Know More About The Dangers Of Our Christmas Plants

With the holidays and holiday decorations in full force, it's important to know the dangers of your Christmas plants. There are traditional holiday plants that are poisonous to both humans and animals alike that can severely hurt someone. Of course we want to get into the holiday spirit with mistletoe to kiss your loved one, the staple of your holiday- the Christmas tree, and poinsettias that represent the Christmas holiday. However, not knowing their dangerous potential could put your loved ones in danger.

The berries on your hanging mistletoe are extremely poisonous. We recommend removing the berries before decorating your house with this holiday decoration. If ingested, the berries can cause diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivating and urination, heavy breathing and a fast heart rate. So, avoid leaving the berries intact when hanging this plant.

The poinsettia flower is a pretty, brightly colored red plant that just screams Christmas. However, there is a lot of controversy whether it is poisonous or not. The flower itself is not dangerous, but the sap that comes from the leaves can cause vomiting and mouth and skin irritation. If your pet or child ingests any part of the plant, you can treat it with soap and water.

In comparison to mistletoe, the berries on a holly branch are poisonous as well. Not as poisonous as the mistletoe berries, holly berries can cause gastric intestinal distress, diarrhea and vomiting in small children and pets. If ingested, contact your physician or veterinarian immediately.

Lastly, we have the all mighty Christmas tree- a real one that is. Bringing a real pine tree into your home can be dangerous, especially to pets. If your furry friend ingests the pine needles there is a danger of their internal organs being pierced by the needle. Decorating an artificial tree is the route to go if you have curious pets that could potentially ingest the pine needles. Plus, an artificial tree will not drop pine needles, dry out, and are not a fire hazard unlike a real pine tree.