If your dog ate macadamia nuts, check the packaging for chocolate or xylitol, use the macadamia calculator for a weight-based estimate, and call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center.
Enter weight and amount to get an urgency level and next steps.
What to do right now
- Move your dog away from the source and pick up anything left over.
- Find the packaging, label, or plant so you know exactly what was eaten and how much.
- Note your dog's weight and the time it happened.
- Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center. Do this even if your pet seems normal.
- Do not make your pet vomit unless a professional tells you to.
- Follow the advice you are given, and bring the packaging to the clinic.
Why macadamia nuts are dangerous
The toxic substance in macadamia nuts is still unknown, and the problem has only been reported in dogs.
Published dose data is limited. Signs have been reported from about 0.7 g of nuts per kg of body weight in one report and from about 2.2 to 2.4 g per kg in poison control case data. In one study, 20 g per kg caused marked weakness within 12 hours. The fat in nuts can also trigger pancreatitis.
Symptoms to watch for
- Weakness, especially in the back legs
- Vomiting
- Wobbliness and tremors
- Fever
- Depression or lethargy
- Belly pain
Timeline: when signs appear
Signs usually begin within 12 hours of eating macadamia nuts, sometimes in as little as an hour. They tend to peak within the first day, and most dogs return to normal within 24 to 48 hours. Watch for vomiting and belly pain over the next few days, which can signal pancreatitis.
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
What the vet will do
If the nuts were eaten recently and your dog is still normal, the vet may induce vomiting. Most dogs only need monitoring and supportive care such as fluids and pain or fever control.
If chocolate or xylitol was involved, the vet will treat those as well, which may change the plan significantly.
How to prevent it
- Store nuts and trail mix in sealed containers.
- Be careful with cookies, especially white chocolate macadamia cookies.
- Keep snack bowls off low tables during parties.
- Pick up dropped nuts from macadamia trees if you have one.
For a room-by-room list you can print, see the pet poison-proofing checklist.
Enter weight and amount to get an urgency level and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
How many macadamia nuts are toxic to a dog?
Signs have been reported from about 0.7 to 2.4 g per kg. One nut weighs about 2 to 3 g, so a few nuts can affect a small dog.
Can a dog die from macadamia nuts?
Deaths are not expected from macadamia nuts alone, but chocolate or xylitol in the same product can be dangerous.
Why is my dog dragging its back legs?
Back leg weakness is the classic sign of macadamia toxicosis. Call your vet to have your dog checked.
What about white chocolate macadamia cookies?
White chocolate has little theobromine, but check for xylitol and other ingredients and call your vet.