Dogs and plants don’t always mix. In fact, many plants are totally toxic and even deadly to your pets. If you are a lily lover, you might have heard rumors of just how toxic some can be—and you love your pets, so you want to be sure.
Luckily, canna lilies are considered non-toxic to dogs. Let’s get more into the details of these lovely plants so you can decide if you want to plant one at your home or you just want reassurance after your dog ate one.
Canna Lilies Are Safe for Dogs
According to the ASPCA, canna lilies are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Canna lilies are one of the only lily variations that are non-toxic to dogs because they aren’t true lilies. They aren’t in the same family, Liliaceae, as Asiatic lilies, tiger lilies, tulips, etc. Canna lilies are in the Cannaceae family instead. So, even though lilies are toxic to dogs, these essentially “faux” lilies are not.
Now, that is not to say that canna lilies are edible—by no means! They may certainly cause stomach upset if your dog eats one, but you won’t have to worry about toxicity. If your dog ate any canna lilies, you might notice that they feel generally unwell or experienced nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms are due to gastrointestinal irritation and should pass once the plant is digested.
Why Do Dogs Eat Plants?
All dogs, even the healthiest, can eat plants. However, there are a few reasons this might happen. These include:
- Curiosity
- Boredom
- Malnutrition
- Pica
- Nausea
- Anxiety
Always keep an eye on behaviors and ensure your dog is getting proper nutrition.
When Is a Dog Eating Plants a Health Issue?
You might’ve heard that dogs often munch on grass when they have an upset belly. Is there any truth to this? Studies have shown there is a small percentage of dogs that frequently show signs of illness before eating plants, and less than 25% of dogs regularly vomit after ingesting plants. Most of the time, perfectly healthy dogs go out and pick up some grass or plants from the yard with no obvious rhyme or reason, it is thought it may be an inherited predisposition from their wild ancestors.
How to Keep Your Dog Away from your Plants
Keeping your dog away from your plants, toxic or not, can be pretty challenging, especially if they are larger and can reach high spaces. However, any person who is a plant lover has to get creative when plants and canines exist.
Not only can your dog munch on the leaves and flowers of your house plants, but they can also knock them over, dig them up, and a bunch of other nonsense.
Use Hanging Planters or Shelves Indoors
Hanging planters and shelves can look aesthetically pleasing and also keep your plants away from your pets. It will keep them out of most dogs’ reach and still allow your plants to get adequate sunlight.
Use Barriers and Fencing Outdoors
If your pet roams around the backyard, but you have some pretty toxic plants out there, it’s best to separate them with some pretty nifty landscaping. Fencing doesn’t have to be all ugly, you can make it very aesthetically attractive.
But it is a good idea to create some type of separating barrier between your greenery and your dog. Dogs love to dig up, gnaw on, and otherwise destroy plant life, so putting these measures in place is just as important for your plants as it is your pooch.
Having Poisonous Plants Around Dogs
The best way to keep your dog safe from poisonous plants is to simply not have them around. There are so many different dog-friendly plants that you can have in your home and out in your garden spaces. There’s really no reason to complicate it by risking poisonous growth around or inside your property. You can check out the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants to see which plants are safe (such as canna lilies) and which to avoid (like true lilies) if you have dogs that like to dig up or eat plants.
When to See a Vet
If you think that your pet has consumed anything toxic, or is showing signs of severe or ongoing gastrointestinal upset, it’s best to get them to the vet. After all, canna lilies might not be the only thing you have in your garden. Your vet can determine the underlying issue and proceed with any treatment, such as fluid therapy, if necessary.
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Conclusion
So, canna lilies and canines can coexist. If your dog tore off a petal or flower, you might notice some general stomach upset, but unless they ate the whole plant, it shouldn’t be anything major.
It’s always best to keep our canines and plants separate when we can. Although many plants are completely harmless to dogs, there are several that can be toxic and even deadly. It’s our job as pet parents to protect our animals from dangerous substances, including the plants we choose for our home and garden.
Featured Image Credit: Howe Hoi, Shutterstock
