A Tauranga vet is warning people about the dangers of karaka berries after a family lost their dog recently.

The dog ate berries from the karaka tree and died despite the vet's best efforts to save it.

Holistic Vets director Liza Schneider says signs of poisoning can be weakness and vomiting and it can progress to paralysis and convulsions.

The pip of the berries contains a powerful neurotoxin and alkaloid poison karakin. Eating just one berry can cause a dog to have seizures and they are also toxic to humans.

Liza says sometimes there is a one-to-two day delay between a dog eating a berry and showing symptoms, which means it's often too late because it has been in their system for so long.

'Sadly it progresses quite severely and dogs often don't bounce back from it.”

If anyone suspects their dog has eaten a berry, they need to get them to a vet quickly so they can induce vomiting, she says.

Holistic Vets sees the odd case of karaka berry poisoning because most dogs are careful about what they eat but a few will gorge on them, says Liza.

The veterinarian says people need to be vigilant and proactive by watching their dogs during walks and keeping them on the lead if they are near a tree to ensure the dog doesn't eat the fruit.

A lot of people aren't familiar with karaka berries or their toxicity but the orange berries are easily identified if people know what to look for, Liza says.

The karaka tree has bright orange berries up to 4cm long, it can grow up to 15 metres and has thick dark green leaves.

The native trees are in parks and on walkways around the city, with some found on the Waikareao walkway, Waikarei walkaway in Papamoa and Papamoa Beach Road.

From January to April, green karaka berries turn orange and fall from the trees. The berries are loved by kereru who gorge on them with no issues.