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Poinsettia plants and dogs


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

25 Most Dangerous Plants for Pets

You may be surprised, but these plants are very common, they can be found both as an indoor flower and in the yard.

Check out the list of toxic plants that can negatively affect the health of your furry friends and consider making a few changes to your garden.

Azalea

One of the most ubiquitous and beautiful landscape plants, it is also one of the most poisonous. Azalea is poisonous to both dogs and cats, but it also causes disease in horses, goats, and sheep. Eating just a few leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If you already have such a plant in your yard, you can either remove it or keep an eye on your animals. Take them to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect they may have ingested or chewed on azalea leaves.

Azalea

Daylily

Although not toxic to dogs, many types of daylily, including the lily, are extremely toxic to cats. Small portions of any part of this plant ingested by a cat can cause kidney failure. Thus, if your animal is often outdoors, you need to change your landscape design by removing the lily from there.

Daylily

Hyacinth

Hyacinth is loved for its lush early spring flowers and heady aroma. However, its bulbs are poisonous. If your dog likes to dig, keep hyacinths and other early bloomers away, such as snowdrops, crocuses, or daffodils.

Hyacinth

Oleander

This is a delightful evergreen that thrives in warm climates. Its delicate buds come in a variety of colors, from pink to red, white and even yellow. While the flowers and leaves of this plant are beautiful, they are poisonous to pets and humans. Therefore, only grow oleander if you are confident that every member of your family can keep their hands or paws away from the plant.

Oleander

Castor bean

Such a plant is often used in landscape design, it attracts with its colorful foliage and impressive height of its stems, however, all this beauty is poisonous. Enjoy this plant when you see it in a city park and don't plant it in your garden.

Castor beans

Hostas

Hostas are a staple gardening item for shady areas, but they are poisonous to both cats and dogs. If you have a curious four-legged friend at home, try a pet-friendly plant like coral bells.

Hosta

English ivy

You probably know that the berries of this plant are very toxic to pets. However, the rest of this vine plant is poisonous - especially the leaves. Don't be seduced by the allure of an ivy-covered brick wall. If you have this plant, it is best to get rid of it.

English ivy

Yew

The good qualities of the yew have made it an extremely popular evergreen landscape shrub. It is hardy and easy to grow, attractive when full of red berries. But the bark, leaves, and seeds of yew, when ingested, can affect the central nervous system of both dogs and cats. Horses are even more susceptible to poisoning. Instead of risking pet health, it's best to eliminate yews from your yard.

Yew

Alocasia

In warm climates, alocasia can be successfully grown in the garden, but in the rest of the country it is better known as a popular houseplant. However, for all its beauty, the plant can cause mouth swelling, vomiting, and diarrhea in both animals and humans — reason enough for a careful homeowner to avoid having such a plant in their yard, and even more so in their home.

Alocasia

Ipomoea

The seeds of some types of morning glory contain lysergic acid, which is essentially the natural form of LSD. This substance can cause hallucinations, confusion, tremors, and gastrointestinal disturbances in dogs and cats. Avoid planting this plant if you have pets.

Ipomoea

Autumn Crocus

Autumn Crocus contains colchicine, which is highly toxic to pets and can cause vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, respiratory failure, and kidney and liver damage.

Autumn Crocus

Daffodils

Daffodils are one of the first cheerful signs of spring. But if any part of it enters your pet's body, he may experience diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain or breathing problems and cardiac arrhythmias.

Daffodils

Potatoes

Potatoes may be a staple on your dinner table, but don't feed them to your dog. Potatoes are nightshades, and all nightshades contain the toxic chemical solanine. The potato itself and the green part of its stem are poisonous to your pet, so keep them away from this vegetable.

Potato

Larkspur

This plant is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. When ingested, it can cause both neuromuscular and respiratory paralysis, as well as symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to muscle stiffness and tremors. In the worst case, it can lead to heart failure and even death.

Larkspur

Buttercup

Since buttercup can cause blistering in the mouth, most dogs and cats will not swallow it completely, so the plant is not likely to cause them any serious harm. However, it can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, and salivation. Topical exposure to ranunculus is also harmful and can cause skin irritation.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is a popular flowering plant and contains pyrethrins, which are natural pesticides. If such a flower is eaten by your cat or dog, it can cause excessive salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. In the worst case, it can lead to depression and movement difficulties when ingested by pets.

Chrysanthemum

Cyclamen

This houseplant is extremely popular for its unique foliage and colorful flowers. But be sure to keep your pets away from it. The roots of cyclamen are highly poisonous and, if ingested, can cause severe vomiting and even death.

Cyclamen

Amaryllis

Amaryllis is a common garden plant, often found in home improvement stores and garden centers. However, it is toxic to both dogs and cats, and can cause tremors, excessive salivation, breathing difficulties, and intestinal problems, including diarrhea and vomiting.

Amaryllis

Poinsettia

The popular poinsettia is known to be toxic to cats and dogs, but it is not when compared to other plants on this list. Milk juice causes skin irritation and, if ingested, causes mild gastrointestinal upset. This plant rarely causes serious poisoning. However, be attentive to your pets, make sure that they stay away from this harbinger of the holiday.

Poinsettia

Iris

Part of the Iris family, iris is poisonous to both cats and dogs. The bulbs of this plant are the most toxic, so dogs that dig in the ground may be most at risk. Once in the body of an animal, iris can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and salivation.

Iris

Oregano

It is commonly grown in gardens, greenhouses and flowerbeds for culinary use. The consumption of oregano by cats can cause intestinal disorders, but usually does not entail any serious diseases and symptoms. Essential oil, however, causes much more harm to animals. Unlike people who like to use it as an alternative medicine, oregano essential oil should not be used as an antibiotic for cats. Ingestion of oregano essential oil by a cat can lead to liver failure.

Oregano

Euphorbia

Euphorbia is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. If swallowed, it causes vomiting and diarrhea, and in severe cases, it can cause cardiac arrhythmia.

Euphorbia

Lily of the Valley

This flower contains cardiac glycosides which can adversely affect your pet's heart rate, or cause severe arrhythmias and seizures, in addition to gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. Lily of the valley is not only poisonous to pets, but can also harm children.

Lily-of-the-Valley

Wisteria

Wisteria, with its waterfalls in purple, pink or white, is as toxic as it is beautiful. Seeds and seed pods are the most dangerous, capable of poisoning both small animals and children. So if you have dogs, cats, or small children, you should seriously consider removing this enchanting plant.

Wisteria

Digitalis

Digitalis is poisonous to both pets and humans. Even a small amount of this plant can kill your pet. The cardiac glycosides in foxglove can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and heart failure. Even water from a vase of foxglove cut flowers will be poisonous to pets.

Digitalis

Poisonous plants for dogs | Gardening

A dog is that you share your life with an animal that you know is their world for him or her. So taking care of it should be your priority. And the thing is, not only do you have to watch his diet, don't give him toxic foods like chocolate, onions, etc. But you also have to watch the plants around him. For example, Do you know that there are poisonous plants for dogs?

Next we'll talk about poisonous plants for dogs, what they cause them to do and why they shouldn't go near them (or you should have them in your home or garden). Do you want to protect your four-legged friend one hundred percent? Well, pay attention.

Index

Aloe

Who would say. However, aloe is a very toxic plant for dogs. And that's because of the plant sap that's right under the skin of each of the leaves (not a gel, but something that sticks to the leaves). What can relieve us, it causes irritation of both the skin and mucous membranes, to the point that blisters can come out, because of this you will have more salivation, you may have conjunctivitis if it touches your eyes, diarrhea, pain in the stomach . ..

Azalea

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Azalea is one of the most beautiful flowering plants that we often use in our garden. You may not know that If the dog eats it, even a little, he will have irritation of the entire digestive tract, starting from the mouth, with a picture of vomiting and diarrhea.

If you eat too much, it can even lower your blood pressure enough to put you in a coma.

Poto

Potho is such a common houseplant that it almost always has one. However, when we talk about houses with pets, this plant becomes a danger to them. And this is a poisonous plant not only for dogs, but also for cats and other pets.

If your dog comes and eats it, he may have inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and digestive tract, breathing problems, kidney failure, seizures ...

Ciclamen

Another toxic plant for dogs that commonly adorns many gardens or as a houseplant is cyclamen. Its dark green leaves and showy flowers attract a lot of attention. The problem is that if the dog eats it, it will suffer greatly.

You will have vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases - can turn into convulsions, arrhythmias, paralysis ...

ivy

Ivy itself is not dangerous, but its fruits are dangerous. And the problem is that they are very easily accessible to them, because when they hit the ground, your dog can eat them (especially if he is greedy).

If he does, you should know that he is putting his life in danger to the point where may suffer cardiac arrest and die . But not only that. If a dog touches any part of this fruit, it will develop dermatitis, which can lead to blistering and sores. And if he eats them, then he will have a fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cramps and a decrease in heart rate to a possible coma.

Flor de Pasqua

Poinsettia is an obligatory attribute of Christmas. But the truth is that every time he enters your home, you are putting your pet in danger. For starters, latex in plant sap will already cause dermatitis and irritation, as well as inflammation. And if you have already swallowed it, then in addition to vomiting and diarrhea, you will have abdominal pain, salivation and irritation of the mucous membranes.

Spathiphilous

This plant is one of the most purchased because of its resemblance to the duck flower, as Zantedeschia aethiopica or cala is commonly called, but in fact we come across one that It can kill your dog.

And the fact is that if swallowed, the dog will suffer from burning in the mouth, salivation and inflammation of the throat to such an extent that he will not be able to breathe. If you do not respond in time, you can drown.

Not only that, but even contact with it can cause blisters and skin irritation.

Pale yellow

Daffodils are common flowers in gardens, especially in Europe and the Mediterranean. But for dogs, this is not a very suitable plant. To begin with, substances that are toxic to animals are found throughout the plant, especially in the bulbs (and they love to dig).

If you eat anything from the plant, you will have vomiting and diarrhea, as well as arrhythmias, a drop in blood pressure (in severe cases it can reach a coma), convulsions ...

Something similar happens with the tulip.

Kalanchoe

Let's look at another poisonous plant for dogs, which is very dangerous. In this case, Kalanchoe is poisonous, especially its flowers, and makes it dangerous because attacks the heart.

If your dog ingests this plant, not only will he vomit and have diarrhea, but he will die suddenly.

What to do if your dog eats poisonous plants

It is almost impossible to know all the plants that are poisonous to dogs as the list is long and besides all dogs are different and it is possible that they were allergic to something which was not actually on the list.

Learn more