Christmas cat-astrophe avoided, thanks to PDSA
09 December 2016
Cat lover Tara Christmas (real name!) is warning pet owners about the dangers that the festive houseplant, poinsettia, poses to pets, after her kitten Elsa suffered poisoning from eating the plant.
The family were enjoying Christmas Day at their home in Rotherham last year when they noticed that six-month-old Elsa, named after the character in the movie Frozen, wasn’t herself.
Tara, 27, said: “I love this time of year – I definitely live up to my seasonal name! I was given the plant as a gift and had put it on the table, but I noticed the leaves were being nibbled. I kept moving it but Elsa would always find a way to reach it. I had no idea that it was poisonous though, so when Elsa started being sick and collapsing I didn’t know what was causing it.”
Tara contacted PDSA, who thankfully run an emergency 24-hour service during the holidays, and she was advised to rush Elsa straight into Sheffield PDSA Pet Hospital where she was immediately admitted for tests. They revealed the cause of Elsa’s sickness was poinsettia poisoning, so she was put on a drip and her condition was monitored closely.
Tara continued: “When I came home without Elsa my kids were heartbroken, they thought she wouldn’t ever come home again When PDSA called later to tell me what had caused her illness, I was really shocked. Thankfully she seemed to be responding well to treatment, although she wasn’t out of the woods and had to stay overnight. It wasn’t a happy Christmas for us that year.”
Senior Vet at Sheffield PDSA, Robert Haselgrove, said: “When I came in on Boxing Day morning and saw the name on our in-patient lists – Elsa Christmas – I thought someone was playing a joke at first! But thankfully she’d been brought to us in time and after receiving treatment Elsa was able to go home.”
Tara continued: “We were overjoyed to have her home with us again, and I can’t thank PDSA enough for saving her life – it was the best Christmas present ever! The poinsettia went straight in the bin of course, and I check very carefully before bringing any flowers or plants into the house now.”
Robert added: “Pet owners often don’t realise that many festive plants are toxic to animals – poinsettias, holly, ivy and mistletoe should all be kept well out of reach. Plus, other festive treats like chocolate and anything containing raisins, such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, can be fatal too. I’d recommend keeping these plants out of the house if you have pets, and make sure harmful festive foods are locked well out of reach of prying paws.”
Christmas is a critical time of year for PDSA. While most pets will be enjoying this time at home with their families, some others are not so lucky. This December, the charity’s dedicated vets and nurses will treat over 50,000 sick and injured pets. With generous public support they help people across the UK who fear losing their best friend by providing life-saving care. To help save stars like Elsa this Christmas, just text STAR to 70025 to give a one-off donation of £5*.
The charity strives to improve all pets’ lives through education, preventive care and emergency treatment. For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk/stars
