Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Dogs? The popular holiday plant can be toxic to dogs if ingested and also pose a risk of skin irritation if they come into contact with poinsettia.
Find out the severity of poinsettia poisoning in dogs and know the steps to take if it happens to your canine companion.
What Is a Poinsettia?
The poinsettia is a decorative plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. Its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima. People also came up with many nicknames for the poinsettia plant, such as:
- Christmas star
- Crown of the Andes
- Flame leaf flower
- Flower of Christmas Eve
- Flower of the Holy Night
Throughout the years, it has gained popularity as a Christmas plant because of its festive holiday colors. The poinsettia is adorned with red leaves and a contrasting green stem.
Although the plant is commonly seen during the holiday season, it is a perennial that can live the whole year round.
The Cause of Poinsettia’s Toxic Risk to Dogs
We often hear pet owners ask: “Why are poinsettias poisonous to dogs?” Poinsettias contain caustic chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponins. The combination of these compounds makes the plant poisonous to dogs and cats.
Another frequently asked question is: “Are poinsettia leaves poisonous to dogs?” Yes, poinsettia’s leaves are toxic to dogs, along with its stems.
The milky white sap they carry contains the harmful compounds we mentioned earlier. Poinsettia ingestion can lead to stomach upset, while exposure to its sap can cause skin irritation.
Other dog owners wonder: “Are white poinsettias poisonous to dogs?” Yes, white poinsettias are toxic to dogs, just like the red ones.
Other color varieties of the plant are considered poisonous as well. Thus, think twice before bringing them into your home.
Toxic Levels of Poinsettias to Dogs
How poisonous are poinsettias to dogs? There is an enduring misconception that poinsettias are highly toxic plants to dogs.
However, in truth, they very rarely cause fatal poisoning. It would take large amounts of the plant to cause such a severe side effect.
According to researchers, the myth originated from an unsubstantiated report of a child’s death caused by chewing on a poinsettia leaf in 1919.
In another old urban legend, a child was found dead beside a poinsettia. The townsfolk believed the plant caused his demise.
In 1971, experts dispelled this misinformation by assessing the toxicity of poinsettias by conducting an experiment.
They fed 500 to 600 poinsettia leaves to rats. The result is that the rodents exhibited no clinical signs of poisoning or even changes in behavioral patterns.
Symptoms of Poinsettia Poisoning in Dogs
Poinsettia toxicity commonly causes mild signs of vomiting, drooling, and skin irritation in dogs. Other adverse reactions to watch out for are:
- Diarrhea
- Inappetence
- Lack of energy
- Constant lip licking
- Eye irritation (if the sap gets into the eyes)
While poinsettia and dogs are a bad combination, do not panic if your dog ingested some parts of the plant. As we have said, the manifestation of severe side effects is unlikely to happen. Thus, vet medical treatment is rarely necessary.
Just make sure to inform the vet about the incident. You will most likely be advised to monitor your dog for any signs of toxicity. Mild symptoms are often temporary and can be treated at home.
However, if they persist for more than 2 days or suddenly worsen, take your dog to the vet clinic right away.
What to Do If Your Dog Ate Poinsettia
The first thing to do is carefully assess the situation. Take note of what part of the poinsettia your dog ingested and estimate how much he managed to consume. This information will help the vet evaluate if it is an emergency situation or not.
If they decide that it is the latter, home treatment is the most viable option. It often involves the following course of action:
- Wash the area of your dog’s body that was exposed to the poinsettia sap with clean water.
- Provide him with unlimited amounts of water to prevent dehydration due to vomiting.
- Temporarily switch your dog to a bland food diet if the vet recommends it. Doing so aids in soothing his digestive system.
- Induce vomiting if you catch your dog ingesting the plant early. However, only carry out this process under a vet’s direction. Performing it wrong can be life-threatening, as your dog might asphyxiate on his own vomit.
Under no circumstances should you administer any type of drug to your dog without the vet’s approval. Make sure to consult them first to know if certain medications are needed for your furry pal’s home treatment.
Treatment of Poinsettia Poisoning in Dogs
Canines experiencing severe poinsettia poisoning often undergo the following medical treatments:
-
Induced Vomiting
This process removes the remaining plant materials in the stomach to prevent further toxicity. The vet may administer activated charcoal afterward to prevent toxins from getting absorbed into your dog’s system.
-
Decontamination
Dogs that came into contact with poinsettia plants may suffer from skin, eye, or oral irritations. To stop these adverse reactions, the vet will clean the affected areas.
Ointment or antihistamine will sometimes be prescribed to alleviate skin dermatitis.
-
Hydration
If the poisoning leads your dog to vomit and defecate constantly, he will be given an IV drip. This will help replenish the fluids his body lost and aid in maintaining proper kidney function.
After these treatments are carried out, most canines show good progress in their condition. Prolonged hospitalization for days or weeks is a rare occurrence. Moreover, making a full recovery is a highly possible outcome.
How to Prevent Poinsettia Poisoning in Dogs
Poinsettias and dogs should not be kept together even if these Christmas plants only possess mild toxicity. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
So when holiday decorating, replace poinsettia plants with dog-friendly alternatives such as bromeliads, Christmas cacti, peperomias, and roses.
