Can dogs and cats eat Mistletoe and holly?
Mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset. European mistletoe and large amounts of mistletoe berries can be more serious.
Why
Mistletoe: viscotoxins, lectins; holly: saponins
Signs to watch for
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- drooling
- lethargy
- slow heart rate or low blood pressure (rare, large amounts of mistletoe)
Good to know
Mostly mild with holly; mistletoe is more of a concern if many berries or leaves are eaten. Fallen berries from decorations are easy to miss.
If you think your pet has been poisoned
If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten or touched something poisonous, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately, even if your pet seems fine – some poisons take hours or days to show signs, and early treatment works best. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, as this can cause more harm. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you, and note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
Sources
Sources
Checked against these sources in October 2026.