Most owners can relate to the fear of What to do if dog eats peace lily . Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are lovely indoor plants but have mild to moderate toxicity that can be harmful to animals. Most importantly, peace lilies have this irritating dust called calcium oxalate crystals found inside, which can cause burning of the mouth, throat, and intestinal tract in dogs. Knowing what to do in case your dog has eaten a peace lily is essential for its health.
In the following guide, we explain step by step how to cope with the worst-case scenario of nursing your dog after it has ingested the peace lily plant, what symptoms can be observed, and when you should take your pet to the vet. Letβs get into the first order of businessβwhat steps you should follow if your pet has eaten this plant.
Peace lilies are ingested containing insoluble crystalline calcium oxalate, which are sharp pointed crystals like needles. And whenever there is a plant chewed by a dog, these crystals get released, irritating the tissues they are in contact with thanks to the tissue gustation. Getting medical attention is not obtainable here; however, the use of peace lilies is not normally associated with death.
If you see your dog chewing on a peace lily plant, the first thing to do would be to calmly take the plant away from it. Also, try assessing how much of the plant it has ingested. If feasible, examine the plant for bites or missing parts to determine how much has been ingested.
Generally, the signs of poisoning due to ingesting a peace lily seem to present after a short period of time. Look out for the following:
If any of these signs occur, it shows that your dog is suffering from ultra-calcium oxalate crystals.
To relieve your pooch, one of the things that you can start with is rinsing their mouth with some cool water. This can be expected to clear out any remaining plant particles and calm some irritation that has been created. You can use a light spray of water, or with a damp cloth, gently wipe the area around their mouth.
It is a common practice in cases of poisoning to recommend that the person who has been poisoned induce vomiting. With poisoning involving peace lilies, however, this technique is discouraged. This is due to the fact that the sharp calcium oxalate crystals will do more harm when they come back out. Instead, simply encourage both you and your dog to rest and drink plenty of water while awaiting the time youβll be able to get help.
If the swelling does not seem to subside such that your pet is in severe pain or there is difficulty in breathing or even swallowing, it is important to get a veterinarian immediately. These symptoms could suggest that the irritation is advancing and might result in more dangerous conditions.
When a dog has consumed plenty of the peace lily plant, it is crucial to seek medical attention from a licensed veterinarian. Ingestion of small portions has been shown to cause slight discomfort in the mouth, but taking large amounts exposes one to more dangerous symptoms like stomach pains.
There may be instances when your dog seems calm when picked up even by a veterinarian. However, when patients start developing some more monastic symptoms, you should contact your doctor. There is no need to get panicky if such symptoms do occur since the physician responsible for the treatment can evaluate whether further tightening up is required or not.
As soon as you arrive at the hospital and the dog is handed over to the doctor, the doctor will check for the severity of the symptoms and how much green has been eaten. Treatment may include the following:
Should the problem in the mouth or throat become unbearable, the veterinarian makes it possible to continue the cleaning procedure using saline, which aims to clear out leftover calcium oxalate crystals and reduce the irritation.
Antihistamines may also be administered, as these medications are a part of allergy treatment and will thus help reduce the inflamed area that is caused by the crystals’ discomfort. This is meant in particular to assist your canineβs swallowing functions and even relieve some pain that had earlier been experienced in the mouth or throat.
If the animal experiences vomiting or diarrhea, your vet will probably provide fluids to avoid depletion of fluids. This will also help facilitate the rapid removal of cleansing toxins through fluid therapy in the dog.
Your veterinarian may wish to hospitalize your pooch for some time, particularly if they believe your pooch may have eaten a large portion of peace lily. They evaluate for possible pneumonia, cyanosis, stridor, or any other swallowing difficulties within the gastric digestive system, heartburn, and other symptoms, and invite high-level care when necessary.
The most effective method that can be adopted in preventing the peace lily poisoning risk is ensuring that the dog cannot reach the plant. Place peace lilies out of its reach or dispose of them entirely, and do not allow the dog to look at or chew them down even when it is not prone to such.
If you are one of the plant enthusiasts, then it would be worth your time to consider what type of plant-safe lilies you can grow, keeping in mind the fact that there is no piece of tissue left. Boston ferns, spider plants, and African violets are a few examples of plants safe for pets, esp. dogs. It adds greenery and beauty to the home without any toxic risk.
A rest from inappropriate chewing of the plant can be taught to a dog as an additional measure. When your dog is about to chew the houseplants, you could try leaving it or giving no commands and distracting her or him with chew toys designed for dogs.
Developments like knowing how to act when your dog eats a peace lily enhance the safety of the concerned people. Although peace lilies have the potential to give rise to uncomfortable sensations and irritations, more often than not, they are not life-threatening provided medical attention is readily available. Timely action and treatment facilitate faster recovery of a dog from disease conditions and avoid the potential for complications that may be detrimental to the health of the pet.
And most importantly, avoid the situation at all costs. If one prohibits dogs from chewing poisonous plants and uses alternatives that are harmless for pets at home, there will be less danger for the pet.
The Peace Lily, with its elegant white blooms and lush green leaves, purifies the air and symbolizes nature’s calming beauty.
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