Are Peace Lilies Toxic To Dogs? Which Plants Should I Grow Instead?

Peace lilies (spathiphyllum) also known by the name of the closet plant is a beautiful plant.

Peace lilies are super easy to care for indoor plants. However, this beautiful plant may be toxic to your pet.

The relationship between humans and dogs is truly special. People love their pet animals just as much as their family and go above and beyond to take care of their every need. Dogs, as close to humans as they are, are a different species whose eating habits and even allergies are unique to them. In this article, we will explore why peace lilies (Spathiphyllum wallisii) are toxic to our furry best friends, our dogs. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is a house plant that is very popular for its ability to grow in low light and indoors. This plant belongs to the family Araceae. The flower of this plant has an aroid structure, with a cream spadix that becomes green over the years. The spathe is white, which turns green as well at the margins over time.

If you like reading this article, be sure to check out are mums poisonous to dogs? And are orchids poisonous to dogs? Ensure your pets are always protected.

Effects Of Peace Lily Plants On Dogs

The plant itself including its leaves, stems, and flowers are all toxic to dogs in varying degrees. The ingestion of the peace lily plant or calla lily can cause a range of mild to severe symptoms in dogs or other pets. Some of the notable symptoms include irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips, loss of appetite, oral irritation, difficulty swallowing, and breathing. These signs may vary in intensity depending on the quantity of the peace lily substance consumed. Lesser prevalent symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. Many times the dog's mild signs (like oral irritation and excessive drooling) don't warrant a trip to the veterinarian, but this is not medical advice. Call and talk to your vet and they can guide your pet dogs and give them the best treatment and care to recover from the adverse effects of a peace lily. Especially consider medical advice and treatment from your veterinarian if difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and breathing is becoming a big issue for your pets. The first step in case your dog has ingested toxins from the leaves or the flowers is to rinse the mouth. This is to make sure that there is no plant remains lingering in their mouth. The dog should be encouraged to drink water. These measures can help ride the wave of mild symptoms which is the more common course of events. In the rarer case that the symptoms get severe, the best course of action will be to go to a veterinarian, who may assign a series of anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids to restore normal respiratory function and relieve pain.

Can I Keep Peace Lily At Home With My Dog?

The reasons why peace lily plants and dogs should not be kept in close proximity have been made clear. They are toxic to dogs and can cause harm to your pets if ingested. If you are able to keep the two sufficiently apart in your home and practice caution, then it is a risk that you can choose to take.

Keeping Your Dog Safe From Peace Lily

To ensure that your plant doesn't cause any harm to your pet, be sure to keep your plants out of reach when kept indoors. Train your dogs by using obedience commands to prevent them from going near these plants.

Are All Parts Of Plant Lily Poisonous?

So, let's address the big question first. Yes, the peace lily plant is in fact toxic to dogs. Technically speaking, the peace lily plant is not poisonous to dogs, so that can mislead some to think that peace lilies are not dangerous. That is simply not the case, the peace lily and calla lily plant contain toxic compounds that are toxic to animals such as dogs and cats. The toxin to blame is calcium oxalate crystals, also known as raphides, similar to other plants in the Araceae family. These calcium oxalate crystals are insoluble and cause inflammatory reactions in the body. These are also toxic to cats, which is an important fact to know if you are a pet owner to both these animals.

Pet-Friendly Lilies

You are free to grow Peruvian lilies, tiger lilies, daylilies, and Easter lilies which are known to be non-toxic to your canine buddies in your garden. That being said, it is still wise to keep your dogs away from lilies in general as they can cause unpleasant reactions when eaten or ingested anyway. With a big enough indoor garden in your home and a well-trained dog, you can balance the love for this plant and your beloved animal with ease.

Peace Lily Plants And Cats

Much like dogs, even cats have a problem with the peace lily plants. Their signs may differ though and have to be dealt with accordingly. The peace lily is not as toxic to the cat as lilies of the genus Lilium and Hemerocallis. Many of the symptoms like excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty swallowing are identical to dogs. In addition, the cats may even keep pawing at their mouths, and they may feel a burning sensation at their mouth and tongues. Though a rarity, at times the affected tissue can become swollen and further lead to the upper airway swelling as well. To aid the recovery and reduce the pain, you can give your cat yogurt or lactose-free milk which are known to alleviate distress. Again, the common sense advice would be to consult a vet if any signs become too severe. A qualified vet can help in the speedy recovery of your pet animal.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are peace lilies toxic to dogs? Then why not take a look at are pothos toxic to dogs? Or Australian shepherd labrador fac