Poinsettia
CautionPoinsettia is far less dangerous than its reputation. The ASPCA itself calls it "generally over-rated in toxicity." The irritant sap can still make a dog's mouth and stomach sore and cause vomiting.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
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Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Mouth irritation
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Skin inflammation
More about this food
Poinsettia has spent decades as the plant that supposedly kills pets at Christmas. The reference data is much calmer. The ASPCA lists the toxic principle as "irritant sap" and the clinical signs as "irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity." This is not an organ-damaging poison like sago palm or oleander.
Here is what actually happens. A dog bites a leaf or stem, the milky white latex leaks out, and it stings the lips, gums and tongue. You get lip-smacking, drooling, pawing at the mouth, then maybe a round of vomiting or a loose stool. Sap in the eye causes squinting, tearing and rubbing; sap on skin can leave a red, itchy patch. Most dogs stop after one taste, so most exposures stay small and self-limiting.
A few situations still deserve a phone call. A dog that shredded a whole plant. Vomiting that repeats so the dog cannot keep water down. Sap in the eye with continued rubbing. And any chance that soil, decorative glitter spray, floral preservative, slow-release fertilizer or a systemic insecticide went down with the leaves, because in a holiday plant those additives are often the bigger hazard than the poinsettia itself. Puppies, seniors and dogs with existing GI or kidney disease tolerate the same dose less well.
The right move is not to pry the mouth open and scrub it. Remove the plant, offer fresh water, and watch. If sap got in an eye, flush gently with lukewarm water or saline for about 15 minutes. Call your veterinarian if vomiting repeats, if your dog goes flat, or if she will not eat for more than 12 hours. If you are unsure what else was on or in the pot, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home: an irritant sap gets a second pass at the esophagus on the way back up.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate part of a poinsettia leaf. Is this fatal?
- Almost certainly not. The ASPCA describes poinsettia as generally over-rated in toxicity, with irritation of the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting. Watch her, keep water available, and call your veterinarian if the vomiting repeats or she becomes lethargic.
- He got sap in his eye.
- Flush the eye gently with lukewarm water or sterile saline for about 15 minutes. If he keeps squinting, rubbing or tearing afterwards, have a veterinarian check for a corneal abrasion rather than waiting it out.
- Can I keep one in the house at Christmas?
- Yes, but put it where the dog cannot reach it. Chewed leaves cause a sore mouth and vomiting, and the potting soil, fertilizer and decorative glitter spray on holiday plants can be more of a problem than the plant. Sweep up dropped leaves promptly.