One of the most popular house plants is certainly the peace lily, sporting attractive, dark-green, leafy foliage with white blooms that are strikingly prominent. They are easy to maintain, develop well in low light, and lend a touch of elegance to any home. That said, if you happen to be a dog owner, you really should be made aware of the risks these plants pose to your furry friend. Knowing the symptoms, treatment options, and preventive measures better will surely help in pets’ safety since peace lilies are poisonous to dogs due to their toxic properties.

Understanding Peace Lilies

Peace lilies belong to the Araceae family and thus make up many familiar plants in cultivation. These include philodendrons, pothos, and dieffenbachias. One of the characteristic features of this plant family is the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in plant tissue. These needle-like crystals are responsible for the plant’s toxicity to both human beings and animals.

When dogs chew on or ingest parts of a peace lily, the calcium oxalate crystals are then released; hence, they get the opportunity to irritate and cause injury to the dog’s mouth, throat, and the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, all parts of the peace lily, including leaves, stems, and flowers, contain such toxic crystals.

Symptoms of Peace Lily Toxicity in Dogs

If you think your dog has ingested or otherwise come into contact with a peace lily, you can expect a number of symptoms that will vary in severity based on the amount of plant material ingested and the size of your dog. Some of the most common signs and symptoms to indicate that your dog has been poisoned by a peace lily include:

1. Excessive Drooling: Drooling usually is one of the first signs of irritation.
2. Oral Discomfort: Your dog may paw at his mouth, chew, or otherwise act out in pain or discomfort in the mouth area.
3. Swelling: Swelling can occur in the lips, tongue, and throat, deterring your pet from food and water.
4. Vomiting: Ingestion of the peace lily almost always leads to vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation.
5. Difficulty Swallowing: Swelling and irritation can cause the condition whereby it’s hard for your dog to swallow.
6. Loss of Appetite: Your dog will appear less interested in food due to the pain in the mouth and discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract.
7. Labored Breathing: More serious conditions of swelling of throat tissue may lead to breathing difficulty or respiratory distress.

Treatment of Peace Lily Toxicity in Dogs

If you suspect your dog has ingested or exposed to the peace lily, act fast. Follow these steps:

1. Remove the plant: In case you catch your dog in the act of chewing on a peace lily, instantly remove the plant or take it out of reach from the dog.
2. Rinse the Mouth: If you have access to some water, try washing out your dog’s mouth to remove as much of the plant material as possible. This could help reduce irritation. Be gentle and avoid forcing water into your dog’s mouth since doing so will add to his stress levels.
3. Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on your dog’s symptoms. Mild exposures may self-resolve with only supportive care, though better to err on the side of caution.
4. Call Your Veterinarian: Phone in to your veterinarian for advice. Describe to them the symptoms and the quantity of plant material your dog could have ingested. Your veterinarian may recommend bringing the dog over for a check-up.
5. Veterinary Care: In cases of large amount ingested or severe symptoms, one needs to go to veterinary care. Induction of vomiting by a veterinarian and administering activated charcoal to help absorb the toxins will be done. Supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, pain relief, medication to reduce swelling, and inflammation, is also provided.

Prevention Tips

Preventing peace lily toxicity in dogs should be the best policy. Here are some pieces of advice to keep your dog safe:

1. Choose Non-Toxic Plants: If you have a dog, then try to have non-toxic interior plants that don’t pose any danger to your dog. Spider plants, Boston ferns, and areca palms are some of the safe options.
2. Keep Plants Out of Reach: Place peace lilies and other plants that are toxic in places your dog cannot reach. High shelves, hanging baskets, and plant stands can all keep plants out of the reach of your dog. They could be trained and supervised to keep away from plants, and there could be adequate toys and chews lying about that would redirect chewing interest.
3. Barriers: Physical barriers, such as baby gates or plant cages,, will physically prevent a dog from reaching toxic plants.
4. Educate Those of Your Household: Educate all members living at your residence, including children, about the toxicity of the peace lily and emphasize that the flowers must be inaccessible to pets.

Alternatives to Peace Lilies

If you are a person who enjoys the look of peace lilies but desires to keep your home safe for dogs instead, review these following nontoxic options with similar appeal:

1. The Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) is a hardy plant with long, dark green leaves that does very well in low light and may be an improvement on peace lilies.
2. Parlor Palm: Known as Chamaedorea elegans, parlor palm is safe for pets and has elegant, feathery fronds adding to the greenery of the house.
3. These Calathea species are widely cultivated and traded for beautiful, pet-friendly foliage. They do well under low to medium light conditions with high humidity. Boston Fern is a kind of non-poisonous fern with beautiful, green foliage and may be used as an indoor plant in various types of conditions.

Conclusion

While peace lilies are attractive and popular houseplants, the extent of their toxicity for dogs poses a significant concern to those keeping pets. Knowing the symptoms, how to act at first signs of peace lily toxicity, and how to prevent exposure will help you keep your dog safe. Indoor plants will not be avoided just because of the fear; with a few non-toxic alternatives, you can still make sure it is a pet-friendly place for your dog. If you ever suspect that your dog has ingested a toxic plant, your first point of call should be the veterinarian. However, above all measures, you can keep your pet safe by choosing the right house plants.