Paws off the poinsettias: Veterinarian discusses how holiday plants can harm pets
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — Mistletoe, holly and poinsettias are all plants many of us like to display in our homes during the holidays.
But, if you have indoor pets, those plants could be toxic to them.
Cassie Mitlitsky is a veterinarian at Sandy Paws Animal Hospital.
She urged the importance of being aware of what seasonal plants are safe – and unsafe – around pets.
Mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias can pose a threat if ingested by either cats or dogs.
Lilies are also popular during this time of year, but Mitilitsky warned that they are the most dangerous if ingested.
She advised pet owners to even be cautious when owning a live Christmas tree in a pet-friendly home.
Mitilitsky explained that there can be pesticides, mold or bacteria growing in the water the tree sits in.
She called the plants “something you definitely want to keep out of their reach.”
“You can see vomiting, diarrhea, and neurologic effects with those ones,” she added. “So, I would say poinsettias were at the bottom of my list, and lilies were kind of at the top of my list, and mistletoe and holly kind of fall in the middle there of how toxic they are.”
If you want to play it safe, Mitilitsky recommended Christmas cactus and Christmas orchids as non-toxic alternatives to consider decorating your home with.
