dog!

Common Holiday and Christmas Plants that are Dangerous to Dogs

Which plants are dangerous for pets

Many pets have to spend most of their lives within the walls of an apartment or house. And the desire to get to know domestic plants and flowers (and most often try them by mouth!) is natural. However, such contact may be unsafe. Check if you have plants from this list at home - meeting with them can have disastrous consequences for your pet.

Ksenia Ilchenko

Photo: Unsplash

Don't push your luck and keep your pets away from our list of plants.

Article content

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is extremely beneficial for humans. The pulp and juice of the plant are used to treat diseases of the skin, joints, infections of the upper respiratory tract, digestive disorders, to improve vision and strengthen the immune system.

Alas, what is good for us is poison for animals. If ingested, aloe juice can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, tremors in the limbs, loss of appetite and apathy in pets. nine0003

Poinsettia

Poinsettia or "Christmas Star" is an evergreen shrub with a rosette of bright scarlet leaves, giving it a decorative appearance. In many countries of the world, the flower has long become a symbol of Christmas, since its flowering period falls just at the end of December.

Poinsettia, like all spurges, is toxic to animals. And although deaths are rare, the juice of the plant can cause severe irritation of the stomach and mouth with periods of vomiting - especially in kittens and puppies. nine0003

Oleander

Oleander juice is also toxic to humans. But for small children and animals, it is especially dangerous. All parts of the plant contain a cardiac glycoside, a substance that causes severe intestinal colic, bloody diarrhea, increased sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, muscle tremors and heart failure, which can lead to death.

Lily

Beautiful fragrant lily is a deadly danger for little kittens! The juice of all representatives of lilies, including the tiger lily, which is popular in our country, is toxic for cats and causes acute kidney failure. nine0003

Surprisingly, lily is absolutely safe for dogs.

Begonia

This popular garden and house plant is the worst enemy of dogs and cats. If the animal reaches the tuber, which contains the greatest amount of toxic substances, the consequences can be dire. Flower juice can cause irritation of the respiratory system, severe burning in the mouth, increased salivation, vomiting and swelling of the throat.

Asparagus

A plant with fluffy stems covered with hundreds of soft needles is a real temptation for pets. If a cat or dog chews or swallows part of the stem while playing, this can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms, from allergic dermatitis to vomiting and diarrhea. nine0003

Geranium

Geranium has powerful antibacterial properties. In a house where there is a flower pot, seasonal infections occur much less frequently. But for pets, the plant is poisonous. The effect of toxins is very different, including a rash on the skin, a decrease in blood pressure, loss of appetite, and even lethargy.

Hyacinth

Fragrant hyacinths appear in almost every home on the eve of International Women's Day. Their sweetish aroma is a real lure for pets. But such contact can be fatal for them. nine0003

Hyacinth tuber juice causes lesions of the mouth and esophagus and severe convulsions, often leading to cardiac arrest.

Caladium

This house plant attracts animals with brightly colored leaves. But they should stay away from him. Caladium leaves contain crystals of a toxic substance that can cause severe irritation to your pet's skin and mouth, as well as impaired coordination and breathing.

Azalea

Azaleas (rhododendrons) are not the best choice for a home with cats and dogs. Moreover, experts do not recommend planting a shrub in a garden that pets such as horses, goats and sheep have access to. A few leaves are enough to cause serious health problems for a pet, including severe indigestion, loss of coordination, stupor, paralysis of the limbs, slow heart rate and loss of consciousness for two or more days. In the latter case, after the critical period, the affected animal will either recover or fall into a coma and die. nine0003

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Do you have plants from this list in your house?

Is the beautiful poinsettia poisonous and can it poison you and your cat?

Helpful information

Admin, November 23, 2018 - 17:00

Poinsettia, also known as the Star of Bethlehem, is without a doubt a flower loved by many. It has entered the "canon" of obligatory holiday decorations, almost like a traditional New Year and Christmas tree. Although the plant beautifully decorates our homes, many fear that the poinsettia is a poisonous plant and can cause allergies. nine0003

Many negative opinions have accumulated around her, which, however, do not always correspond to reality. Find out if the poinsettia is poisonous or not, in whom it can cause allergies, and what threatens contact with the juice flowing from the shoots of the flower.

Poinsettia - Christmas star - poisonous to humans or not?

The tissues of the poinsettia contain a poisonous white milky juice - as, indeed, in all other members of the family. This juice contains euphorbic acid, euphorbin and cyanogenic compounds, which can painfully burn the skin, cause inflammation, and if it gets into the eyes, even temporarily blind a person. nine0003

Poisonous juices are found in the root, leaves and stems. It is also worth knowing that the bracts that delight us (those that turn so beautifully red) owe their color to dyes belonging to anthocyanins.

All this sounds menacing. And so much so that some believe that the name of the plant comes from the English. the word poison, meaning "poison". But this is just complete nonsense! The name "poinsettia" comes from the surname Poinsett of a man named Joel Roberts who brought the Star of Bethlehem from Mexico to the United States. nine0003

In practice, as it turns out, information about the strong toxic effect and poisonousness of poinsettia is greatly exaggerated. Although the Star of Bethlehem can cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting after ingestion, in practice, this accounts for less than 10% of human consumption of the plant. The ailment is usually very mild and rare.

However, if a poinsettia flower has appeared in the house, it should be installed in a place inaccessible to small children, and while caring for the plant, avoid direct contact with juices that can leak out, for example, when breaking a branch. But there is no need to exaggerate. The sheer number of indoor plants grown in our apartments can be far more poisonous than the Star of Bethlehem. nine0003

Can poinsettias cause allergies?

Growing poinsettia should be avoided by people who are allergic to latex. Almost every second person with this type of it has symptoms of sensitization upon direct contact with the Star. The result of such contact can be inflammation of the skin, mucous membranes, and much less often - an attack of allergic asthma.

In this regard, the damaged parts of the plant, from which the juice flows, should be handled with care, try not to get dirty, and even more so - do not rub the eye with milk. Wash your hands thoroughly after work, just in case. nine0003

Will the Christmas star be poison to your cat or dog?

The toxicity of poinsettia to pets is low. So, for example, in the case of cats, the risk can generally be defined as small. Plants such as azalea, oleander, clivia, Persian cyclamen or the very popular ficus benjamin are much more dangerous for a cat.

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