Is Christmas Cactus Toxic to Dogs?

Is Christmas cactus toxic to dogs?

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is non-toxic to dogs and can be safely grown in homes with pets, with care.

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Feeding and Caring For a Live or Cut Christmas Tree

Caring for a Christmas tree

A fresh Christmas tree is one of the highlights of decorating the home during the festive season. With so much time and money invested in purchasing and decorating a Christmas tree, it’s important to keep it as happy and healthy as possible so that it stays in tip top shape.

Fresh Christmas trees may be chopped down, or live in their pot, and the care is similar for both types of trees.

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Is Mistletoe Toxic to Dogs?

Is mistletoe toxic to dogs?

Mistletoe (American and European) is toxic to dogs. The toxic properties are viscumin and lectins – (V. album), and toxalbumin, pharatoxin, viscumin – (P. serotinum), which can cause gastrointestinal upset, low blood pressure and low heart rate.

What is mistletoe?

Botanical namePhoradendron serotinum (North American) and Viscum album (European)
Common namesMistletoe, English mistletoe, American mistletoe, Common mistletoe, Oak mistletoe
Mature height150 cm
Flower colour
Yellow, green
Leaf colour
Green
Native toEurope, North Africa and western Asia
ToxicityToxic to dogs
Toxic compoundsViscumin and lectins – (V. album)

Toxalbumin, pharatoxin, viscumin – (P. serotinum)

Toxic partsAll parts of P. serotinum are toxic, all parts of V. album apart from the berries
SeverityMild to moderate

Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic flowering plant, made up of a thousand species that lives on the crowns of trees where it takes water and nutrients from its host plant. Birds feed on the white berries in winter, which contain a sticky substance called viscin. Seeds contained within the berries stick to the bird’s beak, which the bird wipes off on tree branches or passes out of the body via the feces.

The two most common species of mistletoe are American (Phoradendron serotinum) and European (Viscum album). European mistletoe is more toxic than American and is not native to or sold in the United States of America. European mistletoe has long, oval leaves with clusters of two to six berries. American mistletoe has short, oval leaves with clusters of ten or more berries. American mistletoe is the most common species of mistletoe used to decorate homes at Christmas.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originated in ancient Greece where mistletoe was associated with fertility. Later, in Victorian England, it was said if a girl refused a kiss under the mistletoe, she would not receive any marriage proposals.

Related: Caring for a Christmas tree

Toxicity

While mistletoe berries may be a source of food to birds, it contains a number of properties that are toxic to dogs including proteins (alkaloids), viscumin and lectin proteins  – (V. album), and oxalbumin, pharatoxin viscumin (Lectins, Phoratoxins) – (P. serotinum).

Small ingestions can cause gastrointestinal signs which include diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite and vomiting. Large ingestions can lead to bradycardia (slow heart rate) and hypotension (low blood pressure).

Clinical signs

  • Hypersalivation
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

First aid

If it is safe to do so, remove any remaining plant matter from the dog’s mouth and offer a drink of something tasty such as milk. Do not induce vomiting unless you have been instructed to do so.

Contact your veterinarian or pet poison helpline for further advice. They may recommend a wait-and-see approach if the dog only consumed a small amount and appears otherwise well. If the dog ingested a large amount of mistletoe or has clinical signs, you will be instructed to bring the dog in for treatment.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no antidote for mistletoe toxicity, the goal of treatment is to prevent further absorption and manage clinical signs.

If ingestion was recent, the veterinarian will administer medication to induce vomiting followed by activated charcoal to bind to any remaining plant matter in the GI tract. Antiemetics and gastric protectants can be administered to cats who are vomiting, as well as intravenous fluids to prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte derangements.

Toxicity of common Christmas plants

Christmas Plants and Their Toxicity to Dogs

Christmas plants toxic and non-toxic to dogs

Christmas plants and pets

During the Christmas period, many homes are decorated with plants. Knowing which ones are safe and which ones are potentially dangerous can save pet owners an emergency trip to the veterinarian. This list includes some of the most common Christmas plants and includes the toxic properties.

Although many of the plants are labelled non-toxic, ingestion of large amounts of any plant matter can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Related: Caring for a Christmas tree

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Is White Spruce (Picea glauca) Toxic to Dogs?

Is white spruce toxic to dogs?

Is white spruce toxic to dogs?     What is white spruce     Care     Christmas tree safety     Christmas plants toxic and non-toxic to dogs

Is white spruce toxic to dogs?

White spruce (Picea glauca) is non-toxic to dogs and is safe to keep in homes with pets as long as precautions are taken. Large ingestions of white spruce needles can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Related: Caring for a Christmas tree

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Is Serbian Spruce Toxic to Dogs?

Is Serbian spruce toxic to dogs?

Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) is non-toxic to dogs and is safe to keep in homes with pets as long as precautions are taken.

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Is Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Toxic to Dogs?

Is Douglas fir toxic to dogs?

What is Douglas fir?    Safety   Are Christmas trees toxic to dogs?

Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is non-toxic to dogs and is safe to keep in homes with pets with care.

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Is Holly Toxic to Dogs?

Is holly toxic to dogs?

Holly is toxic to dogs. The toxic principle is saponins which can cause gastrointestinal disturbances (vomiting, diarrhea) when ingested.

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Is Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Toxic to Dogs?

Is Norway spruce toxic to dogs?

Norway spruce (Picea abies) is non-toxic to dogs, and is safe to keep as a Christmas tree or ornamental plant in the garden. However, precautions must be taken to keep dogs (and cats) safe.

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Is Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana) Toxic to Dogs?

Is Nordmann fir toxic to dogs?

What is Nordmann fir     Toxicity     Safety     Are Christmas trees toxic to dogs?

Nordman fir (Abies nordmanniana) is non-btoxic to dogs and is safe to keep in homes with pets, with care.

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