NO MISTLETOE FOR PETS

From the ASPCA:

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 experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, however, most animal ingestions involve small quantities — no more than the amount found in a sprig or two — and typically result in mild stomach upset that resolves with little or no treatment.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially toxic substance, contact your local veterinarian or call the APCC at (888) 426-4435. For more pet poison prevention tips, visit www.ASPCA.org.