According to the experts at the ASPCA, the long-held belief that poinsettia plants are deadly to family pets and cats in particular, is the story of legends.
During the holiday season, many pet-parents often think twice before bringing the festive and popular poinsettia plant into their home, wary that it may cause the untimely death of their beloved pet if it happens to nibble on the plant. It’s no wonder we’re fearful of the poinsettia when it comes to our pets; it often makes it onto every pet holiday danger list published on the Internet.
When a rumor spread that a young child allegedly passed away after consuming a poinsettia leaf nearly 100 years ago, the myth grew year after year into the deadly tale that so many of us grew to believe all these years. This is not to say that the plant is completely without harm to people or pets that eat the leaves, but it appears that the tales of the poinsettia’s toxicity are generally over-rated and generally do not have the fatal consequences so often believed.
The primary concern with the plant is that it could upset your pet’s stomach rather than cause your pet to keel over unexpectedly. Like many plants that are not meant to be edible, if a pet ingests a poinsettia plant it may experience gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and diarrhea. As a result, it is still advisable to keep the plant out of reach of sniffing noses, curious paws and hungry pets.
If your pet happens to ingest poinsettia plant leaves this holiday season and shows any signs of illness, it is always best to contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s poison control center to get their advice on how to treat any gastrointestinal discomfort or other side effects it may cause your pet.
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