Is Macadamia tree poisonous to dogs and cats?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Call a vet today

Macadamia tree is poisonous to dogs – call your vet today for advice if your pet has eaten any of it. Our sources do not list it for cats, which is not proof that it is safe for them. The signs listed for dogs are vomiting, lethargy, tremors and weakness.

Dogs Call a vet today
Cats Not listed in our sources – that is not proof that it is safe

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note which plant, which part, how much and when your pet ate it.
Take a photo or a piece of the plant with you.
Remove what is left and move the plant out of reach.
Keep your pet calm.

Don't

Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give your pet any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Macadamia tree is listed as a problem for dogs.^[2]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Lethargy
Tremors
Weakness

Scientific name: Macadamia

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Which animal is Macadamia tree listed as a problem for?

Dogs.^[2]

Is Macadamia tree dangerous for cats too?

Our sources do not list it for cats, which is not proof that it is safe for them.

Sources

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