Is Poinsettia Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Euphorbia pulcherrima
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | Yes |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | Yes |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Milky diterpenoid ester sap |
| Onset of symptoms | Within an hour |
| Indoor / outdoor | indoor |
If your pet ate this plant
Both lines are staffed 24/7. A consultation fee applies to each. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling.
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Symptoms in dogs
- Mouth and lip irritation
- Drooling
- Mild vomiting
Symptoms in cats
- Mouth and lip irritation
- Drooling
- Mild vomiting
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What to do
Wipe away visible sap and offer water; this is rarely more than mild, self-resolving GI upset despite its reputation.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Poinsettia is milky diterpenoid ester sap.
What makes this plant different
Poinsettia sees a predictable spike in pet ingestion cases every December and January, and while widely rumored to be lethal, veterinary toxicologists classify it as mild. The extreme-toxicity reputation traces back to a single unverified 1919 case report repeated online for over a century despite being debunked.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Also known as
- Poinsettia
- Typically found
- indoor
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Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control