Update:

I have a new suspect for the cause of Gerry's weird freak outs over a couple days around Memorial Day.  TYeserday, I caught Gerry picking a berry off one of the shrubs in the front yard.  I've never seen him do it before.  I remember being told by my mom or grandma when I was a kid about those kinds of berries and not to eat them cause they're only safe for birds to eat.  I kept an eye on Gerry, and made sure he wouldn't have a chance to eat any more of them, but figured one berry in an almost 50 lb dog probably wouldn't hurt him too much.  Still, I started looking into what kind of bushes I had and just how concerned I should be about him picking off any more berries.

Turns out they're some kind of Yew shrubs.  And guess what?  Yews are pretty darn deadly.  A little hilarious since the person I bought the house from was a vet tech who had dogs and before her was a veterinarian (probably had a dog or two also - I met him once by chance).  You'd think I wouldn't have to worry about their landscaping choices, right?  I'm sure though if they were aware of the Yews though they probably still didn't need to be concerned, cause I don't know any other dogs that are so berry motivated as Gerry is.  And, as berry motivated as he is, yesterday was the first time I ever saw him pick one off one of those shrubs!

But here's the scoop, the berry part is actually the only part that isn't harmful.  However there's a seed inside that a dog is likely to swallow along with the berry that is very harmful.  However, the seed is only harmful if it gets chewed.  If it isn't, it will most likely go through the animal or person that ate it without harming them.  Here's a link to ASPCA's little blurb about Yews, which includes a picture:

http://www.aspc.....erican-yew

Seizures and tremors are listed as possible symptoms at the link above.  Another place online (though I can't verify how accurate it is) also note aggression as a possible symptom.  Gerry certainly seemed afraid and horribly uncomfortable during his episodes and there was a point where both my housemate and I thought he might actually bite one of us, because he was so freaked out.  Oh and that site also said something like, if your dog doesn't drop dead, symptoms could last up to two days after ingestion and Gerry's symptoms did reoccur 4-6 times over two days.

But, you know, I was pretty suspcious of the Vectra 3D from stuff I found online too.  And I'll probably never know for sure what the cause was.  Those bushes though are out, regardless.  Gerry's too sly for me to even imagine I can monitor him enough to be sure he never eats any Yew berries ever again.  And just one time could be all it takes.  If he has eaten off those shrubs ever before, I'm amazed at our luck that I didn't lose him already!

To sum up what I've learned, if you want to try Vectra 3D, well, just proceed cautiously!  And as far as Yews, know what's in your yard and whether any of your pups are munchers like Gerry!  If so, dig those suckers out ASAP.