Poinsettia And Cats Uk
Daffodil bulbs for example are a common cause of poisoning in dogs but the leaves and flowers which a cat is more likely to chew are a much less common cause of poisoning.
Poinsettia and cats uk. Are poinsettias poisonous to cats. According to some researchers a child will have to eat more than 500 to 600 poinsettia leaves and exceed experimental doses to show any signs of toxicity. During the holidays poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant.
They possess a milky white sap that contains irritating chemicals known as diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents. Red Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima Poinsettia is another common plant found around the Christmas period. In reality its actually not that dangerous compared to some other plants.
Poinsettia plants can be toxic to both dogs and cats although this toxicity is very mild and self limiting. Once the poinsettia has been removed most cats will recover as the symptoms should clear up on their own. Members of the Lilium species are considered highly toxic to cats.
Exposure to the plant even consumption most often results in no effect 4 though it can cause nausea vomiting or diarrhea. My mom has always had poinsettia plants during holidays just keep it. The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents.
If a large amount of the plant is ingested this could result in poisoning but this is a highly unlikely outcome as a cat will generally stop eating upon tasting the unpleasant flavour from the sap. Are Poinsettias Really Toxic to Dogs and Cats. A pet that has consumed portions of a poinsettia may experience excessive salivation and vomiting due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract but this should clear up on its own.
The sap will cause dogs and cats to vomit or stop eating all together and you could notice them lying around more than they normally do. The majority wont cause much more than skin irritation or an upset stomach and its very unlikely that cats will intentionally eat plants that are poisonous to them. Cats that eat poinsetta for christmas will need to be treated for irritated mouths and stomachs.