Is That Gorgeous Poinsettia Really Poisonous?
Saturday December 15, 2007
Remember when we played on metal slides that sat in the hot sun all day and ended in a slab of concrete? Today’s kids will never know that thrill. Rod Brouhard, About.com’s Guide to First Aid, can help protect your kids (and your pets) from a few less thrilling threats around the holidays - namely poisonous holiday plants. Contrary to popular belief, the poinsettia is relatively safe to have on display. In fact, as Rods’ list of poisonous holiday plants points out, most of the plants and shrubs we use for decoration will cause only minor stomach irritation or rashes - unless you make a holiday feast of them. Still, it’s better to be forewarned; those holly berries can be pretty tempting.
Rod has more on the hazards of Christmas in The Grinch's Christmas Decorating Tips
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
This article applies to humans, but how poisonous are poinsettas to cats? I have been told they can be very harmful. Any opinion?
Current wisdom says the poinsettia is just an irritant, not a fatal poison. I wouldn’t let my pets eat a whole plant, but here’s what the ASPCA has to say in a news alert:
“Says the ASPCA’s Dana B. Farbman, CVT, “In reality, ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation in pets, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.” So while it’s still a good idea to keep this plant out of your pets’ reach to avoid stomach upset, you need not banish it from your homes.”