{"id":7730,"date":"2021-12-14T17:34:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T17:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/?p=7730"},"modified":"2022-03-30T11:43:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T10:43:55","slug":"are-poinsettias-safe-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/are-poinsettias-safe-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Are poinsettias safe for dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many of us have a lot of gift buying to do each year at Christmas, and many of us also take great pride in matching the gift with the recipient. We pick the perfect book out for the avid reader, the ideal toy for the toddler, and the most drinkable bottle of wine for the enophile in the family. By the time you\u2019ve done all that though, you just want to get the whole thing over and done with. What do you get the neighbour who has everything? Or the aunt who wants nothing? Well, this is what leads many of us to purchasing poinsettias – a plant and flower synonymous with Christmas. But should you buy a poinsettia for a dog owner? Or are these festive plants a danger to dogs? Let\u2019s find out\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretty and poisonous? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, yes, poinsettias are, unfortunately poisonous to dogs (and cats for that matter) but they\u2019re not so highly toxic that you need to avoid giving them to your pet-loving relative or friend. In fact, while the ingesting of poinsettia sap (which is milky white in colour) isn\u2019t good for your pet, it won\u2019t cause any life-threatening issues. The worst cases usually result in some vomiting, dribbling and very rarely, diarrhoea.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your pooch is seen munching on a leaf from this plant, take it away from them as soon as you can (and maybe put the dog outside or at least in a room with an easily cleaned floor) and keep an eye on them. They almost certainly won\u2019t require a trip to the vet, but it\u2019s worth determining which end the issues are likely to come from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you do buy a poinsettia for a dog-owner, you can tell them that it won\u2019t cause their pet any long-term or serious issues if they nibble on it, but it\u2019s probably best to keep it on a higher shelf away from greedy and inquisitive mouths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Christmas plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While poinsettias won\u2019t cause too many issues even if munched on by the dog, there are other Christmas plants and foliage that can cause more serious issues and it\u2019s worth listing them here for your peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n