What to Do If a Dog Eats Macadamia

Most of us know that chocolate is not good for our dogs, but another common holiday treat--macadamia nuts--can also cause serious problems. The nuts can cause a reaction called macadamia nut toxicosis. Mix these with chocolate and you've got a seriously toxic combination.

  1. Symptoms

    • Within 12 hours of ingestion, your dog may develop an inability to stand or walk steadily. He may seem depressed or fearful and have muscle tremors, vomiting, weakness, an elevated heart rate and fever. These symptoms usually fade within 48 hours but can lead to serious, and sometimes fatal, shock. If your dog ate chocolate-covered macadamias, this can lead to kidney failure.

    Treatment

    • If your dog has eaten macadamia nuts, try to figure out how many nuts he might have eaten. Your vet will want this information.

      Call your veterinarian immediately. If the dog has just recently ingested the nuts, the vet will most likely want to induce vomiting before the dog gets too sick. Your dog may also be given activated charcoal to coat the stomach and prevent the absorption of the nuts.

      If your dog has a fever, the vet may need to give intravenous fluids and cool the dog's core temperature. Do not attempt to lower the dog's temperature yourself by placing the animal in an ice bath as this will just make the dog sicker.
      Other symptom can usually be treated with medication.

      In most cases, the animal is able to return home as soon the symptoms are gone, usually within 48 hours.