Plants can be healthy for a pet's diet, even for your carnivore cat. But some pets, indoor pets especially, may not know which plants taste awful and which are actually dangerous for them. While some of your decorative plants might only cause some indigestion, other plants can trigger severe health issues, sometimes leading to death. Be aware of the plants that you need to keep away from your pet, and maybe should keep out of your house altogether.

For starters, we can examine the effect that ingesting poinsettia would have on your dog or cat. On their own, poinsettias are not lethal for pets, but they can cause trouble. The sap inside of those brilliant leaves may be an irritant to the inside of a mouth, and the esophagus as well. This could lead to nausea and vomiting, but it would take a great deal of this sap lead to this response, which is unlikely because of its unpleasant effects in the mouth. Now, if pesticides have been used on this holiday plant, then eating this plant could pose more of a danger. Depending on small your pet is and how much they eat, your pet could be poisoned. Puppies and kittens are especially vulnerable to serious results, such as seizures, coma, and even death.

What about holly and mistletoe? Are these safe for your pet? While these can be ubiquitous during the yuletide, they are also more dangerous for your pets. If your cat or dog ingests these toxic substances, they could have intestinal problems, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In fact, mistletoe can force blood pressure to plummet, create respiratory problems, and lead to hallucinations. If your dog or cat eats a large quantity of these, the dose could cause seizures, or even be lethal. This is true even of dried plants. You definitely want to ensure that your pet cannot get to these plants, and you may want to think twice before you bring any of these inside your house.

As for lilies and daffodils, while these can make lovely gifts and centerpieces for a Christmas dinner table, these can also make for serious poisons for a pooch or feline. This is particularly true for cats, however. The Lilium and Hemerocallis genera lilies are especially toxic for your kitty. All it takes is a tiny morsel of this plant, and your cat could start exhibiting intestinal problems, arrhythmia, and convulsions. And then daffodils pose a severe danger to dogs and cats alike; the bulbs are particularly toxic.

While it may not seem a big deal to forego these decorative plants if necessary, surely you can keep the Christmas tree, right? Well, the fact is that while lights and ornaments can be risky with pets around, so too can the tree itself. The oils that the tree exudes are irritants to the inside of a pet's mouth as well as their stomach, and this can trigger drooling and vomiting. Tree needles can create gastrointestinal problems, and even cause obstructions and punctures.

That being said, it may still be possible to keep your Christmas traditions, down to your favorite seasonal plant decorations. You may need to take special precautions though, ensuring that your pets cannot get to these plants. If you have cats, you may need to be especially clever in your placement of holiday plants. In fact, if your cat has a habit of chewing plants, you may want to go with imitation plants.

If your pet does ingest any of these toxic plants, are you prepared? You should have the number for a poison control center at the ready, and you should know your veterinarian's phone number as well, so you can get your pet the emergency they need. Find the local vet you need on our directory today!