(An update of our popular story from last year.)
Have you hesitated to bring poinsettias into your home lest you be causing injury to your feline companions? Well, it turns out that all the hype about poinsettias being a problem for our pets is overblown and inaccurate. Our friends at the National Garden Bureau recently shared the following post straightening out that misconception:
Poinsettia are NOT Poisonous
It is a common belief that poinsettia plants are poisonous. But the fact is, they’re NOT. An Ohio State University study, conducted in 1971, debunked this myth. Researchers found the plant is not toxic, even in high doses. The POISINDEX® Information Service, the primary resource used by most poison control centers, states that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 poinsettia bracts to surpass experimental doses. Based on the rodent tests, accepted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the commission denied a 1975 petition filed by a New York citizen demanding that poinsettia plants carry caution labels that indicate they are poisonous.
So how did the myth that poinsettias are poisonous get started?
"The myth may have arisen from an unsubstantiated report in 1919 of a small child who died after chewing on a poinsettia leaf. Or perhaps it is due to the fact that many members of the poinsettia’s botanical family, Euphorbia, have highly toxic latex sap. Poinsettia sap is innocuous enough that only people with a latex allergy are likely to have a reaction if they get it on their skin."
Poinsettias are NOT poisonous to Dogs and Cats
Most veterinary medicine websites state that poinsettias can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Washington State University says “Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth, but symptoms are usually mild if they develop.”
Meanwhile, there are other holiday plant favorites that are FAR more worrisome for pets. They include amaryllis, holly, lilies, and mistletoe. They can cause kidney failure and other fatal interactions.
For more about poinsettia selection and care, go to: https://ngb.org/tips-for-making-your-poinsettia-shine/
