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One of the first signs of spring in many areas is seeing the Kousa dogwood come to life! These trees are very pretty and easy to spot in amongst the other trees that still seem asleep in early spring! However, these trees have berries that a dog may find and eat. Can Kousa dogwood berries make a dog sick?
Has your dog eaten a Kousa dogwood? Are you worried the Kousa dogwood will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about Kousa dogwood and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is a Kousa Dogwood?
A Kousa dogwood is a tree that blooms in the spring. The trees bear delicate, white flowers, and the wood is known for being extremely hard. These trees are often used in landscaping around homes and in urban areas.
These trees also produce a pinkish-red fruit that attracts songbirds. The fruit is also appreciated by many humans, some of whom make jelly out of these berries.
While Kousa dogwood berries can be safe for humans, what about dogs? Can the berries make a dog sick?
Kousa Dogwood Trees & Dogs
Thankfully, the berries of the Kousa dogwood tree are not toxic to dogs. Some dogs appear to love the flavor of these bitter-sweet berries! However, it is possible that the berries could upset a dog’s digestive system if a dog ate too many.
And if a dog chowed down on a large number of berries, it’s possible the seeds and skin of the fruit could cause an intestinal blockage, especially in smaller dogs.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Kousa Dogwood Berry Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten Kousa dogwood berries:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
If you notice these symptoms in your dog and they last longer than 24 hours, it’s best to call the vet. The concern is that continuous diarrhea and vomiting may lead to dehydration.
Thankfully, the vet has medications to stop diarrhea and vomiting. They also have medicine to treat a dog’s upset GI tract. And if your dog is dehydrated, the vet may treat him with IV fluids.
The good news is that most dogs who eat Kousa dogwood berries will make a full recovery!
If your dog has a penchant for the berries, it’s a good idea to clean them up regularly! Then your fur baby won’t be able to gorge on the fruit and end up with an upset stomach!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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