Not all holiday plants are created equal when it comes to having pets.

The holidays can be a wonderful time of year with all the parties and decorations. Gardeners are often attracted to decorating their home with some of the most beautiful holiday plants around, like poinsettias, holly, Christmas cactus and mistletoes. The problem can come to play when you not only love having plants, but also love having pets, too. Some plants are harmless if your beloved dog or cat decides to take a nibble whereas others can have devastating consequences. Knowing which ones are safe for your pets can help you decorate with peace of mind that your four-legged friends will not get into more trouble than you being upset that they decided to get a little roughage in their diet.

Toxic Plants to Avoid

• When you think of Christmas, you usually think of poinsettia plants. There is a bit of a misconception that poinsettia plants are super poisonous to your pets, and yes, it’s true that they can be harmful, but it would take a large quantity of sap to poison your pet. Normally, your pet will stop eating the leaves because of the irritation the sap will cause, but it may make them nausea or cause vomiting.
• Holly and mistletoe are toxic to both cats and dogs. The leaves and berries of this plants, fresh or dried, can cause intestinal upset, a drop in blood pressure, hallucinations and breathing problems. Too much of this may cause seizures and even the death of your furry friend.
• Amaryllis is a very toxic plant from the tip of the flowers down to the bulb. This can cause gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and abdominal pain, tremors and lethargy.
• The Jerusalem cherry and bittersweet are also very toxic to pets, and should be avoided in your indoor decoration schemes.
• Lilies and daffodils can often be presents over the holidays since they can usually be replanted later on outside, but these are also toxic to have around your pets. Some varieties of lilies are toxic to cats, but not dogs. Daffodils are toxic to both cats and dogs.

Alternative Non-Toxic Plants

• The Christmas cactus is a beautiful holiday plant that is non-toxic for both dogs and cats.
• The Wandering Jew is a nice plant for feline lovers but is toxic to their canine counterparts.
• African violets are another plant that makes a nice decoration that is non-toxic. Think about using some white or red-violet flowered African violets to enjoy the holidays.
• African daisies are another non-toxic choice for homes with pets. These daisies come in a wide variety of colors and are very cheerful.
• The blushing bromeliad is a great choice for Christmas with the bright crimson center and greenery.
• The American rubber plant is a vibrant, shiny green color that is non-toxic to both dogs and cats.
• Unlike their namesake, mistletoe cactus is a fun little plant that is safe to be around your pets.
• Bring yourself a little bit of peace with the peace begonia. This lovely plant is another safe choice for both dogs and cats.

Christmas Trees

A last little note on your Christmas tree. Yes, it can be harmful to your pet, real or fake, and most people would not consider the thought of neglecting this tradition. Any tree that is covered in shiny decorations is like an invitation for a cat or dog to come play. Tinsel, glass ornaments, and other decorations can be very harmful if swallowed by your pet. Also, if you have a real tree, you may have to worry over the problems that come from them swallowing fallen needles, fir tree oil, and fertilizer in the water. Needles can cause intestinal problems, including punctures and the oils can cause irritation upon contact.

Plants You Might Miss

Don’t forget when you are decorating that your wreaths and garlands might have some of the toxic plants mentioned in this article in them. Some wreaths and garlands can contain dried plants or dried berries from holly or mistletoe. It may be easy to overlook these types of decorations, but as a contentious pet owner, keep them in mind when deciding where to put these types of items.

Knowing which plants you need to keep your little buddies away from will help prevent any expensive emergency trips to the vet. You may still really want to decorate your home with your favorite holiday plant, so be smart. You may try to determine a place where you can put the toxic plant out of the reach of your furry friend, which can often be easier said than done, especially for our feline friends. If you have a Houdini cat, or dog that can always get into what you don’t want them to get into you should consider getting a realistic fake plant. There are some really nice plastic plants out there that look very real and not tacky at all. Plus, going this route means that you’ll have it for years to come. Accidents can happen, so be sure to have your local vet’s information handy just in case. If you are unable to contact your vet, poison control is your next bet to determining your next step. Remember to decorate safely!