The holiday season fills many homes with festive cheer, like colorful flowers, wreaths, garlands, and cheerful décor. But for pet owners, some of the most traditional holiday plants can pose unexpected dangers. Plants like Poinsettia, Mistletoe, and Holly may look harmless (even welcoming), but they can cause real health problems for our pets - affecting the nervous system, and in most cases causing gastrointestinal or other systemic symptoms.

At SCAN, we advise caution, especially if a curious cat or dog decides to “taste test” your holiday decorations.

Common Holiday Plants & Risks to Pets:

Poinsettia

Despite its long-standing reputation, poinsettia is actually only mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

The plant’s milky sap contains chemicals (e.g., diterpenoid euphorbol esters, saponin-like detergents) that can irritate the mouth, throat, esophagus, or stomach.

If ingested in small amounts, a pet may drool, gag, vomit, or have mild diarrhea.

Because the toxicity is mild, serious poisoning, especially fatal outcomes, is very unlikely, unless a large quantity is consumed.

That said, even mild gastrointestinal distress can be uncomfortable, especially for neurologically vulnerable pets (e.g., those with seizures, balance disorders, or other neurologic diseases). Changes in appetite, dehydration, or stress from vomiting could exacerbate underlying problems.

Mistletoe

Some varieties of mistletoe are more toxic than others. For instance, European mistletoe (Viscum album) tends to be significantly more dangerous than American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum / Phoradendron leucarpum).

American mistletoe contains toxins called phoratoxins (and in European varieties, viscotoxins or viscumin), which disrupt cell membranes or inhibit protein synthesis, potentially causing cell damage.

In pets (and humans), ingestion may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes more serious effects (especially if a large amount is eaten).

In rare but severe cases, mistletoe ingestion has been associated with cardiovascular effects (e.g., irregular heart rate), collapse, and neurologic signs like weakness or seizures, especially if a significant dose is consumed.

Because mistletoe is often hung in high, visible spots (e.g., door frames), curious pets, especially “leapers” like cats, may access it. The risk may increase if pets chew on buds, leaves, or berries.

Holly

The leaves and berries of holly contain saponins and other compounds (some sources mention methylxanthines or cyanogenic compounds) that make them toxic to pets.

If ingested, pets may experience drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and potentially oral or gastrointestinal irritation (the spiny leaves might even cause mechanical damage to the mouth or throat).

In more serious cases, especially if a significant amount is eaten, ingestion might result in dehydration, weakness, or more systemic illness.

From a neurology perspective, if a pet has existing neurologic conditions (e.g., seizures, vestibular disease, neuromuscular issues), the added stress of illness, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal upset, can worsen neurological stability.

Why Neurology-Specific Concerns Matter

While many of the typical symptoms of holiday-plant ingestion in pets are gastrointestinal (vomiting, drooling, diarrhea), there can be neurological or systemic ripple effects, especially in pets with preexisting neurologic disease. Some reasons to be extra cautious:

Metabolic/Physiologic Stress: Vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and stress. For neurologic patients, such imbalances can exacerbate seizures, cause weakness, or worsen other neurologic signs.

Toxin Effects: Some of the toxins in holiday plants (especially mistletoe in high doses) may affect cellular processes, potentially impacting nerve cells, although such severe neurologic toxicity appears rare and generally requires high-dose ingestion.

Behavioral Risk: Pets, especially curious cats, may chew on plants or decorations out of boredom or curiosity. A pet with movement disorders, balance problems, or reduced awareness may accidentally ingest plant material without the owner noticing, creating a higher risk of delayed detection and complications.

Complicated Presentations: In pets with neurologic disease, signs of toxicosis (e.g., weakness, collapse, tremors, seizures) might be misattributed to their underlying condition rather than to plant ingestion, delaying appropriate treatment.

Hence, for a neurology-oriented hospital and for pet owners managing neurologic pets, awareness and prevention are especially important

Practical Holiday Safety Tips for Pet Owners

To keep your neurologic patients (and all pets) safe this holiday season:

Avoid bringing high-risk plants indoors (especially mistletoe or holly) if you have pets. If you want festive décor, consider using pet-safe artificial plants or decorations kept out of reach.

If you bring real plants like poinsettias, holly, or mistletoe home, place them well out of reach: high shelves, behind doors, in rooms pets can’t access.

Supervise pets when guests come over; curious pets might nibble at plants, holiday wreaths, or table arrangements.

When choosing decorations, prioritize pet-safe alternatives: faux plants, non-toxic houseplants, or holiday art instead of real plants.

If ingestion is suspected, contact your veterinarian (or a 24/7 Emergency Vet) immediately, especially if the pet shows drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tremors, or other abnormal signs. Photograph the plant (or bring a sample, if safe) so the vet knows what you’re dealing with.

Why This Matters to SCAN

At a specialized neurology hospital (like SCAN), we often treat pets with fragile nervous systems, conditions like seizures, spinal cord disease, vestibular disorders, neuromuscular disease, or degenerative conditions. For these patients:

Even a mild gastrointestinal insult can destabilize neurologic balance (through dehydration, electrolytes, stress).

Unexplained worsening (e.g., increased seizure frequency, collapse, weakness) during the holiday season may be due to plant ingestion, something easily overlooked.

Preventive guidance (holiday-safe décor, pet-proofing plants) is a small step that can avoid serious complications and emergency visits.

Final Thoughts

The holidays are a time of joy, comfort, and celebration, and many of us love decorating our homes with festive greenery. But when pets are part of the family, especially those with neurologic conditions, it’s worth pausing to consider whether our décor choices are truly safe.

By staying informed and making a few simple adjustments (keeping dangerous plants out of reach or opting for safe alternatives), you can keep the season merry and reduce the risk of unexpected neurologic or systemic dangers for your furry companions.

At SCAN, we wish you and your pets a happy and healthy holiday season.

*DOWNLOAD OUR HOLIDAY PLANT GUIDE*