Decorating Your Home With Seasonal Plants? They Could Be A Holiday Hazard For Pets

It’s the holiday season, and houses across the world have been festooned with seasonal décor – including plants. But if you have pets in the house, it’s important to know about festive plants that might pose a health risk to them, so you can hopefully avoid interrupting your turkey dinner with a trip to the emergency vet. There are a few myths and misconceptions to unravel here, so let’s get stuck in.

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Poinsettia

A classic Christmas plant, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are prized for their bright red and green foliage, making them a perfect addition to your holiday aesthetic. But every year, warnings abound that these pretty plants could be a serious threat to the health of cats and dogs.

However, some of these warnings are a bit overblown. According to the ASPCA, poinsettias are “generally over-rated in toxicity”, though it’s still a good idea to stop animals from munching on them. The sap of these plants is an irritant that can hurt their mouths or stomachs, sometimes causing vomiting if consumed in excessive amounts. 

“[S]ymptoms are usually mild if they develop,” explains the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (WSU), so poinsettias are not the deadly threat they’re sometimes made out to be. 

Mistletoe

Another Christmas staple, mistletoe has a surprising amount of science behind it for a plant most of us associate with furtive festive kisses. This, however, is one you definitely want to keep away from pets.

“Mistletoe can be very toxic to animals, and you should seek veterinary consultation immediately if your pet has potentially ingested any part of the plant,” WSU explains. The symptoms include gastrointestinal distress, difficulty breathing, and shock, and ingestion can be fatal.

That goes for some less… house-sized pets too. If you keep livestock or horses, mistletoe can also pose a threat to their health. 

Holly

Mistletoe and holly are so characteristic of Christmas that there’ve been songs written about them. With its shiny red berries and spiky leaves, holly is a symbol of the season for many, and can often be found in garlands, gift wrapping, and floral displays. 

There are almost 600 species of holly, all found in the genus Ilex. Ilex aquifolium, or English holly, is a typical example. As enticing as they look, we know the berries aren’t safe to eat for humans, and the same goes for pets too. 

The ASPCA lists European holly varieties as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses due to the saponins they contain. Both the leaves and berries are mildly toxic and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. 

English ivy

You can’t talk about holly without mentioning ivy too. Hedera helix is a common, evergreen climbing plant that’s also often found in Christmas décor – and unfortunately, is also a health risk for pets.

“English ivy poisoning can cause dogs to have a bad tummy ache and irritate their mouths if ingested. If their skin encounters it, it can irritate, possibly severely if contact is prolonged or substantial. While usually not life-threatening, contacting your vet as soon as possible is always a good idea if you know your dog has encountered English ivy,” the Purina Pet Expert Team recommends. 

Cat owners are also advised to exercise caution around ivy.

Christmas cactus

The name Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) might evoke images of tall, spiky desert plants, but as the Royal Horticultural Society explains, these are actually rainforest cacti with flat leaves and not a spike in sight. Perhaps not a perennial Christmas favorite, these plants are still nice to have around the house this time of year because they flower in the winter.

The even better news, if you share your home with furry friends, is that they’re not known to be toxic to animals. 

Christmas tree

Now for the biggie. If you go the real tree route, as opposed to artificial, is that a safe choice for pets?

Most of the time, the answer is going to be yes, but with a few important caveats.

Being near to or even brushing against a real tree, whether fir, pine, or spruce, is unlikely to be an issue, according to UK veterinary charity PDSA. But if a cat or dog eats dropped needles from a Christmas tree, that could lead to irritation of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. You’ll need to be handy with the vacuum cleaner to prevent this.

The oils from these types of trees can also be toxic to animals. If a pet chews or gnaws on a branch, they may be exposed to sap or oils that can affect their breathing, cause vomiting and diarrhea, and even damage the liver or kidneys in large quantities.

If your live tree is standing in water, it’s also best to discourage cats and dogs from drinking it.

Honorable mentions

There are a couple of festive extras we wanted to include that are plant-adjacent, at the very least. 

Cranberries are often found on the festive table for humans, but they can also be an occasional treat for dogs, cats, birds, rodents – even bearded dragons, according to Patton Veterinary Hospital. Stick to plain fresh or dried cranberries, and don’t overdo it. With dogs, take particular care that dried cranberries aren’t mixed up with other dried fruits like raisins, which are toxic. 

And with pine trees come pinecones, often brought indoors for Christmassy displays this time of year. If you share your home with a feathered friend, a pinecone can also be a great Christmas gift for them as they make great enrichment toys – just be careful to use fresh cones from outdoors, rather than ones you can buy specifically for decoration, as they may have been sprayed with chemicals that aren’t safe for birds. 

When it comes to dogs and cats, pinecones are not toxic, but they are considered hazardous. If chewed, they may cause choking and could even get lodged in the intestines and cause a blockage, requiring surgery to resolve.

It might be easier than you think to convince cats to stay away from pinecones, though – some people swear by them as a deterrent to keep cats away from their flower beds.

If you’re concerned that your pet – of any species – has eaten something they shouldn’t this festive season, or they have any other symptoms of illness that you’re worried about, it’s always best to seek advice from a qualified vet without delay.