In the winter and especially around the holiday season, many beautiful flowering plants are easily available; and people love to bring these charming plants to decorate and fill their homes with natural scents and holiday atmosphere.
But be careful if you have a pet dog at home. Curious dogs can ingest household plants, and there is a long list of plants that can harm your furry friend. Most of these plants produce slight to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, while others can be toxic and can even cause death. According to ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), plant toxicity is at number nine among the top ten toxins for pets. In this article, we will discuss some common winter plants that are harmful to your dog.
Holly
Holly is very common during the winter season, and it can be found both indoors and outdoors. Their common varieties are American holly, Oregon Holly, Inkberry, Japanese holly, and English holly. Their toxicity is due to the presence of a chemical called “saponins”. The ingestion of the holly plant by dogs induces gastrointestinal injury leading to vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, and depression. Normally, the stem of the plant is more toxic than the leaves and berries, but avoiding holly altogether is the best bet for keeping your dog safe.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is also known as the “plant of love,” as there is a tradition of kissing beneath it around Christmas. While it can make a charming decoration around the holidays, mistletoe is extremely toxic for dogs as it contains many substances (such as toxalbumin and pharatoxin viscumin) that are very toxic for your dog. It only requires a few berries to kill puppies. When ingested by dogs, mistletoe is known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, sudden and severe fall in blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. If ingested in large amounts, it can cause seizures leading to death, even in adult dogs.
Poinsettia
Many people believe that Poinsettia plants are the most dangerous to dogs. The fact is that it is one of the least hazardous plants on this list. While they are toxic to dogs, poinsettias are not extremely poisonous. However, when eaten, the plant can induce nausea, vomiting, and oral irritation. While it can be fatal if taken in an extremely large amount, normally dogs would very rarely eat in such a large amount due to its undesirable taste and irritating effect. Still, it is advised to err on the side of caution and keep your pet away from poinsettias.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis and Poinsettias are the most selling plants on Christmas and their beautiful red flowers keep fresh for up to two months if kept warm and dry. Amaryllis is also named Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady, and Saint Joseph Lily. This beautiful plant is equally toxic for your dog. The stem, flowers, and bulb contain an alkaloid “Lycorine” that is highly fatal for pets. If ingested dogs show symptoms like vomiting, changes in blood pressure, tremors, and seizures.
Lily
The lilies of the valley are famous for their beautiful white bell-shaped flower and sweet smell, and red and white lilies are popular around Christmas for their cheery holiday coloring. But their beauty masks how toxic it can be for your canine friend. Even if ingested even in a small amount, it can cause heart issues, disorientation, seizures, or even a coma.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas Cactus is also called the Easter cactus, and in many areas can be a very popular plant around Christmas. While their flowers are not dangerous at all, consumption of a Fibrous part of the plant can cause abdominal discomfort leading to vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms are mild to moderate but not fatal.
Playing It Safe
Though there is a potential danger for your pet during winter holidays, with a little effort you can protect them while still enjoying the holiday season. Remember that most dogs will not eat poisonous plants in extremely large amounts. Placing hazardous plants out of reach and having your dog place-trained and under viligant supervision is often enough to avoid disaster. That said, as emergency veterinary offices have become increasingly busy (and can come with wait times of 8 hours or more since the Covid-19 pandemic), it is best err on the side of caution. Artificial plants are great substitutions, and there are certainly many safe plants around the holidays, like most evergreen trees and shrubs. Regardless of your choice, always be prepared to act quickly, and if your dog ingests some part of any of the above-mentioned plants, contact your veterinarian and poison control center immediately to limit the damage.
What plants are your favorite to decorate with around the holidays? Did we miss any dangerous holiday plants? Let us know in the comments!
