A variety of plants are popular for holiday decorating and gift-giving, but a few of them spell bad news to pets.
Surprisingly, the one that generates the most alarm — the poinsettia — is one of the least dangerous of the leafy holiday threats.
Anastasia Zygarowicz, who writes the Leaf and Paw blog, says poinsettias are “overrated in toxicity” when it comes to pets.
“The white sap that they excrete when a leaf breaks off is the only thought to be mildly toxic to both cats and dogs,” she says.
Even then, the effect is mainly mouth irritation and at worst, short-lived vomiting.
The Leaf and Paw blog features a list of what Zygarowicz considers the seven most threatening holiday plants to pets, based on information from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Pet Poison Hotline.
They are:
1.) Ornamental peppers. The fruits are edible for people, but they’re nausea producers and somewhat toxic to cats and dogs.
2.) Peace lily. Not just a holiday plant, this popular foliage plant is high in pet-toxic calcium oxalate.
3.) Amaryllis. All parts of this holiday-favorite flowering bulb are toxic to pets.
4.) Holly. The berries are especially toxic to pets.
5.) Mistletoe. The clusters of white berries that some people hang to induce holiday kisses are some of the most pet-toxic of all plant parts.
6.) Cyclamen. All parts are toxic to pets.
7.) Lilies. They might look showy and smell nice, but lilies are especially toxic to cats.
So what are better, pet-friendly choices when it comes to holiday plants?
Zygarowicz says the least-toxic three are Christmas cactus, moth orchids, and frosty ferns.
Live and cut Christmas trees also are low on the toxic-threat scale, although Zygarowicz says that pets can drink basin water that might be bacteria- and mold-laden, they might experience skin and/or mouth irritation from saps and oils in the trees, and they could poke their eyes on stiff pine needles.
Besides plant threats, Zygarowicz cautions pet-owners to be on the alert for some other holiday decorations that might pose trouble. Among them: glass ornaments, candles, and tinsel (“super-dangerous since cats eat anything stringy and silvery”).
Zygarowicz says that while some pets have no interest in eating plants, others will at least sample most anything.
What she’s learned is that in either case, don’t trust any pet, and don’t put complete trust in training or repellents because pets often act on impulse.
Her leading strategy is to keep plants and pets apart, such as by using plant stands or displaying plants on shelves or in hanging baskets.
“Make your plants less accessible,” Zygarowicz says. “Rearrange them or hang them. Get rid of the toxic ones, or put them in a room where the pet doesn’t go. If you need to have toxic plants, make sure they’re out of reach.”
The good news is that few plants are toxic enough to cause serious trouble with just a nibble.
However, Zygarowicz says that whenever in doubt, call your vet or a pet/poison hotline ASAP.
Symptoms of plant poisoning can include nausea, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and shaking.
Two emergency call lines are the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 and the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Consultation fees usually apply at both.
Holiday season or not, Zygarowicz’s blog offers a list of 10 of the best non-toxic plants for pet-owners: peperomia, calathea, hoya, most succulents, spider plant, ferns, African violet, moth orchid, pilea, and banana trees.
Her top-10 plants to avoid for pet-owners are: pothos, monstera, ficus, dracaena, dieffenbachia, sago palm, ZZ plant, string of pearls, oxalis, and alocasia.
