Mistletoe, Holly and Poinsettias: Pet-Safe Holiday Decorating Tips
Your house is turning into a Christmas card—lights twinkling, garland everywhere, and that giant poinsettia stealing the show—but a few of those pretty plants can flip the holiday script from “merry” to “oh no” in seconds. Here’s the scoop so your dogs and cats stay safe and jolly.
The Three Holiday Plants That Sound Innocent But Aren’t
Mistletoe is the sneaky villain everyone underestimates. Those adorable little white berries and even the leaves contain toxins that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a sudden and scary drop in blood pressure, and in rare cases abnormal heart rhythms. It doesn’t take much—just a few berries can send a small dog or cat to the emergency room. Holly is almost as bad; the bright red berries and glossy spiky leaves look straight out of a storybook, but they’re loaded with saponins that trigger intense drooling, head shaking, lip smacking, severe stomach upset, and sometimes bloody diarrhea. Eat enough and your pet can become dangerously dehydrated fast. Poinsettias have the worst reputation of the bunch, but the truth is they’re the least toxic of the three. The milky white sap is irritating and usually causes drooling, pawing at the mouth, mild vomiting, or a little diarrhea, but most pets recover quickly with no treatment other than a bland diet and some TLC. Still, nobody wants their holiday ruined by a drooly, miserable pup or kitty rubbing their face!
Foolproof Ways to Keep the Danger Out of Reach
The easiest and prettiest solution? Go fake and fabulous. Today’s artificial mistletoe, silk holly garlands, and faux poinsettias look so real your guests will do a double-take, and they’re 100% safe if a curious nose or paw investigates. If you love live plants, stick to pet-friendly pine, fir, spruce, or cedar (just double check they haven’t been treated with chemical preservatives or flame retardants). Place anything questionable way up high—mantels, top shelves, or hanging baskets near the ceiling—because we all have that one cat who thinks gravity is optional and that one lab whose tail could clear a coffee table in one happy wag. Use heavy, stable planters or secure centerpieces inside glass cloches or on tall plant stands. And if you’re doing fresh greenery on the tree or mantel, give it a gentle shake outside before bringing it in so loose berries fall off in the yard instead of your living room.
Uh-Oh, They Ate It…Now What?
First, take a deep breath—most plant incidents turn out just fine when handled quickly. Grab your phone and call your regular vet if it’s during office hours, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline at 888-426-4435 (be sure to add it to your contacts now). Tell them exactly what plant and how much you think your pet ate, snap a quick photo of the plant, or bring a leaf/berry with you—it helps the experts give spot-on advice and speeds up treatment. If it’s poinsettia sap, gently rinse your pet’s mouth with water and offer a little milk or tuna juice to soothe the irritation. For anything more serious (mistletoe or holly), don’t wait—get them seen right away. Quick action almost always means your furry little one is back to stealing cookies off the counter by the next morning.
Let’s keep the season about treats under the tree and extra turkey—not emergency trips to the vet!
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P.S. Share your cutest “pet helping decorate” moments - we love seeing those holiday zoomies!
