What Can Dogs Eat? — The Ultimate List
Can dogs eat macadamia nuts?
No. Macadamia nuts cause weakness, hind limb paralysis, tremors, and fever in dogs, even from just a few nuts. The mechanism is still unknown.
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Can dogs eat macadamia nuts?
No. Macadamia nuts are one of the most distinctive causes of dog poisoning: even small amounts can trigger hind limb weakness and paralysis.
Why is it dangerous?
🚨 Strangely, the toxic agent is still unknown. We know that it causes dose-dependent neurological symptoms in dogs, and that the threshold for symptoms is low: just about 2 g of nuts per kg of body weight is enough to cause symptoms. For a 10 kg dog, this is only about 4–5 nuts.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms typically appear within 6–12 hours:
- Hind limb weakness, unsteady gait, "collapsing"
- Tremors, muscle pain
- Fever (up to over 40 °C)
- Vomiting, lethargy
If your dog ate macadamia nuts
Call the veterinarian. The good news is that macadamia poisoning is rarely fatal, and dogs usually fully recover within 24–48 hours with supportive care. The bad news is that paralysis is frightening and painful, and treatment (fluid therapy, pain relief) requires veterinary supervision.
⚠️ Increased caution: if the nuts were covered in chocolate (a common treat), this is a double poisoning case, chocolate + macadamia, and is considered an emergency.
Where can they be found?
In cookies, biscuits, granola bars, trail mix, chocolate-covered nuts, holiday and festive treats. Never leave a nut basket in an accessible place.
What about other nuts?
- Macadamia nuts: clearly toxic, never
- Black walnuts, English walnuts: risky due to mold toxin (tremorgen), to be avoided
- Almonds, cashews, pistachios: not classically toxic, but very fatty (pancreatitis), salty, and pose choking or intestinal blockage risks. Nutritionally, there is no reason to give them.
This is informational only and does not replace veterinary advice. If in doubt, contact your veterinarian immediately.
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References
- 1.Hansen SR, Buck WB, Meerdink G, Khan SA — Weakness, tremors, and depression associated with macadamia nuts in dogs. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 42(1):18–21, 2000. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10670082/ (accessed: 2026-09-10)
- 2.American Veterinary Medical Association — Household hazards: foods and substances that are toxic to pets. AVMA, 2024. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/household-hazards (accessed: 2026-09-10)
This is general information and does not replace a veterinary diagnosis.
This guide was compiled based on the expert input of Reka Fazekas-Birizdo canine nutritionist.
Certified Canine Nutritionist