Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) in Pets
Peace lilies cause mouth irritation in pets but not the kidney failure of true lilies. Learn how to tell them apart, what signs are normal and when to call a vet.
What It Is
The peace lily is a popular shade-tolerant houseplant with glossy leaves and white, sail-like flowers. Despite its name it is not a true lily. It belongs to the arum family and contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, but it does not cause the kidney failure that true lilies cause in cats.
Where Pets Come Across It
Living rooms, offices and bathrooms, often on the floor or low tables. It is one of the plants most often involved in calls to poison centres simply because it is so common.
Which Animals Are Affected
Cats and dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual includes Spathiphyllum among the ten plants most often involved in pet exposures reported to poison centres.
Published Toxic Dose
There is no toxic dose to calculate: the crystals injure the mouth on contact and Merck notes no body-wide reaction to insoluble calcium oxalate. The calculator shows no mg/kg verdict for it.
Signs and How Soon They Appear
Immediate drooling, pawing at the mouth, swelling of lips and tongue, vomiting and reluctance to eat. Signs usually ease within hours.
What to Do Right Now
Rinse the mouth with water and offer something cool to drink. Call your vet if drooling or refusal to eat continues, or at once if breathing becomes noisy. The most important step is making sure the plant is a peace lily and not a true lily, because true lilies need emergency care in cats.
How to check a plant label quickly
Plants are often sold with only a common name, which causes confusion. Look for the scientific name on the pot tag or the barcode label: Spathiphyllum is the peace lily; Zantedeschia is the calla lily; Lilium and Hemerocallis are the true lilies and daylilies that cause kidney failure in cats; Convallaria majalis is lily of the valley, a heart toxin. A photo-identification app can help, but check it against the flower structure. A peace lily's 'flower' is a single white hood (spathe) around a central spike, with no separate petals or dusty pollen-laden stamens. If a bouquet or plant has six petals and prominent stamens, assume it is a true lily and keep it away from cats entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources and References
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