She said her vet offices had already seen cases of pets with suspected karaka berry-ingestion symptoms this year.
“If ingestion is suspected, urgently contacting the vet is important.”
Early symptoms in dogs may include vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Dogs may then become weak and unco-ordinated. As the poison progresses, the toxin causes seizures and fits.
Jimmieson said it was important not to wait for symptoms to show if ingestion was suspected, as it may take up to 48 hours for symptoms to present - too late for treatment.
“If we can get in soon enough, we can potentially decontaminate sooner if it’s within a few hours of ingestion,” she said.
“Try to get it out of their system by making them vomit.”
There is no known antidote to karaka berries.
The only option was to manage symptoms, Jimmieson said.
“In some cases, with supportive care, they see it through but in some cases it can be fatal.”
Karaka trees are located at many popular public places in Whanganui, including along the riverside walking paths.
They provide a crucial food source for native kererū.
The toxicity comes from their pits which contain alkaloid karakin.
Jimmieson said a common mistake by dog owners was underestimating how dangerous the plant could be.
“Any dog can be affected,” she said.
The toxic kernels remain poisonous long after the fruit around them has rotted away. Consumption of old pits outside fruiting season, and even from a previous year, can be just as toxic.
“The trees are easier to recognise when they’re in fruit,” she said, but owners should be mindful year-round of where the trees were located and avoid them when possible.
“Just being mindful of what your dog’s doing at that particular part,” Jimmieson said.
“That there’s no chance that they can dig up or play with any of the berries under the tree or the remnants of them.”
The raw kernel is also poisonous to humans. If one is ingested, call the National Poisons Centre on 0800 764 766.
Erin Smith is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
