# Are Orange Day Lilies Toxic to Dogs? Are orange day lilies toxic to dogs? No. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists day lilies (Hemerocallis species) as non-toxic to dogs, even though the same plant is highly toxic to cats [1]. If your dog ate a day lily, the plant itself is not expected to poison your dog, but you should still watch for stomach upset and call your veterinarian if you have any doubt. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Daylilies (Hemerocallis species) are listed as non-toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center [1]. - The same plant is toxic to cats, where it can cause vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and death [2][1]. - The toxic principle in daylilies is unknown, and cats are the only species known to be affected [2]. - A dog that eats a day lily may still vomit or have diarrhea from eating plant material, which is a stomach issue, not true poisoning. - Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 if your dog has ongoing vomiting, seems unwell, or ate something else in the garden too. ## Are Orange Day Lilies Toxic to Dogs? No. The ASPCA plant record for orange day lily (Hemerocallis graminea) lists the plant as toxic to cats and non-toxic to dogs and horses [2]. A second ASPCA record covering day lilies of many varieties (Hemerocallis spp.) reaches the same conclusion: toxic to cats, non-toxic to dogs [1]. This is a common source of confusion because daylilies are not true lilies. True lilies belong to the genus Lilium, and those plants are a well-known danger to cats. Daylilies look similar enough that many owners assume the risk is the same for every species in the house. For dogs, the ASPCA records do not support that assumption [2][1]. One practical point: the ASPCA notes that cats are the only species known to be affected by daylily toxicity [2]. That means the plant's danger is species-specific, and a dog eating the same flower is not expected to develop the kidney injury seen in cats. ## Which Parts and Products Matter The ASPCA records do not single out one part of the daylily as more dangerous than another for cats. The whole plant is treated as the toxic exposure [2][1]. That includes the flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. For dogs, the same plant parts are listed as non-toxic [2][1]. A dog that chews a flower or digs up a root is not expected to be poisoned by the plant itself. Garden products are a different question. Fertilizers, pesticides, snail bait, and cocoa mulch can all cause problems in dogs, and a dog that raids a garden bed may swallow more than plant material. If your dog ate a day lily and also had access to any garden chemical, treat that as a separate exposure and call for advice. If you are sorting out what your dog actually got into, our guide to [plants poisonous to dogs](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/plants-poisonous-to-dogs) walks through the common garden and houseplants that do cause real harm. ## The Toxic Principle and What It Does in the Body The toxic principle in daylilies is unknown [2][1]. Veterinary toxicologists have not identified the specific compound that injures cats, and because dogs are not affected, there is no dog-specific mechanism to describe. What is known is the outcome in cats: vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and possible death [2][1]. That pattern points to acute kidney injury, but the exact pathway from plant to kidney damage is not well established in veterinary research. For dogs, there is no documented toxic principle and no documented target organ, because the plant is listed as non-toxic for the species [2][1]. If your dog vomits after eating a day lily, the most likely explanation is simple dietary upset from eating a plant that is not part of a normal diet. ## Signs to Expect and the Typical Timeline In dogs, the ASPCA does not list clinical signs for daylily ingestion, because the plant is non-toxic to the species [2][1]. Any signs you see are more likely to come from eating a large amount of fibrous plant material. Common stomach signs after a dog eats plant matter include: - Vomiting, sometimes several times - Retching or gagging - Soft stool or diarrhea - Drooling - Reduced appetite for a meal or two - Mild lethargy These signs usually show up within a few hours of eating. Most mild stomach upset from plant material settles within 12 to 24 hours with rest and small amounts of water. Vomiting can have many causes, and color matters. If your dog is bringing up yellow or orange fluid, our article on [dog vomiting yellow orange](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/dog-vomiting-yellow-orange) explains what that can mean and when it needs a same-day call. In cats, the timeline is far more serious. Vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy can appear within hours, and kidney failure can follow [2][1]. If a cat in your home ate any part of a daylily, that is an emergency, even if the cat seems fine at first. ## What to Do Right Now If Your Dog Ate a Day Lily Stay calm. For a healthy dog with no other exposure, daylily ingestion is not a poisoning emergency [2][1]. Take these steps: 1. Remove your dog from the garden and pick up any remaining plant material so it cannot be eaten again. 2. Check the mouth for leaves, stems, or dirt and wipe them out gently. 3. Offer fresh water. Do not force your dog to drink. 4. Note the time of ingestion and roughly how much plant material was eaten. 5. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or lethargy over the next few hours. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to. Inducing vomiting at home can cause aspiration, injury, or worse, and it is not needed for a plant that is non-toxic to dogs [2][1]. Call for advice if you are unsure, if your dog has a health condition, or if your dog is a puppy or senior. You can reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both services may charge a consultation fee. Your own veterinarian is often the fastest and least expensive first call. If your dog ate something and you are not sure what it was, our guide to what to do when your [dog ate a toxic plant](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/dog-ate-toxic-plant) covers the step-by-step response. ## Veterinary Treatment for Daylily Ingestion in Dogs For a dog that ate a day lily and has no signs, treatment is usually not needed [2][1]. Your veterinarian may take a history, examine your dog, and send you home with monitoring instructions. If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, your veterinarian may recommend: - Withholding food for a short period, then reintroducing small bland meals - Fluids under the skin or intravenously if your dog is dehydrated - Anti-nausea medication - A bland diet for a few days Blood work is usually reserved for dogs that are unwell, have ongoing vomiting, or have another reason for concern. Your veterinarian decides which tests are appropriate based on the exam. If a dog develops acute kidney injury from any cause, treatment can be intensive. One recent report described a dog with acute kidney injury that needed repeated hemodialysis sessions, with urine output and kidney values improving over roughly a week and a half of hospitalization [3]. That case involved a medication, not a plant, but it shows how serious kidney injury can be and how much care it can require. Daylilies are not a known cause of this problem in dogs [2][1]. ## Outlook After a Dog Eats a Day Lily The outlook for a dog that eats a day lily is generally good, because the plant is listed as non-toxic to the species [2][1]. Most dogs that eat plant material have mild stomach upset at most, and many have no signs at all. The outlook is very different for cats. Daylily ingestion in cats can progress to kidney failure and death, and cats are the only species known to be affected [2][1]. If you have both species at home, keep daylilies out of reach of your cat, or remove the plant entirely. If your dog has ongoing vomiting beyond a day, stops eating, or seems painful or dull, the picture changes. Those signs need a veterinary exam, because the cause may not be the daylily at all. ## Prevention and Safer Alternatives The simplest prevention is to know what is growing in your yard and to keep pets away from garden beds when you are not watching. Practical steps: - Identify every plant in your yard, especially anything a previous owner planted. - Keep daylilies out of reach of cats, since cats are the species at risk [2][1]. - Fence or block garden beds if your dog likes to dig or graze. - Store fertilizers, pesticides, and baits in sealed containers away from pets. - Supervise outdoor time during the growing season. If you want to keep color in the garden without any risk to a cat, choose plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic for the species in your home. Your veterinarian or a poison control service can help you check a specific plant before you buy it. Some dogs lick their paws or chew plants when their skin or stomach is bothering them. If you have noticed orange staining on your dog's paws, our article on [dog licking paws orange](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/clinical-methods/dog-licking-paws-orange) covers possible reasons. ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian The ASPCA listing is based on reported toxicity data, and it does not cover every possible situation. A dog with a pre-existing kidney or liver condition, a very young puppy, or a dog that ate a large amount of plant material plus garden chemicals may need a different plan. Individual cases need a veterinarian who can examine your dog and ask questions. Contact your veterinarian the same day if: - Your dog vomits more than two or three times - Your dog refuses food for more than 24 hours - Diarrhea lasts more than a day or contains blood - Your dog seems dull, weak, or uncomfortable Go to an emergency clinic now if: - Your dog collapses, has a seizure, or has trouble breathing - Your dog's gums look pale, white, or blue - Your dog is retching without producing anything and has a bloated abdomen - You know or suspect your dog ate a different toxic plant, medication, or chemical Call your veterinarian for a routine visit if your dog has repeated mild stomach upset after eating plants, or if you want help identifying the plants in your yard. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are daylilies poisonous to dogs? No. The ASPCA lists day lilies of many varieties as non-toxic to dogs, while the same plants are toxic to cats [1]. A dog that eats a daylily is not expected to be poisoned by the plant itself. ### What happens if a dog eats a day lily? Most dogs have no signs or only mild stomach upset such as vomiting or diarrhea from eating plant material. Because daylilies are listed as non-toxic to dogs, a serious poisoning reaction is not expected [2][1]. ### Are orange day lilies the same as true lilies? No. Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis, while true lilies belong to the genus Lilium. The ASPCA records for daylilies list them as non-toxic to dogs and toxic to cats [2][1]. ### Should I make my dog vomit after eating a day lily? No. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to. Daylilies are non-toxic to dogs, and home vomiting can cause choking, aspiration, or injury [2][1]. ### Do I need to call poison control if my dog ate a day lily? Not always. Call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 if your dog has ongoing vomiting, seems unwell, or may have eaten something else in the garden. If a cat in the home ate the same plant, call immediately, because daylilies are toxic to cats [2][1]. ## Related Articles - [Dog Vomiting Yellow Orange](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/dog-vomiting-yellow-orange) - [Can Dogs Eat Oranges](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/clinical-methods/can-dogs-eat-oranges) - [Plants Poisonous To Dogs](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/plants-poisonous-to-dogs) - [Dog Ate Toxic Plant](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/dog-ate-toxic-plant) - [Dog Licking Paws Orange](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/clinical-methods/dog-licking-paws-orange) - [Dog Vomit Yellow Orange Foam](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/dog-vomit-yellow-orange-foam) - [Are Lilies Toxic to Dogs? Day, Tiger, and Easter Lilies](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/lilies-toxic-to-dogs) - [Are Daylilies Poisonous to Dogs?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/daylilies-poisonous-to-dogs) - [Are Easter Lilies Poisonous to Dogs?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/toxicology-and-food-safety/easter-lily-poisonous-dogs) ## References 1. [Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Day Lilies (many varieties)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/day-lilies-many-varieties). ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. 2. [Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Orange Day Lily](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/orange-day-lily). ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. 3. [Resolution of Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Oedema and Suspected Uraemic Pneumonitis in a Dog With Acute Kidney Injury Treated by Haemodialysis](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41527484/). Veterinary medicine and science, 2026. ## Further Reading - [ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control) - [ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets) - [U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/potentially-dangerous-items-your-pet)