Plums and Poinsettias, are they toxic?

With the Holiday Season upon us, many people purchase Poinsettia plants to decorate their homes. I remember reading years ago how dangerous Poinsettias were to cats and dogs and have pretty much banned them from my house.

According to Growers Direct, the theory that is fairly well supported is that the myth of poinsettia toxicity began in Hawaii in 1919, when a two-year old child of an Army officer was discovered dead under a full-grown poinsettia bush, clutching a poinsettia leaf in her hand. This is the only death-by-poinsettia ever reported, and further investigation proved it 100% false. Scientific research conducted by Ohio State University has proven the poinsettia to be non-toxic to both humans and pets. All parts of the plant were tested, including the leaves and sap. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that keeping this plant out of the reach of pets to avoid stomach upset is a good idea, however pet owners need not fear the poinsettia and banish it from their homes for fear of a fatal exposure. The American Veterinary Medicine Association of America (AVMA), agrees.

According to the ASPCA website, some of the symptoms your pet can exhibit after chewing on one include irritation to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity. This traditional Christmas plant has received a lot of bad publicity as being toxic to pets, but it’s more likely to just give them a upset stomach.

Now I am not saying run out and buy poinsettia’s, but if you have them and your pet ingests some of the leaves, don’t be alarmed, just as with anything else keep an eye out for symptoms.

What about Plums? Plums are a staple at my house especially during the holidays. These delicious little fruits  have also received a lot of negative publicity. Plums are low in calories and contain many important vitamins and minerals.

It turns out, however, that the most dangerous part of the plum is the pit. Plum pits are very hard and can cause damage to the digestive tract. The pit also contains cyanide, so if your dog has crushed the pit with her teeth, there is a risk. According to Rover, some of the symptoms to look for are:

•Signs of stomach pain, such as loss of appetite or depressed energy
•Vomiting or diarrhea
•Difficulty breathing
•Skin irritation
•Coma

So the bottom line is keep whole Plums away from your dog, if they get a hold of one inspect it to make sure that the pit is still intact.

Giving your dog a few pieces of sliced plum flesh, is okay just keep in mind that plums also have a high sugar content.