These Illinois Summer Plants Are Dangerous To Your Dog

We've got two dogs at our place, Lucy and Buddy, who spend a ton of time outdoors enjoying nature from the moment the weather turns nice in the springtime all the way until we hit winter temperatures in the teens.

We also have a pretty large amount of plants and flowers filling our backyard all summer, which prompted me to do some research on which Illinois summer plants and flowers could injure them (or worse) that I didn't know about.

It turns out that there are more than a few.

There Are Lists Everywhere Online That Talk About Foods That Are Toxic To Dogs, But Not Nearly As Many Places To Get Advice About Plants And Flowers To Keep Your Dog Away From

Most of us have heard that these foods are not good at all for dogs:

• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Leeks
• Raisins
• Grapes
• Avocados
• Peaches and Plums (and all pitted fruit)
• Raw Potatoes
• Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Macadamia Nuts, Pistachio Nuts

But is a mouthful of flowers really going to cause your dog health problems?

Yes, depending on what flowers we're talking about.

Let's Get To The List Of Plants And Flowers You'll Find Here In Illinois That Can Cause Your Dog Health Issues Or Worse (If your pet has munched on any of these toxic plants for dogs, consult your vet immediately, or call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435)

Here are some that you should avoid, in alphabetical order, along with what can happen if ingested (hat tips to ReadersDigest.com and ASPCAPetInsurance.com):

Aloe: Lethargy and upset stomach, including vomiting and diarrhea

Amaryllis: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, excessive drooling, abdominal pain, anorexia, and tremors

Azalea: vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in blood pressure, weakness, cardiac failure, coma, and can even be life-threatening

Calla Lily: oral irritation, a burning sensation on the tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing

Daffodil: vomiting, hypersalivation, diarrhea, arrhythmia, convulsions, and low blood pressure

Daisy: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, incoordination, and dermal allergic reactions

Hyacinth:  intense vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and tremors

Hydrangea: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal disturbances

Iris: vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea

Lily of the valley: vomiting, irregular heartbeat, reduced blood pressure, confusion and disorientation. In severe cases, it can even cause seizures or lead to a coma.

Milkweed: depression, weakness and diarrhea, as well as more intense reactions, such as seizures, breathing difficulty, organ failure and even death.

Morning Glory: vomiting and even hallucinations when large amounts are ingested

Rhododendron: excessive drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, colic, depression, weakness, stupor, paralysis, cardiovascular collapse, or worse – your dog may become comatose or even die

Tomato plants: hypersalivation, severe upset stomach, depression, weakness, dilated pupils, and slow heart rate

Tulips: oral irritation, excessive drooling, and nausea