I’m a plant expert – the common Christmas decorations which are dangerous to your dog including a huge festive favorite
A PLANT expert has shared some of the top Christmas foliage that can be harmful to pets.
To help those who might be worried about their pets having a nibble at any festive displays, experts at shared which plants to be wary of.
Every year people have some sort of Christmas plant in their home, whether that be as small as a poinsettia or as big as a pine tree.
“Christmas plants can add an extra level of seasonal decoration to your home, bringing joy and color during the winter months," stated expert Lucy Rhead from Gtech.
As festive plants are returning to homes across the country, has noticed that Google searches for ‘are poinsettias poisonous to dogs’ have increased by 120% over the last 12 months.
Experts at Gtech compiled a list of the five most common Christmas decorations that can cause your four-legged family friend to have a negative reaction.
Many people would be shocked to learn that many of the holiday season's staple flowers actually can be detrimental to their pets, who may want to explore the new decorations and scents added to their home.
The plants all have varying toxicity levels, but, if consumed, your dog could have an upset stomach, at the very least.
The first plant on the list, poinsettias, is a staple in many homes due to its bright color and is a beautiful sight to see.
Poinsettias belong to the Euphorbia family, which has a reputation for being highly toxic.
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Luckily, poinsettias have a lower level of toxicity and only produce mild symptoms of nausea and vomiting, if ingested.
Rhead suggested keeping anything that could be a danger out of reach of pets or simply replacing them with more pet-friendly alternatives.
The second item on the list is holly, which makes a beautiful holiday decoration, but the berries are poisonous and can trigger irritation, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The spiky leaves should be a good deterrent for any pets that try to get too close.
Mistletoe is known to spark romance and is relatively low toxic, so it is unusual for pets to develop any symptoms after consuming the third plant on the list.
Thankfully, the traditional high placement of this plant makes it rare for most pets to experience its toxic effects.
In the rare cases that pets do react to mistletoe, they are most likely to have a wobbly stance, tremors, or even fits.
The penultimate item on the list is ivy, often used as foliage in winter wreaths and garlands, so it's usually placed in small quantities around the home.
If consumed, ivy can cause pets' stomachs to become upset, and skin irritation, if they come into direct contact with it.
Last but definitely not least, the most upsetting but albeit not surprising item on the list is the ultimate yule-tide plant, a Christmas pine.
For those with a real Christmas tree, it's important to regularly clean up any pine needles that have dropped around the tree because they can irritate and cut pets' mouths and throats.
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HARMFUL CHRISTMAS PLANTS
- Poinsettias
- Holly
- Mistletoe
- Ivy
- Pine Trees
As the holiday season carries on, these simple plant guidelines are beneficial when decorating your home.
expert Lucy Rhead recommended researching all the plants you keep in your home for any potential toxicity that could cause them harm.
