Is Sorbus aria toxic to dogs?

Mildly. The ASPCA lists sorbus aria 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. Sorbus is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its pet status is unconfirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The flesh of the berries is low-risk, but the seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, so chewing large quantities of berries could in theory cause mild gastrointestinal upset; in practice signs are usually limited to mild vomiting or diarrhoea.

Sorbus is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its pet status is unconfirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The flesh of the berries is low-risk, but the seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, so chewing large quantities of berries could in theory cause mild gastrointestinal upset; in practice signs are usually limited to mild vomiting or diarrhoea. 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 sorbus aria.

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: Sorbus aria is mildly toxic to cats as well. See the full sorbus aria 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.