Are Lilies Poisonous to Dogs?

Lilies are poisonous to dogs. They are part of the Lilium or Liliaceae family which includes true lilies, daylily, and tiger lily. The toxic properties of this plant are due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals (raphides) which can be present on all parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves). This property is not exclusive to lilies; other plants like daffodils, tulips, sago palm, and calla lily also contain raphides.

Raphides cause significant damage when ingested because they can rapidly penetrate cell membranes causing extensive tissue necrosis (death) in various organs such as kidneys. The actual effect that ingestion has depends upon the quantity ingested, the size of the dog, and the type of lily ingested. Small dogs are most at risk because they are more likely to ingest parts of the plant.

The following symptoms may be observed with ingestion: vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation (drooling), lack of appetite, lethargy, depression, weakness, incoordination, tremors, and seizures. If you have any doubt that your dog has ingested this plant then it is best to seek veterinary attention immediately where treatment will depend upon the severity of clinical signs.

Since it takes several days for symptoms to develop following ingestion treatment may not be successful if started too late. Do not wait until symptoms develop before seeking immediate veterinary care.

As long as you bring your dog in early to the vet it is possible to flush all parts of the plant from your dog’s system. If not treated promptly, lily ingestion will lead to death.

Do keep in mind that even though lilies themselves may be poisonous they are a part of several common household plants and can easily wind up in places where dogs have access to them so always take precautions when you have these plants around.

do lilies have calcium oxalate crystals in them?

Lilies are very poisonous to animals, including dogs. The toxic properties of this plant are due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals which can be present on all parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves). This property is not exclusive to lilies; other plants like daffodils, tulips, sago palm, and calla lily also contain raphides.

Raphides cause significant damage when ingested because they can rapidly penetrate cell membranes causing extensive tissue necrosis (death) in various organs such as kidneys. The actual effect that ingestion has depends upon the quantity ingested, the size of the dog, and the type of lily ingested. Small dogs are most at risk because they are more likely to ingest parts of the plant.

The following symptoms may be observed with ingestion: vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation (drooling), lack of appetite, lethargy, depression, weakness, and incoordination.

If you have any doubt that your dog has ingested this plant then it is best to seek veterinary attention immediately where treatment will depend upon the severity of clinical signs. Treatment may not be successful if started too late so do seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. Do keep in mind though that even though lilies themselves may be poisonous they can easily wind up in places where dogs have access to them so always take precautions when you have these plants around.

Can a lily plant kill a dog?

A plant cannot kill a dog but it can make the dog very sick and possibly even cause death. The toxic properties of this plant are due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals (raphides) which can be present on all parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves).

This property is not exclusive to lilies; other plants like daffodils, tulips, sago palm, and calla lily also contain raphides. Raphides cause significant damage when ingested because they can rapidly penetrate cell membranes causing extensive tissue necrosis (death) in various organs such as kidneys. The actual effect that ingestion has depends upon the quantity ingested, the size of the dog, and the type of lily ingested.

Is the smell of lilies dangerous to dogs?

It is possible that a dog can be sickened or killed by the smell of a lily plant. Certain parts of this plant contain raphides which once they penetrate the cell membranes from the inside cause extensive tissue damage and necrosis.

The most common clinical sign noticed upon ingestion is vomiting, but there are also cases where tremors, seizures, hypersalivation (drooling), depression, weakness, and incoordination have also been noticed. It is best to see your veterinarian immediately if you suspect ingestion because early treatment can be very successful in this regard.

How much lily does it take to kill a dog?

This question is impossible to answer, as the quantity ingested will depend upon the size of the dog. There are numerous cases where small dogs have eaten parts of a lily plant and they were fine, but then there are other cases where larger dogs ate less and became seriously ill or died. If you suspect that your dog has ingested part of a lily plant it is best to seek veterinary attention immediately.

How toxic are peace lilies to dogs?

Peace lilies contain raphides just like calla lilies. Raphides cause significant damage when ingested because they can rapidly penetrate cell membranes causing extensive tissue necrosis (death) in various organs such as kidneys.

The most common clinical sign noticed upon ingestion is vomiting, but there are also cases where tremors, seizures, hypersalivation (drooling), depression, weakness, and incoordination have also been noticed. It is best to see your veterinarian immediately if you suspect ingestion because early treatment can be very successful in this regard.

How long after ingesting a lily does it take for symptoms to appear?

This will depend upon the size of the dog and the quantity ingested. Larger dogs may show signs very soon (within hours), smaller dogs can take a little longer (days). Early clinical intervention is successful in most cases, but it also depends on how much plant material was ingested and what type of plant it was.

Will Easter lilies kill dogs?

Easter lilies are not particularly dangerous to dogs because they do not contain raphides. However, should your dog ingest the Easter lily, you will want to seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible. Easter lilies can cause vomiting and nausea so you will want to watch your dog very closely after ingestion, but other than that this is a generally harmless plant to dogs.

Tulips are poisonous to dogs as well, but they have “bulb-like” structures that cause calcification in the renal system and brain if ingested.

Raphides can also form in calla lilies as well as peace lilies. Ingestion of these plants can lead to renal failure and death.

Lilies of the Valley are poisonous to dogs as well, so you will want to be very careful with these plants as ingestion can result in renal failure and potentially death.