Know Natures Summer Flowers That May Harm Your Dog

🌞 Summer Plants or flowers Toxic to Dogs: Key Species to Be Aware Of

When spring fades into full summer, new plants and flowers begin to bloom — and some of them can be harmful if eaten by pets. Dogs and cats may explore gardens or hedgerows with their mouths, so it’s helpful to know which summer plants require extra caution.

🌱 Toxic Summer Plants for Dogs and Cats

These plants are known to be poisonous if ingested:

• Bright Purple Nightshade – Attractive but toxic; ingestion can be dangerous for dogs during summer walks.

• Deadly Nightshade – All parts contain potent tropane alkaloids and are highly poisonous.

• Elder – All parts of the tree, including the berries that appear later in summer, are toxic to dogs and cats.

• Foxgloves – Leaves and seeds contain toxic alkaloids.

• Hydrangea – Contains cyanogenic compounds that are poisonous to pets.

• Larkspur – Toxic in varying amounts; smaller dogs may be affected by smaller quantities.

  
  

⚠️ Possible Signs of Plant Poisoning

Symptoms can vary depending on the plant and the amount eaten, but may include:

• Mouth dryness

• Rapid pulse

• Rapid breathing

• Fever

• Dilated pupils

• Blindness

• Muscle twitching

• Delirium

• Anxiety

• Confusion

• Urine retention

• Paralysis

• Collapse

• Cardiac arrest

  
  

🐾 What To Do If You’re Concerned

If you think your dog has eaten part of a toxic plant, contact your vet or an out‑of‑hours service immediately. They will ask what happened and guide you on the next steps. Symptoms and severity can differ depending on the plant and quantity consumed. If it is safe to do so, please take photos or videos to help in the identifications of the plant or flower eaten once at the vets. Do not delay of course though so if necessary ask a family member or friend to do this whilst you go to the vets.

🌿 After Veterinary Care

Once your vet has confirmed it is safe to feed your dog their next meal, you may wish to focus on supporting normal gut function for a few days. Our Short‑Term Recovery blog explains this process in more detail.

A simple short‑term feeding approach may include:

• Boiled boneless chicken, turkey, or white fish

• A small amount of cooled cooking liquid

• A gut‑support product such as Dorwest Tree Barks or Proflax Tummy Tastic  

• Dog‑safe bone broth such as Alexander's Natural or Karnlea 

Follow this until your vet advises otherwise, then gradually return to raw with gentle proteins such as turkey or chicken for a few days.