Is Nova Elderberry toxic to dogs?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists nova elderberry as mildly toxic to dogs — a chewing dog typically gets mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting rather than a medical emergency, but it is still best kept out of reach. Sambucus is listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs and cats. Raw leaves, bark, unripe fruit, and roots of Sambucus canadensis contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and lethargy in pets. Fully ripe cooked berries are used in human culinary applications, but all raw plant material should be treated as hazardous to pets.

Sambucus is listed by ASPCA as toxic to dogs and cats. Raw leaves, bark, unripe fruit, and roots of Sambucus canadensis contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and lethargy in pets. Fully ripe cooked berries are used in human culinary applications, but all raw plant material should be treated as hazardous to pets. Signs usually appear soon after chewing rather than hours later — watch for drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy after your dog has had access to nova elderberry.

Stay calm. Remove any plant from your dog's mouth and take the plant away. Note how much was eaten and when, and do not induce vomiting unless told to. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 and follow their advice; a leaf or photo helps the vet treat it correctly.

The ASPCA classification Growli uses applies to both cats and dogs: Nova Elderberry is mildly toxic to cats as well. See the full nova elderberry pet-safety guide for both species.

For a similar look without the risk, see the best dogs-safe plants list — every plant there is ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs.