08 Mar Macadamia Nuts and Dogs
Ever heard of a Queensland Nut? It’s a Macadamia Nut! In other parts of the world, they are referred to as Queensland or Australian Nuts since these nut trees originate from Australia.
Macadamia nuts are poisonous to dogs. Dogs will readily eat the plain nuts, salted nuts, nuts in baked goods and those covered in chocolate or candy. Many nut containing products also contain the sweetener xylitol, chocolate and grape products (sultanas and raisins) that are also poisonous to dogs.
Signs of poisoning develop 3-24 hours after ingestion and include weakness, reluctance to get up/stand, reluctance to walk, trembling, lethargy, vomiting and fever.
The prognosis for recovery is excellent, however veterinary assessment may be required. A tailored risk assessment should be performed for each individual dog that has ingested macadamia nuts, including consideration of the other ingredients that may be in the nut containing product and any concurrent illness a pet has that may make poisoning more likely or more severe (e.g. osteoarthritis, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease).
If your pet has ingested macadamia nuts or a product containing these nuts, call us on 1300 TOX PET (1300 869 738) for a tailored risk assessment and advice. Our service is free for all pet owners.