FrançaisCan dogs eat macadamia nuts?
No. Macadamia nuts can make dogs weak, wobbly, feverish and sick within hours, and the reason is still unknown [2, 4]. If your dog has eaten some, call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if it seems fine. Do not try to make your dog vomit or give any home remedy unless your vet tells you to.
For an overview of other dangerous foods, see toxic foods for dogs and cats.
Why macadamia nuts are dangerous for dogs
Macadamia nuts come from Macadamia trees. They are eaten plain or in cakes, cookies and sweets [4]. Raw and roasted nuts have both been involved, and so has macadamia butter [5]. Dogs are the only species in which signs have been reported [2, 4].
The toxic substance and the way it acts on dogs are not known [1, 2, 4]. Tremors may be a result of muscle weakness rather than a direct effect on the brain [2].
The amount that causes signs has not been set precisely [4]. Signs have been reported after as little as 0.7 g of nuts per kg of body weight [4], and after 2.4 g/kg [2]. In calls to the ASPCA poison center, the estimated amount eaten averaged 11.7 g/kg [1]. Call your vet or a pet poison line whatever the amount.
Signs, and how long they last
- When they start: within 12 hours of eating the nuts [2, 3]. In 29 cases managed by the ASPCA poison center, signs began in less than 12 hours in 79% [1].
- What you may see: weakness, often most marked in the back legs, low energy, vomiting, wobbling, tremors and fever [1, 4, 5]. Less often: belly pain, lameness, stiffness, lying down and unable to get up, and pale gums [1, 4].
- How hot: in four dogs given macadamia nuts in a study, body temperature reached up to 40.5 °C (104.9 °F), and the dogs could not stand 12 hours after dosing [1].
- How long: signs usually resolve within 12 to 48 hours [2, 3]. In the ASPCA cases, they lasted less than 24 hours in most dogs [1]. The ASPCA expects recovery within 24 to 72 hours [6].
- A clue for the vet: pieces of nut may be seen in vomit or stool [2].
What the vet checks, and what the blood work shows
There is no test for macadamia nuts. The diagnosis rests on knowing the dog ate them and on the signs [2], after other possible causes are excluded [3]. The exam includes body temperature, how the dog stands and walks, and its alertness.
Other problems can look similar, so the vet may consider rat poison (bromethalin), ivermectin, antifreeze and infections such as viral enteritis, for example parvo [2]. Blood work is one of the ways to sort these out.
- Abbreviation TG, TRIG or triglycerides: one of three values that rose mildly in dogs given macadamia nuts [1].
- Result 210 mg/dL in this illustrative line: a mild rise. The study only reported mild, short-lived increases [1, 2].
- Unit mg/dL in the US; mmol/L in Europe: 210 mg/dL ≈ 2.3 mmol/L (× 0.011) [8].
- Laboratory interval The dog interval cited by Cornell’s eClinPath [8]; each laboratory sets its own.
- Flag H: above the interval. A recent meal, such as a cookie, also raises triglycerides: in 100 healthy dogs, 36 went above the interval after eating [8].
| Test | What was found | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Lipase | A sharp peak at 24 hours, normal again by 48 hours | Seen in dogs given macadamia nuts in a study; short-lived [1, 2] |
| Triglycerides | Mildly high | Transient; back to baseline quickly [1, 2] |
| ALP | Mildly high | Transient; back to baseline quickly [1, 2] |
| Other chemistry values and electrolytes | Unremarkable | No other changes in the experimental dogs [1]; abnormal values point toward another cause [2, 3] |
Cookies, chocolate and other nuts
Macadamia nuts are common in cookies [5], and those cookies often contain other ingredients that matter. Tell your vet exactly what your dog ate and keep the packaging.
- Chocolate: white chocolate contains only a negligible amount of the stimulants that make chocolate toxic, about 0.04 mg per gram, against 2.3 mg/g in milk chocolate [7]. Milk or dark chocolate chips are a separate risk: see chocolate and dogs.
- Raisins: they appear in baked goods such as fruit cakes, snack bars and scones, and have been reported to cause kidney failure in dogs [4]. See grapes and raisins in dogs.
- Sugar-free products: check the label for xylitol: see xylitol poisoning in dogs.
- Other nuts: almonds, pecans and walnuts are rich in fat and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and possibly pancreatitis [6]. Moldy walnuts can carry mold toxins that cause tremors: in a 2023 study of 313 poisoned dogs, 21 had eaten walnuts linked to these toxins [9].
Outlook
The outlook is good. No deaths have been reported [4, 5]. In the ASPCA study, all dogs, both those seen at home and the experimental dogs, recovered within 1 to 2 days, whether or not a vet treated them [1].
Most dogs recover without specific treatment. Dogs with more severe signs may need hospital care, such as fluids, pain relief and medicines to bring the fever down [2, 3]. If the nuts were eaten recently and the dog has no signs yet, the vet may decide to make it vomit [2].
Macadamia nut poisoning is relatively infrequent, but 83 cases were reported over 5 years in Queensland, Australia, a major growing area [4].
Related articles
Another food toxic to dogs: onions and garlic.
En français : noix de macadamia et chien.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- Could my dog’s signs be caused by something other than macadamia nuts?
- Does the amount or the rest of the product, such as chocolate or raisins, change the plan?
- Does my dog have a fever, and how will it be watched?
- Are lipase, triglycerides and ALP normal, and do they need a recheck?
- Which signs should make me call back in the next two days?
Get your dog’s blood results explained together.
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Frequently asked questions
Are macadamia nuts ok for dogs?
No. They can cause weakness, often in the back legs, vomiting, wobbling, tremors and fever within 12 hours [2, 4]. Dogs are the only species in which these signs have been reported [2].
How much macadamia is toxic to dogs?
No precise toxic amount has been set [4]. Signs have been reported from as little as 0.7 g of nuts per kg of body weight [4], and after 2.4 g/kg [2]. Call your vet or a pet poison line whatever the amount.
What to do if my dog ate one macadamia nut?
Call your vet or a pet poison line and say how much your dog ate and how much it weighs. Do not make your dog vomit unless your vet tells you to. Watch for weakness, wobbling, vomiting or fever in the next 12 hours [2, 3].
My dog ate a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. What should I do?
Call your vet or a pet poison line now, with the packaging at hand. The macadamia nuts are the main concern: white chocolate contains only a negligible amount of the stimulants found in chocolate [7]. Check whether the cookie also contained milk or dark chocolate, raisins or xylitol.
Sources
- Hansen SR, Buck WB, Meerdink G, Khan SA. Weakness, tremors, and depression associated with macadamia nuts in dogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2000;42(1):18-21. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10670081
- Hayes C. Macadamia Nut Toxicosis in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed 2024. merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/macadamia-nut-toxicosis-in-dogs
- Gwaltney-Brant SM. Food Hazards (pet owner version). Merck Veterinary Manual, updated 2026. merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/poisoning/food-hazards
- Cortinovis C, Caloni F. Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats. Front Vet Sci. 2016;3:26. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2016.00026
- Kovalkovičová N et al. Some food toxic for pets. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2009;2(3):169-176. doi.org/10.2478/v10102-009-0012-4
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
- Hayes C. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed 2024. merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/chocolate-toxicosis-in-animals
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Triglycerides. eclinpath.com/chemistry/energy-metabolism/triglycerides
- Markert C et al. Intravenous lipid emulsion for the treatment of poisonings in 313 dogs and 100 cats (2016-2020). Front Vet Sci. 2023;10:1272705. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1272705
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.