Don't throw holiday plants to the dogs
Contributed by Pedigree Dog Knows
dogknows@pedigree.ve10.com

Plants make a wonderful gift especially over the holidays, but they need to be received and thrown out with caution. Some can be dangerous if ingested by your dog. Below is a list of the most common toxic holiday plants and several that are safe.

+ Holly can cause mild to moderate increased salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea.

+ Amaryllis can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lack of appetite, tremors, and drooling.

+ Mistletoe can also cause significant depression, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, this plant has been associated with difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, and collapst, if a lot is ingested. Deaths from these plants is extremely uncommon.

+ Poinsettia can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting. The sap of the plant can also be irritating to the skin and eyes. It has a low level of toxicity and is overrated as a toxic plant. Many people consider it non- toxic.

+ Christmas cactus when ingested in large quantities can cause vomiting and diarrhea, possibly with blood, as well as mental depression. With small amounts eaten, there are no signs of toxicity.

+ Christmas palm is non- toxic.

+ Christmas orchid is non- toxic.

+ Christmas dagger fern is non- toxic.

+ Mistletoe cactus is non- toxic.