Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My dog ate Flame Lily - what should I do?
Gloriosa superba
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Excessive salivation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, and potential systemic organ damage.
Escalation note
The plant contains colchicine, which can cause severe systemic poisoning. Immediate veterinary intervention is required if your dog has chewed or ingested any part of this plant.
First aid at home
Transport to a veterinarian immediately. Do not induce vomiting at home — colchicine cases need controlled decontamination, aggressive IV fluids, and monitoring of clotting and kidney function in clinic.
What to watch for
Initial vomiting (often bloody) and profuse diarrhea, then weakness and collapse. Over hours to a day or two expect signs of kidney and liver injury, seizures, and bleeding from impaired clotting. The early gut signs can briefly improve before the multi-organ phase, which is the dangerous part.
Time window
Vomiting and diarrhea usually begin within a few hours of ingestion. If untreated, organ failure can be fatal within 24–36 hours.
When to call the vet
Right away — call ASPCA Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline and head to an ER. Treatment that starts before signs are severe is the difference between recovery and irreversible organ damage.
What this means for your dog
Dogs: emergency. Flame lily contains colchicine, the same alkaloid used in human gout medicine — at plant doses it shuts down rapidly dividing cells in the gut lining, kidneys, liver, and bone marrow. Untreated, dogs can die within 24–36 hours of ingestion.
Sources: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline.
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.