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Have you ever heard that poinsettias, the favorite flower of the holidays, are poisonous to pets and children?

I heard that years ago and banished the live plants to my desk at work, where they usually died long before the merry season ended. At home, I had a kid and pets, so I had fake poinsettias. And I hate fake plants. Very bad feng shui.

But according to the American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Web site, I suffered those dusty imposters for nothing.

"In reality, poinsettia ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Therefore, while keeping this plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, pet owners need not fear the poinsettia and banish it from their homes for fear of a fatal exposure."

So the only the live poinsettias were in danger of death in my home. Who knew?

We brought home a live poinsettia a few days ago. Most of the family zoo ignored the festive foliage, but Dexter lifted a leg on it. For those keeping score, Dexter has now peed on the PetsMart Santa and a poinsettia.

I think my beloved dog may be a Scrooge.

But what about the magical mistletoe, the sprig that launched a million holiday smooches? I have heard those can be lethal to four-leggers.

The ASPCA says you are probably safe there, too.

"If ingested in large enough quantities, mistletoe has the potential to produce gastrointestinal irritation, excessive thirst and urination, incoordination, a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma and even death" (sounds pretty bad so far, but I continued reading) "However, most animal ingestions involve small quantities- not more than the amount found in a sprig or two- and typically result in mild stomach upset that resolves with little to no treatment."

So, don't make a mistletoe salad and you should be okay. Besides, that stuff is supposed to hang over a doorway, far out of the reach of even the tallest pets.

Can we have a holly jolly Christmas? Or does that little seasonal fern pose a threat to my pets?
According to the ASPCA's nontoxic plant index, the herbal equivalent to the nice list, you are good to go with holly in your house.

So, enjoy holiday home decorating this season and have no fear; your pets will live to see the New Year.