No, dogs cannot eat macadamia nuts because of its toxic principles.
Macadamia nuts are oily fruits that grow on macadamia trees. Difficult to crack, their tough shells are about five times harder than hazelnuts. The flowering plant genus belongs to the Proteaceae family and is native to Australia, specifically New South Wales and Queensland. Aside from macadamias, the edible seeds have other monikers. These include bauple nuts, bush nuts, maroochi nuts, Queensland nuts, and Hawaii nuts.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports that macadamia nuts have unknown principles that are toxic to dogs. Dogs that consume just a small amount may suffer from weakness of their hind limbs, inability to stand, depression, vomiting, tremors, and abnormally high temperature.
What to do if your dog accidentally eats macadamia nuts: Contact your veterinarian immediately. Inform him how much your dog has eaten, and if he manifests any signs. Observe your dog over the next 24 hours. Symptoms typically appear 12 hours after consumption and may last up to two days.
Because of the high fat content, some dogs may also suffer from pancreatitis after eating macadamias. Vomiting, lack of appetite, severe stomach pain, and a decrease in activity levels are additional signs to watch for.
Dogs should not consume macadamia nuts whether in raw or roasted form. Those coated with chocolate or seasoned with salt, sugar, garlic, onion, herbs, and spices should also be avoided. These ingredients may increase health complications.
In summary: Dog owners fond of eating macadamias should keep this nut away from their canine pets at all times. A plant-based protein, macadamia nut is high in monounsaturated fats—making it a dangerous nut option for dogs.
Instead of giving him macadamias, find out which other nuts, vegetables, and fruits you can feed your dog under our “can dogs eat” category.
References:
Animal Poison Control Alert: Macadamia Nuts are Toxic to Dogs
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