December 10th, 2006

The truth about poinsettias

This holiday season, you may hear plenty of conflicting advice about poinsettias and whether or not they are poisonous to pets.  Dana B. Farbman, CVT of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center recently weighed in on the subject and had this to offer, “In reality, ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation in pets, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.”

It is still a good idea to your pug from nibbling any poinsettia leaves to spare them the upset stomach, but it is good to know that this festive holiday decoration is not poisonous to pets.  Instead the ASPCA, cautions us to be wary of holly and mistletoe.  Both plants are potentially toxic if ingested by pets.