10 Christmas plants that are toxic to dogs

Holly, mistletoe and snowdrops are among the toxic plants to keep away from your dogs this Christmas, the experts have warned. While these festive blooms might brighten up our home, they can be dangerous if consumed by our inquisitive four-legged friends.

'Pets are often curious creatures and can be found chewing anything around the house, especially at a young age. While decorative plants can add a bit of a life to your interior during winter, it's important to remember that these could present problems if consumed by your furry family members,' says Salman Haqqi, pet insurance expert from money.co.uk.

'Taking the necessary steps, such as placing plants out of reach or adding barriers will help to ensure that pets do not ingest or come into contact with them. If your four-legged friend does consume a toxic house plant, it's important to seek expert help and advice from your vet as soon as possible.'

Remember to head to your local vet if your dog has come into contact with one of these plants. They will advise you on the next steps to take.

Take a look at the full list below...

Holly has a long history of use as a Christmas symbol, especially on Christmas cards and door wreaths. Despite its beautiful appearance, it is a toxic plant to keep away from dogs over the festive season.

The team say: 'If the berries or spiked-edge leaves from a holly plant are ingested, this can result in irritation of the mouth, drooling, gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting), and diarrhoea. It may also cause excessive head-shaking if consumed in large quantities.'

Kissing under the mistletoe is a festive tradition, but you'll want to keep the pretty plant away from your furry friends. When ingested in small quantities, it can cause gastrointestinal irritation such as vomiting and abdominal pain. More serious effects include having an abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure and incoordination.

Poinsettias are mildly toxic to dogs but the dangers are hardly ever serious or fatal. The milky white sap from the coloured leaves contains a chemical which can cause nausea, vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea. If you are worried your pup has eaten the plant, head to your local vet for advice.

Christmas trees come with a number of potential hazards for dogs and cats, including those pesky pine needles. If they are chewed by small animals, the oils released may cause irritations and stomach upset. They might be wonderful to look at, but do keep an eye on your canine companion if they get too close.

'Ivy can cause severe skin irritation if pets come into direct contact with this plant,' say the team. 'If ingested, ivy can also cause stomach upsets.'

Popular during the Christmas holidays, amaryllis plants contain toxic substances that can leave our pups feeling unwell. If consumed, your dog may experience severe gastrointestinal upsets (such as vomiting and abdominal pain), loss of appetite, lethargy and tremors.

The lily is one of the more poisonous types of flower, so be sure to keep them away from your dog over Christmas. They might look pretty, but if any part of a lily is ingested (even in small quantities) this could cause severe gastrointestinal damage, which may lead to kidney failure.

'Laurel plants including bay laurels (which are often used in cooking) and cherry laurel, contain toxins located in all parts of the shrub which cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypotension and in extreme cases, muscle weakness and even seizures.'

If eaten, snowdrops can cause symptoms from stomach pain and vomiting to loss of coordination or muscle spasms. These small white flowers contain toxins in their stems and leaves, with the highest concentration in the bulb. Keep an eye on your dog if you spot these on a winter walk.

'All parts of this plant, (including the leaves and berries) are highly poisonous as they contain taxines,' say money.co.uk.

'When ingested they can cause vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulties and in critical cases, life threatening change in heart rate and blood pressure.'

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