Editor’s Note: There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients because it has reached capacity with critical cases. Polly and Constantine are examples of cases that required long-term stays.
It must be that time of the year.
Not once, but twice in recent days, a pair of cats were presented to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital suspected of ingesting lilies.
That’s concerning because flowers of the Liliaceae family (Easter lilies, stargazer lilies, tiger lilies and day lilies) are extremely toxic to cats. This can cause acute kidney injury that can progress to kidney failure and death.
Every part of the plant is toxic including the petals, pollen and leaves. Even water from bouquets containing lilies is toxic.
It is unclear how much of a lily needs to be consumed to cause toxicity, but it is suspected that only a small amount can cause harm. Cats typically develop vomiting, poor appetite and lethargy within 12 hours following exposure.
That’s why it was so important that Polly and Constantine, who live in different households, quickly came to the hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Services Unit. Once the pair were admitted, vomiting was induced and they received a dose of activated charcoal to help bind any potential remaining toxin in their stomachs.
Additional treatment, such as hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy, is recommended in all cases. Hospital stays typically last between 48 and 72 hours and prognosis in these cases is excellent with early and aggressive therapy.
More information is available on plants that are potentially toxic to cats from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
If you and your animal need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at 515.294.4900.
October 2025