Foods Last reviewed: 2026-10-27

Macadamia nuts in Pets

Macadamia nuts can cause hind-leg weakness, tremors and fever in dogs. Compare grams eaten per kg with the 2.4 g/kg dose reported by Merck and see the usual 12–48 hour course.

At a glance
Which animals Dogs.
Signs and timing Signs usually appear within 12 hours: weakness and wobbliness in the hind legs, reluctance to stand, tremors, vomiting, depression and a raised temperature.
What to do now Call your vet or a poison line with the number of nuts and your dog's weight, and mention anything else in the snack, especially chocolate, raisins or xylitol.

What It Is

Macadamia nuts cause a short-lived but alarming illness in dogs: weakness, especially of the back legs, tremors and fever. The toxic compound has not been identified. Most dogs recover within one to two days, but the nuts are often eaten in cookies or chocolate, which bring their own risks.

Where Pets Come Across It

Bowls of mixed nuts, macadamia cookies and white-chocolate macadamia biscuits, chocolate-coated macadamias, trail mix and macadamia nut butter.

Which Animals Are Affected

Dogs. The syndrome has not been described in other species, though nuts can still upset any pet's stomach or block the gut.

Published Toxic Dose

The Merck Veterinary Manual reports clinical signs in dogs after eating 2.4 g of macadamia nuts per kg of body weight. In an experiment, dogs given 20 g/kg developed signs within 12 hours and were normal again within 48 hours without treatment. A whole macadamia kernel weighs about 2–3 g, so a 10 kg dog could react to around ten nuts.

Macadamia nuts Dose Exposure Calculator
Enter your pet's weight and estimated quantity missing to compare against veterinary literature thresholds.
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Signs and How Soon They Appear

Signs usually appear within 12 hours: weakness and wobbliness in the hind legs, reluctance to stand, tremors, vomiting, depression and a raised temperature. They typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours.

What to Do Right Now

Call your vet or a poison line with the number of nuts and your dog's weight, and mention anything else in the snack, especially chocolate, raisins or xylitol. Do not try to make your dog vomit at home. Keep your dog cool and quiet while you get advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many macadamia nuts are dangerous for a dog?
Signs have been reported from about 2.4 g per kg of body weight, which is roughly one nut per kilogram for small dogs.
Is the illness usually fatal?
Rarely on its own. Most dogs recover within two days, but chocolate or xylitol in the same snack can be more serious.

Sources and References

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