Warm weather and sunshine means spending more time outside. From garden projects to playing kickball with your family, there’s so many fun outdoor activities to do during the summer. As a dog owner, you want your pup to join in on the fun and have plenty of time outside, but it can be tricky knowing what items or substances may pose a risk to their health. Unfortunately, there are many plants and chemicals outside that can be toxic and dangerous for dogs. From mushrooms and plants in gardens to fertilizers and insecticides used in your yard, you will want to know which potentially harmful materials are lurking around your property, so you can have a safe and fun summer season.  

Outdoor Dangers That Can Harm Your Pet 

• Plants: There is a long list of indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic to dogs. Tomato plants contain tomatine and when dogs ingest stems, vines, and green fruit they can experience clinical signs such as ataxia, weakness, and gastrointestinal irritation. Rhubarb leaves contain toxins that can result in oral and gastrointestinal irritation leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Azaleas and tulip bulbs are planted in the spring and can be deadly if dogs consume them in large quantities.  

• Fertilizers: Some fertilizers are considered safe, but organic products that contain blood meal, feather meal, bone meal, and iron may seem appealing, but they’re especially dangerous to pups. Large ingestions can lead to severe pancreatis or form a concretion in the stomach causing an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract.  

• Insecticides: Ingestion of insecticides, particularly in spray cans, can be very irritating to dogs. Those that contain organophosphates, often for rose-care, can be life-threatening to dogs in just small amounts. Potential signs include drooling, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  

• Mushrooms: Mushrooms can be found in many places in the United States. Many are considered non-toxic, but poisonous mushrooms pose a serious threat. Clinical signs are directly correlated with the species of mushroom, the toxin, and the dosage. Potential poisoning symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, tremors, and more. Your best bet to identify mushroom species is having a mushroom expert examine it.  

There are many more toxins that can be found in or around your surrounding environment. Check out the Pet Poison Helpline poison list to read about various substances that are toxic to pets and can cause harm or even be fatal if ingested by our furry friends. If your pet has ingested any of the items listed above, call your veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away for medical assistance.