Can dogs eat macadamia nuts?
Toxic. No. Macadamia nuts cause weakness, tremors and fever in dogs, by a mechanism nobody has identified.
How much is dangerous?
Merck reports clinical signs in dogs after ingestion at 2.4 g/kg. Dogs given 20 g/kg experimentally showed signs within 12 hours and recovered within 48 hours without treatment.
Why it does harm
Unknown. Merck states plainly that the mechanism of toxicity is not known, which is unusual for a well-documented toxicosis and worth saying rather than glossing over.
What to look for
- Weakness, particularly in the hind legs
- Tremors and unsteadiness
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Raised body temperature
Timing. Within 12 hours. Signs generally resolve in 12 to 48 hours.
What to do
- Call your vet. The prognosis is good, but the signs are alarming and other causes need ruling out.
- Watch for anything chocolate-coated, which turns one problem into two.
- Supportive care is usually all that is needed; severely affected dogs may need fluids and antipyretics.