Claim:
Poinsettia plants are poisonous to cats and dogs.
Rating:
Context
Poinsettias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs, causing skin irritation from the plant’s sap or stomach upset if ingested. Claims that poinsettias can cause serious health problems or death greatly exaggerate the risk, according to experts.
Poinsettias are a Christmas staple, but for years online rumors have claimed the plants are poisonous or deadly to pets.
In December, a Facebook post warned cat and dog owners to keep poinsettias out of their homes, claiming the plants are toxic and cause more than 1,200 pet deaths each year. Another post also claimed poinsettias are among several seasonal plants that are “poisonous to pets if nibbled or eaten.”
However, experts say these fears about poinsettias are overblown. The plants are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs, though they may cause skin irritation from the sap or stomach upset if ingested.
“While poinsettias are commonly ‘hyped’ as poisonous plants, they rarely are, and the poisoning is greatly exaggerated,” the Pet Poison Helpline says on its website.
Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinarian with the American Kennel Club, agrees, noting that while dog owners should be cautious, poinsettia-related reactions are “hardly ever serious or fatal.”
Because poinsettias are only mildly toxic, medical treatment is rarely necessary unless a pet experiences severe or persistent symptoms, the Pet Poison Helpline says.
The milky white sap in poinsettia stems contains chemicals similar to those found in household detergents, Klein explains. If a pet comes into contact with the sap, they may experience symptoms such as redness, swelling and itchiness. Eye exposure can also cause mild irritation. If ingested, poinsettias may cause vomiting, drooling, or, in some cases, diarrhea, experts say.
There was no evidence that poinsettias caused more than 1,200 pet deaths annually, a statistic the Facebook warning attributed to the ASPCA. On its website, the ASPCA says poinsettia plants can be “irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting,” but that the plant is “generally overrated in toxicity.”
Even so, Klein still recommends keeping the plants out of your pets’ reach as a precaution.
While poinsettias pose minimal risk to pets, other holiday plants can be far more dangerous.
“Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, Easter and day lilies, are the most dangerous plants for cats,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant director of Pet Poison Helpline. “The ingestion of one to two leaves or flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.”
Klein also advises cat owners to keep lilies out of their homes because most types are “very toxic” to the animals.
Holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets, potentially causing stomach upset and even heart problems if ingested, the Pet Poison Helpline says.
Amaryllis, balsam, pine and cedar are among other common holiday plants that “can be dangerous and, in some cases, even poisonous to pets who eat them,” according to Klein.
If your pet ingests a poinsettia and has been vomiting for more than 24 hours, or experiences other symptoms such as bloody vomit or diarrhea, unproductive retching, lethargy, or dehydration, experts recommend contacting a veterinarian for guidance.
Other holiday hazards for pets include salt-dough ornaments, fatty table scraps and food items containing an ingredient called xylitol. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more pet safety tips on its website.
