Are Holiday Poinsettias Harmful To Dogs and Cats?

Poinsettias are without a doubt the most popular houseplant for the holidays. You may have also heard that they can be poisonous to your cat or dog.

The truth of the matter is that while Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are mildly toxic for dogs and cats, they’re not lethal. In fact, the word toxic is probably much too strong. To become seriously ill, your pet would have to chew hundreds of poinsettia leaves (actually bracts, a specialized leaf. The red blooms are not flowers). The myth is believed to have started around 1920 when the two-year-old child of a U.S. Army officer was alleged to have died from consuming a poinsettia leaf. That story was never confirmed.

What happens if your dog or cat eats a poinsettia?

If your dog or cat ingests poinsettia bracts, they may experience mild gastrointestinal tract irritation. Symptoms may include drooling, vomiting, and in some cases diarrhea. Assuming your pet is otherwise healthy, the symptoms rarely need attention from a veterinarian, as the flushing action of your dog or cat’s system will generally correct the illness.

Interestingly, the same reason for which your dog or cat becomes sick (they’re reacting to the sap in the stems, which is a form of latex), is the reason that Euphorbias were used as medicines long ago. You may also hear them referred to as “spurges”, which is a Middle English word meaning “to purge” – the plant’s sap was used as a purgative.

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Interesting facts about Poinsettias

As mentioned above, the bright leaves are commonly called flowers, but they are actually bracts, a type of specialized leaf. The bracts can vary in color from the bright red we most often see, to green, orange, cream-colored, white, pink, or marbled.

The bracts turn their unique colors through a process called photoperiodism. Poinsettias require darkness for 12 hours a day for at least 5 days but also require intense sunlight to make the colors bright.

The flowers of poinsettias are actually the small yellow structures in the centers of the foliage. These flowers are called cyathia and do not attract pollinators.

Holiday plants that pose more risk to your pets than Poinsettias

Actually, the plants which pose a greater danger to your dog or cat during the holidays are Mistletoe, Holly, Amaryllis, Daffodils, and Lillies. Each of these plants is of various levels of toxicity to your pet and can cause serious illness and sometimes death.

• Mistletoe and Holly are moderately to severely toxic. If your pet ingests these, call your veterinarian immediately.
• Amaryllis, daffodils, and lilies are highly toxic to cats and may create severe gastrointestinal distress, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, convulsions, and death. Daffodils are toxic to dogs as well, especially the bulbs.