Vet Expert Reminds Pet Owners it Is 'Not Safe' for Pets to Drink Christmas Tree Water

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Getty

It’s early December, which means — aside fromearly decorators— many are starting to put up their holiday decor, includingChristmas trees.

A Christmas tree adds a festive flair to any home but can also bring added issues for pet owners. Cats and dogs are often curious about new things, and brightly lit, ornament-covered, present-surrounded trees are no exception.

To help pet parents enjoy their holiday decorations without added stress, Dr. Audrey Wystrach, a veterinarian and the co-founder and CEO of Petfolk, provide PEOPLE with pet safety tips tailored to holiday decor issues.

Dr. Wystrach recommends owners keep a close eye on their pets around Christmas trees. It is “not safe” for pets to drink the water left at the base of fresh Christmas trees, said the veterinarian, because “the water can be filled with preservatives, pesticides and other agents, such as aspirin, which is commonly added to keep a tree fresh.”

Additionally, it is dangerous to let cats and dogs consume any part of a Christmas tree. An evergreen tree’s needles and sap can be toxic to pets, and sharp tree needles can puncture the intestines and cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.

“Trees are a natural marking place for dogs and cats. Marking is a means of feline and canine communication. Providing physical barriers to block pets from getting near the tree base is the best way to prevent this behavior. There are some pheromone sprays that may be helpful as well,” the veterinarian added.

For animal lovers with feline friendswho love to climb Christmas trees, Dr. Wystrach has a few natural options to curb this behavior.

Unfortunately, Christmas trees aren’t the only festive plant that can cause problems for pets. Poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, and amaryllis are popular holiday plants that can be fatal to cats and dogs if ingested. Keep these plants out of any pet’s reach. Owners who see their pets eat any of these plants should take them to the vet, especially if a pet exhibits signs of gastrointestinal distress.

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Other holiday decorations that may result in a trip to the animal hospital are tinsel and snow globes. Tinsel should be hung where pets can’t reach the garlands because “the string-like object is something cats like to play with and, if swallowed, can cause intestinal obstructions that require surgery. Objects like this can get wound up under the tongue or inside the stomach. These thin strings can be extremely difficult to diagnose on X-ray and can be an expensive surgery,” according to Dr. Wystrach.

As for snow globes, many contain ethylene glycol (antifreeze) inside, which is highly toxic to pets.

“If a globe breaks, it only takes a few licks to be fatal,” the veterinarian shared.

To learn more about Dr. Wystrach and her work,visit Petfolk.com.

source: people.com