Is mistletoe toxic to dogs?
American mistletoe is toxic to dogs (S3 Toxic): its lectins and phoratoxins cause vomiting and diarrhea, and larger amounts can slow the heart, drop blood pressure, and make breathing difficult.
S3TOXIC
- TOXINtoxalbumin, pharatoxin viscumin (lectins, phoratoxins)
- WHAT TO EXPECTvomiting; diarrhea; low blood pressure (rare)
- CALL THE VETCall your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you see labored breathing, weakness, wobbliness, or collapse.
S0S1S2S3S4
Symptoms
| SIGN |
|---|
| vomiting |
| diarrhea |
| low blood pressure (rare) |
| difficulty breathing |
| low heart rate |
| stumbling gait (large ingestions) |
If your dog just ate it
1
Take the sprig and any fallen berries away and keep cut mistletoe hung well out of reach. Call your vet or a pet poison line promptly, especially after a large ingestion or if breathing or gait changes.
2
When to call the vet: Call your vet promptly after any ingestion; go immediately if you see labored breathing, weakness, wobbliness, or collapse.
Same tabletop look, minus the risk
2 tabletop plants graded S0 — safe even for dedicated chewers.
Care at a glance
Lightbright indirect
Waterevery 3–5 days
Humiditymedium
Difficulty●○○