Is Peace lily poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 3 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Peace lily is poisonous to dogs and cats – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. The leaves contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.

  • Dogs Call a vet today
  • Cats Call a vet today
What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note which plant, which part, how much and when.
  3. Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
  4. Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
  5. Keep your pet calm.

Don't

  • Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Peace lily contains insoluble crystals of calcium oxalates.[1] When pets chew the plant, it releases crystals that cause irritation and pain to the lips, mouth and throat.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • pawing at the face
  • drooling
  • foaming
  • vocalizing
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • gagging

Signs may be seen immediately.

Scientific name
Spathiphyllum
Poisonous parts
leaves

What the experts say

“Signs may be seen immediately and include pawing at the face (because of the mouth pain), drooling, foaming, vocalizing, vomiting, and diarrhea. The signs usually go away on their own.”

— US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine [1]

“Problems: Poisonous to Humans, Problem for Cats, Problem for Children, Problem for Dogs, Problem for Horses”

— NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox [3]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

Is Peace lily a problem for cats too?

Yes. Peace lily is listed as a problem for cats.[3]

What signs may be seen?

Signs may be seen immediately and include pawing at the face, drooling, foaming, vocalizing, vomiting and diarrhea.[1]

What can happen when a pet chews Peace lily?

Chewing the plant releases crystals that cause irritation and pain to the lips, mouth and throat; drooling, gagging and vomiting are common signs.[2]

Sources

  1. US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
  2. Pet Poison Helpline
  3. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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