Christmas plants, pets and children
With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, many of us are decorating our homes with plants to match the festivities. And traditional holiday plants may come through the door as gifts. However, as pretty as poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe can be to brighten up the house, some of the most common decorative plants can be extremely harmful to our pets.
The pet insurance experts at money.co.uk have put together a list of 10 Christmas plants that are toxic to pets and what precautions you can put in place to keep your pets safe if these plants are in the home.
If your pets consume any of these toxic plants, it’s important to make sure to contact your vet immediately.
The 10 most toxic winter plants for dogs and cats
HOLLY » If the berries or spiked-edge leaves from a holly plant are ingested, this can result in irritation of the mouth, drooling, gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting), and diarrhea. The plant parts may also cause excessive head-shaking if consumed in large quantities.
MISTLETOE » Though varied in types, the berries from mistletoe contain chemicals including polysaccharides, alkaloids, and lectins which are harmful to both dogs and cats. When ingested in small quantities, mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal irritation such as vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumed in large quantities, it may cause abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure, and incoordination.
POINSETTIA PLANTS » Widely known for their bright red and green festive foliage, the milky white sap from the colored leaves contains a chemical which could cause not only nausea, vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea, but also irritation in the skin, mouth, and esophagus.
CHRISTMAS TREES » If the needles from Christmas trees are chewed, the oils released may cause irritations in the mouth as well as stomach upset. Due to the prickly nature of the needles, these could also be hazardous to the mouth, throat, and stomach if ingested.
IVY (HEDERA SPECIES) » Ivy can cause severe skin irritation if pets come into direct contact with this plant. If ingested, ivy can also cause stomach upsets.
AMARYLLIS » The entire amaryllis plant contains toxic substances, but higher quantities are contained in the bulb, so be careful of pets who like to dig. If bulbs are consumed, your pet may experience severe gastrointestinal upsets (such as vomiting and abdominal pain), loss of appetite, lethargy, and tremors.
LILIES » Dangerous for both cats and dogs, if any part of a lily is ingested (even in small quantities). This can cause severe gastrointestinal damage, which may lead to kidney failure for cats.
LAUREL » Laurel plants — including bay laurels (often used in cooking) and cherry laurel — contain toxins located in all parts of the shrub. These cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypotension and in extreme cases, muscle weakness, and even seizures.
SNOWDROPS » These small, white flowers contain toxins in their stems and leaves, with the highest concentration in the bulb. When ingested, they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, incoordination as well as a drop in heart rate and blood pressure.
YEW » All parts of this plant are highly poisonous, as they contain alkaloids called taxines. When ingested, taxines can cause vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulties and in critical cases, life-threatening change in heart rate and blood pressure.
Note: It’s important to remember that some of these same plants are harmful or even deadly to humans. Put plants with attractive berries, such as holly and yew, in places where children cannot reach them. For instance, quoting a CBS News report, “Children can suffer vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and drowsiness if they eat as few as two holly berries. The bright red berries can fall off a decoration and end up on the floor, where a child or pet might find and eat them.” Better safe than sorry! (More info at https:// cbsn.ws/3s9xzEv)
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Share your gardening stories on Facebook at “Chester County Roots.” Pam’s nature-related books for children and families are available on Amazon, at Amazon.com/author/ pamelabaxter.