Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Are poinsettias poisonous to dogs?
QUESTION:
I'd like to know if poinsettias are poisonous to dogs. Many sources that we
found said yes (including the Cornell site, though not to dogs); the Floral
industry contends that an Ohio State Study proved that they were not and that
poinsettias continue to get a horrible rap due to popular misconception.
ANSWER:
The short answer is yes, but not very.
There are some irritating compounds in the sap that cause sores in some
animals, but not in others, and a dog eating enough of it might not feel too
good and show signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, etc., at the worst and maybe
nothing at all.
I guess it all turns on what you call poisonous. Does a tiny amount make a dog
drop dead? No. Is it dog food? No. What happens when a dog eats it? That varies
from nothing to mild sores in the mouth, to GI disturbances. (Don't you hate
academics' answers to these questions?)