Why it is poisonous to dogs
Lilies do not damage a dog's kidneys the way they damage a cat's. Still, a dog that bites off a leaf or a flower, or digs up a bulb, can vomit, have diarrhoea and go off its food for a while.
Do not confuse lilies with lily of the valley: that plant is very dangerous to dogs because it affects the heart. If you do not know which plant your dog chewed, show the vet a photo of it.
For cats, lilies are an emergency: even the pollen can damage their kidneys, so in a home that also has a cat it is better not to keep lilies. If your dog vomits, has diarrhoea or will not eat, contact a vet and tell them which plant it chewed.
What to watch out for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea can follow.
- The dog can go off its food and become dull.
- Lilies are easy to confuse with more dangerous plants, such as lily of the valley.
- If a cat lives in the home too, lilies are very dangerous to it: even the pollen can damage the kidneys.
Which parts are dangerous
Not every part of the plant is equally dangerous.
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Leaves and flowers
Not safeA bitten-off piece can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
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Bulbs
Not safeA dog can dig them up in a flower bed, and an eaten bulb can upset the stomach.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
Safe plants instead
Plants that are safer to keep.