You and your dog are taking a long walk in nature and you come upon an elderberry bush. They look ripe and lucious. Can you toss a few to your pup?

No. Elderberries are toxic to dogs. Cyanide is found in the stems, leaves and seeds. It can even be found in unripened berries. Without proper preparation, fully ripened elderberries can also be toxic to humans. 

While there may be limited instances that your pup only ingests just the ripened fruit, you should still seek a vet if your dog has consumed elderberries. Cyanide poisoning can be treated but only if you act quickly. 

Signs of poisoning typically present themselves within 20 minutes. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning in dogs include tremors, seizures, labored breathing, blood in diarrhea, dilated pupils, and smell of bitter almonds in mouth. If you see any of these symptoms, get to a vet immediately.

To ensure your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance. Preparing for the unexpected guarantees money is never an issue in keeping you pup healthy.