Is Mistletoe safe for dogs and cats?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
ASPCA reports Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens): listed as toxic to dogs and toxic to cats. Vomiting, diarrhea, trouble breathing, a slow heart rate, and rarely low blood pressure. ASPCA lists the American mistletoe as toxic. Pet Poison Helpline says small amounts usually cause only mild stomach upset, and that store-bought plastic berries could block the gut. Call a vet or poison line if a pet ate some.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Also called: American mistletoe. Phoradendron flavescens.
What in it is the problem
Lectins (toxalbumins and phoratoxins).
What it can do
Vomiting, diarrhea, trouble breathing, a slow heart rate, and rarely low blood pressure.
Good to know
ASPCA lists the American mistletoe as toxic. Pet Poison Helpline says small amounts usually cause only mild stomach upset, and that store-bought plastic berries could block the gut. Call a vet or poison line if a pet ate some.
Did your pet chew it?
Call your vet or a pet poison line, and say what plant, how much and when. If you aren't sure which plant it was, take a photo of it.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Some plants can make pets sick, and lilies are very dangerous for cats. Ask a grown-up before you bring a plant or flowers inside."
A job: Be the plant checker. Help a grown-up look up each plant in the house on this site, and write the ones to keep away on a list.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Common names are shared by different plants, so check the Latin name.
Sources
- ASPCA: Mistletoe "American" (checked October 29, 2026)
- Pet Poison Helpline: Deck the Halls with Holiday Plants - But Are They Toxic? (checked October 29, 2026)