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Toxic Plants
Info from Petco.com
Flowers and plants add beauty to any
holiday, and they make great holiday gifts. But if your family includes pets,
you may want to learn which plants are safe and which ones you need to avoid.
Remember that ingesting bulb plants often cause the most severe illnesses. Here
are a list of some popular winter holiday plants and their potential toxicities.
Holly (Ilex sp.). This plant, commonly found around
Christmas time, can cause intense vomiting and diarrhea. Mental depression can
also occur.
Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp). Ingestion can result in vomiting,
diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, tremors, drooling and abdominal pain.
Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.). This plant, another Christmas
plant, can also cause significant vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, this plant
has been associated with difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, collapse and,
if a lot is ingested, death has occurred. Some animals may even show erratic
behavior and possible hallucinations.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia). This plant can cause irritation to
the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting. It has a low level of toxicity and
is overrated as a toxic plant. Many people consider it basically non-toxic.
Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, Easter cactus (Schlumbergera
or Zygocactus). In dogs, if large quantities of this plant are ingested,
vomiting, possibly with blood, diarrhea, possibly with blood and mental
depression have been reported. With small ingestions, typically there are no
signs of toxicity. These plants are considered low toxicity plants.
Some less common toxic winter holiday plants include:
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens). Ingestion results
in weakness, vomiting and seizures.
European bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara). Ingestion results
in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, weakness,
confusion and low heart rate.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Ingestion results
in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, drooling and lack of appetite.
Christmas rose (Helleborus niger). Ingestion results in
abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and delirium.
Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicuni). Ingestion
results in vomiting, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, seizures, mental depression,
respiratory depression, shock and death.
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Ingestion of the bulbs
results in mouth irritation, blooding vomiting, diarrhea, shock, kidney failure,
liver damage and bone marrow suppression.
Thanksgiving cactus (Zygocactus truncactus). Ingestion
results in vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Cats also can develop staggering.
Christmas palm (Veitchia merrillii). This plant is
considered nontoxic.
Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianaei). This plant is
considered nontoxic.
Christmas dagger fern (Polystichym spp). This plant is
considered nontoxic.
Mistletoes cactus (Thipsalis cassutha). This plant is
considered nontoxic.
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