Is Lily of the Valley Poisonous to Dogs? Signs to Know

Name: Is Lily of the Valley Poisonous to Dogs? Signs to Know
Creator: Dr. Zubair Khalid

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-03

Yes, lily of the valley is poisonous to dogs, and it is one of the more dangerous plants a dog can eat. Every part of the plant contains cardiac glycosides that can disrupt the heart rhythm, and a small amount can cause serious illness. If you think your dog ate any part of this plant, treat it as an emergency and call for help right away.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and all parts of the plant carry the toxic principle [1].
The toxins are cardenolides, including convallarin, which act like the heart medicine digitalis and can slow or destabilize the heart [1].
Common signs include vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, and seizures [1].
There is no safe home remedy. Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately.
Do not make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.

Is Lily of the Valley Poisonous to Dogs?

Yes. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists lily of the valley as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with cardenolides (convallarin and others) as the toxic principles [1]. The plant's scientific name is Convallaria majalis, and it belongs to the Asparagaceae family [1].

This is not a plant to shrug off. A published case described a one-year-old mixed-breed dog that suddenly collapsed and died, and lily of the valley leaf fragments were found in the small intestine after death. The dog had lesions consistent with cardiac shock, and the plant's digitalis-like cardiac glycosides were suspected as the cause [2].

If you are building a mental list of plants to keep away from your dog, this one belongs near the top. You can read more about other dangerous plants in our guide to plants poisonous to dogs.

Are Lily of the Valley Leaves Poisonous to Dogs?

Yes. The leaves are toxic, and they are the part a dog is most likely to chew. In the fatal case described above, leaf fragments were recovered from the dog's intestinal tract [2]. Leaves grow low to the ground, which puts them right at nose and mouth level for many dogs.

Are Lily of the Valley Berries Poisonous to Dogs?

Yes. The berries are toxic too. The ASPCA lists the whole plant as toxic, not one isolated part [1]. The red berries can look like something edible, and they may fall to the ground where a dog can snap them up. Treat any dropped berry as a poison risk.

Is Lily of the Valley Essential Oil Poisonous to Dogs?

Assume yes and keep it away from your dog. The cardiac glycosides in this plant are the problem, and an essential oil is a concentrated plant product. A dog can be exposed by licking a diffuser, spilling the bottle, or walking through a spill and then grooming the paws. If any essential oil product containing lily of the valley touches your dog, call a poison control line for guidance.

Is False Lily of the Valley Poisonous to Dogs?

False lily of the valley is a different plant, so do not assume it carries the same risk as Convallaria majalis. The ASPCA record covers Convallaria majalis specifically [1]. If your dog ate a plant you cannot identify with certainty, call a veterinarian or poison control and describe the plant, where it was growing, and how much your dog ate. Do not wait for signs to appear.

What Makes Lily of the Valley So Dangerous

The toxic principle is a group of cardiac glycosides called cardenolides, including convallarin [1]. These compounds have digitalis-like activity, meaning they act on the heart in the same general way as a powerful heart medication [2].

That is why the danger is not limited to stomach upset. Cardiac glycosides change how the heart muscle handles electrical signals. The result can be a heartbeat that is too slow, too fast, or irregular, along with a drop in blood pressure [1]. When the heart cannot pump effectively, organs do not get enough blood, and a dog can collapse.

One of the active cardiac glycosides in lily of the valley is convallatoxin [3]. This compound is similar enough to the drug digoxin that it can interfere with some laboratory tests used to measure digoxin levels in serum [3]. That matters to your veterinarian because it means the plant's toxins can confuse certain test results, so tell the clinic exactly what you suspect your dog ate.

Signs of Lily of the Valley Poisoning in Dogs

The ASPCA lists these clinical signs: vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, and seizures [1].

In plain terms, watch for:

Vomiting, sometimes repeatedly
Weakness, wobbling, or reluctance to stand
A heartbeat that feels too slow, too fast, or uneven
Pale or gray gums
Confusion, staring, or not responding normally
Collapse
Tremors or a full seizure

Some dogs show stomach signs first and heart signs shortly after. Others deteriorate quickly with little warning. In the published fatal case, the dog's decline was sudden [2].

How Fast Do Signs Appear?

Timing varies with how much plant material was eaten, which part was eaten, and the dog's size and health. Some dogs vomit within a short time of eating the plant, while heart-related signs can follow. Because cardiac glycosides affect the heart directly, a dog can look stable and then worsen quickly [1][2].

Do not use a waiting period as a test. If you saw your dog eat lily of the valley, call for advice now, even if your dog seems completely normal.

What to Do Right Now

Move your dog away from the plant. Check the mouth for any remaining leaves, stems, flowers, or berries and remove them gently with a gloved finger or a cloth.
Call for help. Reach your veterinarian, an emergency veterinary hospital, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Save the evidence. Put a piece of the plant in a sealed bag or container so the veterinarian or poison specialist can identify it. Take a photo of the plant in the ground if you can.
Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to. Making a dog vomit can be dangerous when the heart is involved, and it can cause aspiration if the dog is already weak or disoriented.
Do not give food, milk, oil, or home remedies. None of these remove the toxin, and they can complicate treatment.
Go to the clinic when told to. If your dog is collapsing, having a seizure, breathing oddly, or unresponsive, go to an emergency hospital now and call on the way.

Bring the plant sample, the time you think your dog ate it, and a list of any medications your dog takes. If your dog is on a heart medication, say so clearly, because cardiac glycosides can interact with heart drugs.

How Veterinarians Treat Lily of the Valley Poisoning

Treatment depends on how sick your dog is when it arrives. A veterinarian will start with a physical exam, ask about the exposure, and check the heart rate and rhythm. An electrocardiogram is often used to see exactly what the heart is doing.

If your dog just ate the plant and is stable, the veterinarian may decontaminate by inducing vomiting in a controlled way or by giving activated charcoal. These steps are done only under veterinary supervision, and only when it is safe for that patient.

If the heart rhythm is abnormal, treatment focuses on stabilizing it. Your veterinarian will choose medications and doses based on your dog's weight, heart rhythm, and overall health. There is no single at-home dose for this situation, and no dose should ever be guessed.

Supportive care may include intravenous fluids, oxygen, and monitoring of blood pressure and heart rhythm. Some dogs need repeated heart checks over hours to catch rhythm changes that come and go.

If your dog is showing neurologic signs such as disorientation or seizures, that is treated as part of the emergency [1].

Outlook After Lily of the Valley Exposure

The outlook depends on how much plant material was eaten, how quickly treatment started, and how the heart responds. Mild exposures caught early often do well with supportive care and monitoring.

Severe exposures are a different story. The published case involved sudden collapse and death, with postmortem findings consistent with cardiac shock [2]. That outcome shows how fast this plant can take a dog down.

Dogs that survive a significant exposure may need follow-up visits to recheck the heart. Ask your veterinarian what to watch for at home and when to return.

Preventing Lily of the Valley Exposure

The simplest step is removal. If lily of the valley grows in your yard, dig it out, including the root system, and dispose of it where your dog cannot reach it. Wear gloves, and wash your hands afterward.

Other practical steps:

Walk your dog on a leash and steer away from ornamental plantings in other people's yards.
Check bouquets and floral arrangements before bringing them inside. Lily of the valley is a common cut flower.
Teach children and visitors not to feed plants to the dog.
Store essential oils and diffusers out of reach.
If you rent or share a yard, tell the property owner that the plant is toxic to dogs.

For safer landscaping, choose plants that are not on toxic plant lists, and keep new plantings fenced or out of reach until you confirm what they are. If you are worried about other common household hazards, our article on dog grape toxicity symptoms covers another poison that catches owners off guard.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

This article cannot tell you how much plant your dog ate or how your dog's heart is responding. Only a veterinarian who examines your dog can do that.

Call or go in the same day if:

You saw your dog eat any part of lily of the valley
Your dog vomited after being near the plant
Your dog seems tired, weak, or unsteady
You are not sure whether the plant your dog chewed was lily of the valley

Go to an emergency hospital now if:

Your dog collapsed or fainted
Your dog is having a seizure or is unresponsive
Your dog's gums are pale, white, or gray
Your dog is breathing fast, struggling to breathe, or has a very slow or very fast heartbeat
Your dog cannot stand or is getting worse by the minute

Schedule a routine visit if your dog had a possible exposure days ago and now seems normal but you want a heart check. Bring the plant sample if you still have it.

Every case is different, and your dog needs a veterinarian who can examine, monitor, and treat the individual patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much lily of the valley does it take to hurt a dog?

There is no reliable at-home amount to use as a safety cutoff. The toxic dose depends on the part eaten, the plant's growing conditions, and your dog's size and health. Any known exposure is worth a call to a veterinarian or poison control.

Can a dog survive eating lily of the valley?

Yes, some dogs survive with fast treatment. Survival depends on how much was eaten and how quickly care started. A published case involved a dog that collapsed and died, so this plant should always be treated as a serious emergency [2].

Should I make my dog throw up after eating lily of the valley?

No, not on your own. Inducing vomiting is a medical decision, and it can be harmful if your dog is weak, disoriented, or having heart problems. Call a veterinarian or poison control and follow their instructions.

Will a lily of the valley bouquet in the house hurt my dog?

It can if your dog chews the flowers, leaves, or stems, or drinks the vase water after plant material has soaked in it. Keep arrangements up high and out of reach, and clean up any dropped leaves or berries right away.

Are other lilies as dangerous as lily of the valley?

Not all plants called lilies are the same, and their risks differ. Lily of the valley is specifically toxic because of its cardiac glycosides [1]. If your dog ate a plant you cannot identify, call poison control with a photo or sample instead of guessing.

References

Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Lily of the Valley. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Apparent toxicosis associated with lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) ingestion in a dog. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1989.
Convallatoxin, the active cardiac glycoside of lily of the valley, minimally affects the ADVIA Centaur digoxin assay. Journal of clinical laboratory analysis, 2018.