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How many raw elderberries would be toxic to a 15 kg dog, and what's the first sign of poisoning?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

There is no safe number — you should never feed any raw elderberries to a dog. The berries, leaves, and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and that is often the first noticeable sign. Because the toxic dose varies and can be low, any ingestion warrants a call to your vet for guidance. Keep all parts of the elderberry plant well out of your pet's reach.

Elderberry — Food safety facts

Do not feed · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Raw berries, leaves, bark and stems all contain cyanogenic glycosides and cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Never feed.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Elderberry should not be given to dogs at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.

Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.

Why these cautions matter

Raw animal protein carries Salmonella and E. coli risk, and those bacteria can spread to the people in the household too.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Elderberry food facts page.

Open the full food page: Elderberry food facts →