My dog ate macadamia nuts – what should I do?
Call a vet todayCall your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Macadamia nuts can cause clinical signs in dogs within 12 hours of ingestion.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or nearest emergency vet.
- Note what was eaten, how much, and when.
- Bring the packaging.
- Remove any nuts left within reach.
- Keep your pet calm.
Don't
- Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
As little as 0.7 g/kg of nuts has been associated with clinical signs in dogs.[4] Clinical signs generally develop within 12 hours of ingestion.[4]
Signs to watch for
Signs generally develop within 12 hours of ingestion and may last about a day.
Where it is found
What the experts say
“The ingestion of as little as 0.7 g/kg of nuts has been associated with the development of clinical signs in dogs”
Not sure how serious it is?
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Common questions
How much macadamia nut is dangerous?
As little as 0.7 g/kg of nuts has been associated with clinical signs in dogs; reported toxic doses ranged from 2.2 to 62.4 g/kg.[4]
What signs should I watch for?
Reported signs include lethargy, difficulty standing or walking, and vomiting.[2]
How soon could signs start?
Clinical signs generally develop within 12 hours of ingestion.[4]
Sources
- US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Giftinformationscentralen (Swedish Poison Information Centre)
- Pet Poison Helpline
- Cortinovis & Caloni 2016, Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats, Front Vet Sci
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
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