Lily
CautionTrue lilies (Lilium) are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and lethal only to cats. The catch is the name: lily of the valley is genuinely cardiotoxic to dogs, so identify the plant first.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Excessive salivation
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
More about this food
This entry is really about a species difference. On both the Easter lily and tiger lily pages the ASPCA states "Non-Toxic to Dogs," and the clinical signs field reads "vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and death is possible. Cats are only species known to be affected." The acute kidney injury that makes lilies a feline emergency does not work the same way in dogs.
That is not the same as harmless. The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material can cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. A dog that strips a bouquet may drool, vomit or pass loose stool, and a wad of stems and leaves can act as a foreign body in a small dog. Vase water brings its own extras: floral preservative packets, bacteria from days-old water, and whatever the florist sprayed on the blooms.
The real hazard is the word "lily" doing too much work. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs, with cardenolides such as convallarin as the toxic principle and signs of "vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures." That one is a true emergency. Calla lily and peace lily are aroids, not Lilium, and their insoluble calcium oxalates cause a painful, swollen mouth. So "my dog ate a lily" is not enough information to triage on.
Start by identifying the plant. Find the bouquet tag or the pot label, and if there is none, photograph what is left. If the plant has small nodding white bells on an arching stem, treat it as lily of the valley and call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. If it is confirmed Lilium and the vomiting stopped after a round or two, keep water available and watch. Call if vomiting repeats or your dog goes flat, and do not induce vomiting at home. One more thing: if you share the house with a cat, that same stem is a five-alarm emergency for the cat even though it is not for the dog.
Frequently asked questions
- Lilies kill cats. Are they really safe for my dog?
- The ASPCA lists Easter lily and tiger lily as non-toxic to dogs and states that cats are the only species known to be affected. Dogs can still get vomiting and GI upset from eating plant material, so call your vet if the signs continue.
- Is lily of the valley different?
- Completely. The ASPCA classifies lily of the valley as toxic to dogs; its cardenolides can cause vomiting, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma and seizures. If your dog ate any, call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435 right now.
- He drank the vase water.
- Vase water from true lilies will not cause kidney failure in a dog, but floral preservative and days-old bacterial soup can cause GI upset. Change the water and watch him. If a cat in the house drank it, that cat needs a veterinarian immediately.