Watch out for the furry kids during the winter holidays

PET POISON TIP: NO CATS & DOGS UNDER THE MISTLETOE, PLEASE!
While it may be nice to run into your sweetie under this traditional holiday plant, mistletoe can be potentially toxic to our animal companions.

Found throughout the United States, American mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant that lives off a variety of different tree species. If ingested in large enough quantities, mistletoe can potentially produce gastrointestinal irritation in pets, excessive thirst and urination, a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, seizures, coma and even death. According to our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), however, most animal ingestions involve small quantities—not more than the amount found in a sprig or two—and typically result in mild stomach upset that resolves with little or no treatment

To add my two cents worth, Pointsettas are poisonous to animals as well as people. Causes very bad burning sensation even if just bitten a little. One of  my kitties learned the had way and so did I. He was fine but his little mouth was not to happy.

So keep the furry ones away from mistletoe, pointsettas, cookie dough, and just too much people food, candy , cookies, alcoholic beverages  etc. during the upcoming festivities.

                                                                Susan