Toggle High Contrast Toggle Font size Get One, Give One Offer* Find a Location Near You View All Pet Articles Don’t Let These Dangerous Plants Ruin Your Holiday These dangerous holiday plants are not ho-ho-ho. They are a no-go. Get the list, plus find out what happens if your pet eats one. by PetIQ Veterinary Council Estimated Reading Time: 2 Minutes When you’re decking the halls this holiday season, keep your pet in mind too. Here is our quick guide to popular holiday plants that can cause serious harm to your dog or cat: 1. Mistletoe Symptoms can include gastrointestinal upset, a drop in blood pressure, breathing difficulty, or even abnormal behavior caused by hallucinations. 2. Poinsettias The sap is irritating to your pet’s mouth and esophagus. Eating the leaves can cause nausea and vomiting. 3. Holly This plant can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs and cats. 4. Fir and Pine Trees Christmas tree water can contain bacteria, mold or fertilizer. Fir tree oils can irritate your pet’s mouth if they lick or chew the branches or needles. Pine needles can get caught in the intestinal tract, even puncturing the lining or causing an obstruction. 5. Christmas Lilies (also called Amaryllis) Amaryllis are extremely poisonous to cats. Ingesting the petals, leaves, or pollen can quickly cause kidney failure. Dogs can develop gastrointestinal upset from eating any part of a lily. During the holiday season, be sure to keep these plants out of your pet’s reach. If you think your pet has eaten something wrong for them or notice other changes in their behavior, call the PetIQ® Veterinary Helpline at 1-800-775-4519. It’s available seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., even during the holidays. Talk with a veterinary professional, and if needed, they will help you find the closest VIP Petcare® veterinarian near you. Share this Article: All Article Categories: Minor Medical Care New Pet Parents Pet Safety Prevention Wellness Articles You May Also Like Danger Ahead! Avoid These Toxic Foods for Pets Get our checklist of dangerous foods plus what symptoms they can cause in your dog or cat. Read more Keep Your Pet’s Ears Clean and Healthy Ear disease in dogs and cats can develop for a variety of reasons including ear mites, ear infections (bacterial or yeast), and allergies. Read more Your Pet’s Skin, Coat, and Paws Need Care Your pet’s skin, coat, and nails are essential to their overall health. Know what signs to look for and when to contact a veterinarian. Read more View All Pet Articles Join Our Community Sign up for Promotions, Updates, Advice from our Veterinarians and more. REQUEST PET RECORDS FAQs HELP CENTER SERVICES & PRICING Veterinary Helpline Individual Services Service Packages Pet Wellness Plans ABOUT US Overview Our Standards of Care Careers PET ARTICLES Featured Articles All Articles PHARMACY Fill a Prescription Shop Products Find a Location Copyright ©2020-2021 PetIQ, LLC. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service To analyze the use, improve our websites, and inform you about our company on other websites, we would like to use cookies. If you agree, please click, "I consent to cookies". If you would like to select the cookies we can use, receive more detailed information, or make any changes to your preferences go to "Cookie Preferences". I consent to cookies Essential Cookies Only Cookie Preferences Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences Learn About Our Check-in Process