Assess the situation
Fill in what you know. Estimates are fine, exact numbers are better. Keep the packaging nearby for your call.
Emergency vet or poison control: which do I call?
A vet may recommend inducing vomiting if the nuts were eaten recently. Most dogs with signs recover with supportive care.
Go straight to an emergency vet if…
- Your dog cannot stand or walk normally, is trembling, or feels very hot
- The nuts were chocolate-covered or in a product with xylitol
- Your dog is very young, old, or has other health problems
- Poison control or your vet has told you to come in
Call poison control first if…
- Your dog just ate the nuts and seems normal
- You are unsure how many were eaten
- You want to know whether vomiting should be induced
- You want a case number to hand to your vet
How macadamia nut toxicosis develops
Signs usually start within 12 hours and resolve within 24–48 hours. Hind-leg weakness is the classic sign.
Onset
- Weakness, especially in the back legs
- Vomiting
- Wobbliness, tremors
- Fever (overheating)
Peak
- Difficulty standing
- Depression, lethargy
Recovery
- Most dogs return to normal without lasting effects
- Watch for vomiting and belly pain (possible pancreatitis) over several days
Published case data behind these estimates
Published dose data is limited and varies between sources. These figures come from the Merck Veterinary Manual, an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center review, and a peer-reviewed review article.
| Macadamia dose | Reported effect |
|---|---|
| 0.7 g/kg | Lowest dose associated with clinical signs in one report |
| 2.2–2.4 g/kg | Lowest doses with signs in ASPCA case data / Merck |
| > 1–2 g/kg | Merck: inducing vomiting recommended if eaten recently and dog is normal |
| 20 g/kg | Experimental dose causing marked weakness and inability to stand within 12 hours |
This calculator uses conservative tiers because the literature does not support precise cutoffs: under 0.7 g/kg = contact a professional now; 0.7 to under 20 g/kg = Urgent; 20 g/kg and above = Emergency. Chocolate-covered nuts and baked goods are always at least Urgent; anything with xylitol is Emergency.