Poinsettias: Are They Poisonous or Dangerous To Pets?

It never fails, every year around the Christmas Holiday we get questions about poinsettias as to whether or not they are poisonous to cats and dogs. The short answer is poinsettias in the house with pets should not be a major concern. In fact, the poinsettia may not even be toxic. If anything, they have only been found to be mildly toxic at worst, and should not hurt an animal or human unless an exorbitant amount of plants or leaves were ingested.  

If your pet should eat any, some symptoms to watch for include mild gastrointestinal problems and an upset stomach, but the truth is poinsettias are not a dangerous threat to your pets. If vomiting, or diarrhea occurs, a trip to the veterinarian may be in order, but the chances of that happening are extremely slim.

If you have reason to believe your pet has eaten some of your poinsettias and has symptoms of drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline immediately. 

As an interesting side note, there are some other plants that could be harmful to your pets including holly and mistletoe as well as lilies. It has been determined that in some cases it could only take a couple of bites from the lilly flower to cause acute kidney failure in cats. 

The bottom line is it's always a good idea to play it safe, and try to keep your holiday plants out of reach from your pets. While some of these plants may be mildly toxic, please don't let any exaggerated stories keep you from enjoying your flowers during the season! Chances are your pets will be just fine even if they do eat a leaf or two of your poinsettia!