nuts
Macadamia nuts
DANGEROUS
No. Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, tremors and an unsteady walk in dogs.
If your dog has eaten this item, contact your vet or an emergency veterinary service now.
If your dog is showing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, collapse, severe vomiting, unconsciousness or other serious symptoms, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
What to do
Contact your vet for advice and mention how many nuts were eaten and whether they were coated in chocolate.
When to contact a vet: Contact a vet if your dog is wobbly, trembling, or has eaten chocolate-coated macadamias.
Symptoms to look for
- weakness in the hind legs
- unsteady walking
- tremors
- vomiting
- raised temperature
- lethargy
Why
Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs through a mechanism that is not fully understood. Typical signs are weakness in the back legs, an unsteady walk, tremors, vomiting and a raised temperature, usually within 12 hours. Chocolate-coated macadamias add the risk of chocolate toxicity.
- Substances of concern
- unidentified compound in macadamia nuts
- Parts to avoid
- The nut itself, including in cookies and chocolate-coated form.
- How much matters
- Relatively small amounts have been linked to signs, so all ingestion should be reported to a vet.
- Severity
- Moderate
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison ControlPrimary authoritative — Toxicity
- PetMDVeterinary information — Toxicity
Information reviewed against recognised veterinary and animal-safety sources. Source organisations are independent of Is It For Dogs unless otherwise stated.
Last reviewed 6 September 2026 · next review due September 2027.
Safety classifications are based on available expert and veterinary information. Individual dogs may react differently, particularly dogs with allergies, existing health conditions or specific dietary requirements.
Important: Is It For Dogs provides general information about the safety of foods, plants, drinks, ingredients and other items around dogs. Our information is based on sources we consider reliable and is intended to help dog owners make informed decisions. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified veterinary professional. Read more
Dogs can react differently depending on their size, age, health, allergies, medications, the amount consumed and other circumstances. An item classified as Safe is not necessarily suitable for every individual dog.
If your dog has eaten something potentially poisonous or dangerous, has eaten an unknown substance, or is showing concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary service immediately.
Do not induce vomiting or give your dog medication unless specifically instructed to do so by a veterinary professional.
Also known as macadamia, macadamia nuts, macadamia nut · Macadamia integrifolia