Fall and Winter Holiday Plant Toxicity in Dogs

Flowers and plants add beauty to any holiday, and they also make great gifts. But if you’re a dog parent, you'll need to know which plants are safe for pets and which are potentially toxic.

Here is a list of plants to keep away from dogs:

Holiday Plants to Keep Away from Dogs

• Holly (Ilex sp.) This plant, commonly found around Christmas time, can cause intense vomiting and diarrhea. Depression may also occur.
• Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp) Ingestion can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, tremors, drooling, and abdominal pain.
• Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) This holiday favorite can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, this plant has been associated with difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, collapse and, if a large amount has been ingested, death. Some animals may even show erratic behavior and hallucinate.
• Poinsettia (Euphorbia) This plant can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach, as well as vomiting.
• Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus (Schlumbergera or Zygocactus) In dogs, if large quantities of these plants are ingested, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, and mental depression have been reported.
• American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) Ingestion results in weakness, vomiting, and seizures.
• European bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) Ingestion results in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, weakness, confusion, and low heart rate.
• Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) Ingestion results in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, drooling, and lack of appetite.
• Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) Ingestion results in abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and delirium.
• Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicuni) Ingestion results in vomiting, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, seizures, mental depression, respiratory depression, shock, and death.
• Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) Ingestion of the bulbs results in mouth irritation, blooding vomiting, diarrhea, shock, kidney failure, liver damage, and bone marrow suppression.
• Thanksgiving cactus (Zygocactus truncactus) Ingestion results in vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.
• Burning bush (Euronymous alatus) Ingestion can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and lack of appetite.

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