My dog ate lily of the valley — what do I do?
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is unrelated to true lilies (Lilium / Hemerocallis — those are kidney-toxic for cats specifically). The danger here is different: lily of the valley contains cardiac glycosides — convallatoxin and related compounds — that cause arrhythmias similar to foxglove or oleander poisoning. ALL parts are toxic, including the water from a vase of cut stems. Call your vet now.
EmergencyASPCA Animal Poison Control (US, 24/7): (888) 426-4435
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting (often within 1–4 hours)
- Diarrhea, sometimes severe
- Drooling, refusal to eat
- Slow or irregular heart rate
- Weakness, lethargy
- Disorientation, ataxia
- Seizures (severe cases)
- Collapse, cardiac arrest (severe cases)
Timeline
Why lily of the valley is dangerous (and what it is NOT)
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is unrelated to true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis species). True lilies and daylilies are acutely kidney-toxic for cats specifically — that is a different emergency covered on the lily-poisoning-cats page. Lily of the valley is cardiotoxic for both dogs and cats and acts through a different mechanism.
The plant contains cardiac glycosides — convallatoxin is the primary one, along with convallarin, convallamarin, and related compounds. The mechanism is the same as foxglove and oleander: block of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump, increased intracellular calcium, hyperexcitable heart muscle, unpredictable arrhythmias.
ALL parts of the plant are toxic: the small white bell-shaped flowers (often used in bridal bouquets), the broad green leaves, the stem, the orange-red berries (which appear in summer), and the vase water if cut flowers are arranged. Vase-water exposure is a real and underappreciated source.
What to do right now
1. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control ((888) 426-4435, 24/7) immediately. Lily of the valley is in the same acuity category as foxglove and oleander.
2. Bring a sample of the plant. Cut a stem, photograph the flowers (the small white bells in a one-sided cluster are distinctive), or bring the vase if cut flowers were the source.
3. Note if your dog drank vase water — easy to miss but a real exposure source. Glycosides leach into water from cut stems.
4. Do not induce vomiting at home. Cardiac glycoside toxicity can produce arrhythmias that at-home emesis worsens.
5. Drive to a clinic with ECG capability. General-practice vets can stabilize most cases but severe cardiac glycoside toxicity benefits from continuous monitoring and access to the specific antidote (digoxin immune Fab).
What the vet will do
Initial: ECG, baseline bloodwork including electrolytes (especially potassium — cardiac glycosides shift potassium dynamics significantly), kidney function. Physical exam including heart rate and rhythm assessment.
Decontamination if early: induced vomiting (apomorphine) within 2 hours, then multiple doses of activated charcoal every 4–6 hours to interrupt enterohepatic recirculation.
Cardiac management: atropine for bradycardia, anti-arrhythmics for tachyarrhythmias, IV fluids carefully balanced for kidney support without cardiac fluid overload. Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) for severe confirmed cases — expensive and not stocked at most clinics, but real treatment option.
Hospitalization typically 48–72 hours for symptomatic cases. The long elimination half-life of cardiac glycosides means cardiac effects can persist; discharge requires stable rhythm and normalized electrolytes.
What not to do
- Do not confuse lily of the valley with true lilies for triage. True lilies (Lilium / Hemerocallis) are kidney-toxic for cats specifically. Lily of the valley is cardiotoxic for both dogs and cats — different emergency, different treatment.
- Do not assume vase water is safe. Cardiac glycosides leach into water from cut stems. Empty and rinse any vases after lily-of-the-valley arrangements come out, and do not let dogs near the vases while flowers are in.
- Do not induce vomiting at home — at-home emesis in a dog with cardiac instability can precipitate the arrhythmia event the vet is trying to prevent.
- Do not plant lily of the valley as ground cover in a yard with dogs. It spreads via rhizomes and is hard to remove once established. The flowers and berries are attractive to dogs.
- Do not handle the plant or vase water without washing hands afterward — cardiac glycosides can absorb through cuts or mucous membranes at very high concentrations.
Frequently asked
How much lily of the valley is toxic to dogs?
Even chewing a single leaf can produce cardiac signs in a medium-sized dog. There is no published safe dose. Treat any ingestion of any part of the plant — leaves, flowers, stems, berries, or vase water — as a vet emergency.
Is lily of the valley the same as a regular lily?
No — different plant family entirely. True lilies (Lilium genus) and daylilies (Hemerocallis genus) are kidney-toxic specifically to cats. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is cardiotoxic to both dogs and cats. Different emergency, different mechanism, different treatment.
My dog drank vase water from a flower arrangement — was it safe?
If the arrangement contained lily of the valley, the vase water is contaminated with cardiac glycosides leached from the cut stems. Call your vet. Note that the same applies to vase water from foxglove arrangements.
What do the berries look like?
Orange-red small berries (about 6–10 mm) that appear in summer after the bell flowers. They are attractive to children and dogs and contain the same cardiac glycosides as the rest of the plant.
Is there an antidote?
For severe documented cases, digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) cross-reacts with several plant cardiac glycosides including those from lily of the valley. Expensive and not stocked at most clinics but a real option in life-threatening cases.
How do I remove lily of the valley from my yard?
Wear gloves. Dig out the rhizomes completely — lily of the valley spreads underground and any rhizome fragments left in soil will resprout. Bag everything (including disturbed soil for the first removal) in heavy-duty trash bags for landfill disposal. Multiple passes over the same area over a growing season is often needed to fully clear.
Primary sources
This guide draws on the following authorities. Specific clinical decisions for your pet should always be made with your vet.
Double-check another food, get a personalised follow-up, or talk to CRO about your pet’s specific situation.
This guide is educational and based on US veterinary sources (ASPCA APCC, AVMA, and peer-reviewed literature). It is not a substitute for a vet call. When in doubt, phone your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control — the fee is far cheaper than a delayed case.