Is Nordmann fir toxic to dogs?

Is Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana) Toxic to Dogs?

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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.

What is Nordmann fir

Family Pinaceae
Botanical name Abies nordmanniana
Common names Nordmann’s fir, Trojan fir, Kazdadi fir, Turkish fir, Nordman’s silver fir
Popular cultivars ‘Golden spreader’
Mature height 12 – 18 metres
Needle retention Excellent
Scent Mild citrus
Native to Caucasus mountains and northeastern Turkey
Toxicity Non-toxic to dogs

Nordmann fir is a coniferous evergreen native to the Caucasus Mountains in Turkey and the Republic of Georgia. Its lush green foliage, classic conical shape, strong branches and excellent needle retention make it one of the most popular Christmas trees.

Nordmann fir is named after Alexander Von Nordmann, a finish biologist who discovered it in 1838.

Related: Caring for a Christmas tree

Toxicity

Nordmann fir is non-toxic to cats. However, ingestion of large quantities can cause gastrointestinal upset. The bitter taste will deter most dogs from ingesting a large amount.

Safety

Pet owners must be aware of the potential dangers of Christmas trees, even non-toxic trees and decorations can pose a potential danger to pets.

  • Secure the Christmas tree to the wall to prevent it from being knocked over.
  • Do not place edible food decorations on the Christmas tree.
  • Unplug lights when there is nobody around to supervise.
  • Avoid angel hair tinsel, which can cause telescoping of the intestines if ingested.
  • Be careful with tree preservers or aspirin, which are toxic to dogs. If you do use a preserver, cover the dish to block access to pets.

Veterinarians see an increase in accidents and food-related illnesses Christmas period. Pet owners must remember that popular Christmas plants and foods can potentially be hazardous to our pets.

Are Christmas trees toxic to dogs?

Common name

Scientific name

Toxicity level
Norway spruce Picea abies Non-toxic
Blue spruce Picea pungens Non-toxic
Serbian spruce Picea omorika Non-toxic
White spruce Picea glauca Non-toxic
Nordmann fir Abies nordmanniana Non-toxic
Fraser fir Abies fraseri Non-toxic
Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Non-toxic
Noble fir Abies procera Non-toxic
Balsam fir Abies balsamea Non-toxic
Grand fir Abies grandis Non-toxic
Scotch pine Pinus sylvestris No information available
White pine Pinus strobus No information available
Virginian pine Pinus virginiana Toxic
Norfolk Island pine, house pine Araucaria heterophylla Non-toxic