Are lilies poisonous to dogs?

Updated 04/07/2023

Lilies - slightly divisive (yet ever popular) flowers with a pungent, unique scent and a tell-tale orange pollen trail. With their piercing range of colors and blooming petals, it’s no wonder that they’re a staple on coffee tables, hallways and back gardens around the world. But with many a house home to furry family members, you might be wondering - are lilies poisonous to dogs? Well here we explore exactly that, so without any further ado, let’s find out.

Are lilies poisonous to dogs?

Yes, some lilies are poisonous to dogs. While not all lily varieties are classed as toxic to dogs, many can cause a whole host of unwanted symptoms such as an upset stomach and other less than ideal reactions. The safe solution? Steer clear of lilies altogether and instead opt for a pooch-safe plant to spruce up your home.

Lilies that are poisonous to dogs

There are a number of varieties when it comes to these highly scented, vibrant flowers, so which lilies are poisonous to dogs, and which are safe? Well while some can cause more extreme symptoms, others can cause sickness. Let’s take a look at each variety so you’re clear on what to avoid in your home and garden.

Some lilies can cause acute kidney injury, which can be detected by symptoms such as vomiting, anorexia and depression. To avoid your pooch experiencing these awful symptoms, steer clear of easter lilies, Japanese lilies, oriental lily hybrids, casa blanca lilies, tiger lilies and daylilies. Other lilies that won’t result in kidney damage but will make your pet sick through exposure include Peruvian lilies, lily of the valley, trumpet lilies, peace lilies and flame lilies. All lilies are potentially hazardous to dogs.

Can dogs eat lilies?

Are lily plants poisonous to dogs if they’re eaten? Yes, your pooch shouldn’t be eating lilies under any circumstances. Many varieties are toxic to dogs, causing either acute kidney damage or other unpleasant (yet less serious) symptoms. To be on the safe side, the best way to avoid lily toxicity in your furry friend is to avoid all varieties of the plant, altogether.

Lily poisoning in dogs

Symptoms

Depending on the type of lily your pooch has nibbled on, the symptoms will vary. So while accidents happen, try to track down the lily variety your pup ingested - this will make toxicity diagnosis a whole lot easier and more accurate. If you’re sure your pooch has eaten all or part of a lily or they’re displaying a combination of these symptoms, it’s time for an urgent appointment with your vet.

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite
• More drooling than usual
• Face pawing (due to irritation)
• Anorexia
• Depression
• Also consider allergic skin reactions and tremors/seizures

Diagnosis

If you think your more than curious furry friend has ingested part (or all) of a lily plant, the first step is to stop any further lily ingestion (get the lilies away and brush/wash pollen off), then get to your veterinarian as a matter of urgency. Depending on the type of lily, symptoms could be serious, so it’s vital that a professional is able to assess your pooch as soon as possible. As a pet parent, the best thing you can do is (alongside making an urgent vet appointment) to try to identify the variety of lily your pup nibbled on, taking in a sample to the vet if you can.

Treatments

As with any toxicity or poisoning in dogs, the type of treatment will depend on the variety your pooch ingested, how long ago it was, and how much was eaten. Here are some of the treatments you might expect:

• Induced vomiting
• Activated charcoal administration
• Blood work for organ toxicity
• IV fluids to dilute the poison
• Hospitalization and monitoring, with treatment for specific symptoms as necessary

Meet our veterinary expert, Greg

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Greg Steele MA VETMB MRCVS. A mixed vet working in the UK since qualifying from Cambridge University in 2015. Greg enjoys working with all species of animals in all settings, but equally takes pride in communication and education of clients too. He lives with his wife and their cat, and enjoys a variety of sports, gardening, and the great outdoors.

Other plants that are poisonous to dogs

Even though plants are great for us humans and their vibrant colors spruce up our home, it’s important that pet parents and sitters know which plants are poisonous to dogs to avoid unnecessary reactions and toxicity. To get you started, here are a few plants to avoid in your home:

• Aloe vera
• Geraniums
• Poinsettias
• Peace lily