Is American mistletoe poisonous to dogs and cats?
Call a vet todayAmerican mistletoe is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The fruits are the poisonous parts.
- Dogs Call a vet today
- Cats Call a vet today
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
- Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
- Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
- Keep your pet calm.
Don't
- Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
Mistletoe toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and weakness in dogs and cats.[1]
Signs to watch for
- Scientific name
- Phoradendron
- Poisonous parts
- fruits
What the experts say
“The symptoms of mistletoe toxicity include gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats; colic in horses), difficulty breathing, weakness”
“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Dogs, Problem for Horses”
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
What signs can mistletoe toxicity cause?
Vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and weakness are listed signs in dogs and cats.[1]
Can cats be affected too?
Yes. Mistletoe is listed as a problem for cats, and vomiting and diarrhea are described in cats.
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages