The toxicity of the poinsettia or Christmas star a poisonous plant for the dog
With its red, white or pink leaves, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) - also known as the Christmas star - is a plant that is potentially toxic to our pets .
These decorative plants found in winter, as the end of year celebrations approach, are part of the family of latex plants. Their latex contains various irritating and corrosive substances for the dog's digestive system, skin and eyes.
It is possible for a dog to become poisoned by chewing the leaves of the plant.This can especially be the case with puppies who tend to have oral exploratory behavior or dogs who suffer from an eating disorder such as pica. If necessary, avoid leaving a poinsettia plant to hang around the jaw of your four-legged friend.
What are the signs of poinsettia poisoning in dogs?
While poisoning a dog with poinsettia is often moderate and rarely fatal, ingesting substances from the plant can nevertheless cause digestive disorders (hypersalivation, stomatitis, vomiting and diarrhea) as well as nervous disorders (gait disturbances or tremors).
Signs of oral poisoning usually appear 1 to 2 hours after ingestion.
But the poinsettia can also cause latex to splash into the animal's eyes. If necessary, tearing and the occurrence of keratoconjunctivitis can be observed.
Finally, skin contact with the poinsettia causes erythema (redness of the skin), followed by the appearance of blisters if the animal goes out in the sun (photosensitization).
My dog got poisoned: what to do?
If your dog has been poisoned by a poinsettia, the best thing is to contact your treating veterinarian as soon as possible (and all the more so if your animal shows symptoms) so that he can administer treatment. The latter generally consists of the prescription of a gastric bandage as soon as possible. If the accident happened outside the opening hours of the veterinary practice you usually go to, contact the clinic or the on-call veterinary practice nearest to you. You can also contact a veterinary poison control centre.
Never try to give your pet something to eat or drink without the advice of a veterinarian. Also, don't try to make him vomit on your own initiative.
In case of poinsettia ingestion, the prognosis is most often favorable if treatment is put in place quickly. The most dangerous, however, are the damage caused by latex to the oral mucosa.
If your pet has received latex on the skin, rinse it thoroughly with clear water, or even better with soapy water.