Are acorns poisonous to dogs? | Blue Cross (2024)

FAQs

Should I be worried if my dog ate an acorn? ›

Acorns, like conkers, are poisonous to dogs if eaten. They can cause an upset tummy, and because they are hard and sometimes spikey, they can cause damage or a blockage in the stomach. In rare cases it has led to liver and kidney failure, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings when walking your dog.

One challenge is that there isn't a magic number for how many acorns it takes to make a dog sick. It depends on the size of the dog–plus, acorns have varying amounts of tannins in them. A perfect time to use the “leave it” skill is when you see your dog snuffling around acorns, so they learn they are not to be eaten.

They can be a temptation for your dog, who may be sniffing around outside. Acorns can cover vast amounts of ground space during autumn and winter, providing us with that familiar autumnal scene. Dogs have an inquisitive nature and they love to explore the world through their nose and mouth.

Acorns are also commonly used in fall decorations and contain high concentration of tannins. Tannins can be irritating to a pet's digestive system, so vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort can develop with one-time exposures.

If your dog eats enough, it causes sickness, diarrhoea and pain leading to severe dehydration and toxic shock. Acorns and oak tree leaves are also poisonous to dogs. Acorn poisoning (officially called Quercus poisoning), causes vomiting, diarrhoea (often bloody) and lethargy.

Nuts - Nuts and acorns are often found in leaf piles that are raked together in the fall. If your dog is sensitive to the proteins in the nuts they will have an allergic reaction if they ingest the fallen nuts.

This time of year, a squirrel's main diet consists of nuts, seeds and, of course, acorns. If they're not busy consuming the acorns, the tree-climbing critters are busy storing them for their winter food supply.

Pine cones and dogs

Pine cones and chestnuts are not toxic, which means they don't contain a poisonous substance. However, these are often swallowed by dogs while playing in the park or forest. Pine cones and chestnuts can also lead to constipation and gastrointestinal issues.

Yes, dogs can eat apples. Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber for your dog. They are low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior dogs.

Acorn Toxicity in Dogs

The other potential toxin is not actually from the acorn but the molds that may grow on acorns that have been sitting for a while. Many of these molds release what are called "tremorgenic mycotoxins" which can cause seizures, some of which may be fatal if severe enough.

What animals can safely eat acorns? ›

We all know that from tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow, but we should add that from tiny acorns also grow deer, gray squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkeys, crows, flying squirrels, rabbits, opossums, blue jays, quail, raccoons, wood ducks—more than 100 U.S. vertebrate species eat acorns.

Raw acorns contain tannins which can be toxic to humans and cause an unpleasant bitter taste. They are also poisonous to horses, cattle and dogs. But by leaching acorns to remove the tannin, they can be made safe for human consumption.

Maybe. There are some tree nuts that are safe for your dog in small amounts such as almonds, pine nuts, or coconuts. However, nuts may give your dog an upset stomach or put your dog at risk for an intestinal obstruction that can lead to serious digestive issues.

Klein explains that the best types of squash to feed your dog are butternut squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and acorn squash. In particular, zucchini is the squash most easily digested by dogs.

While the sweet chestnut and the water chestnut are safe for your dog to consume in moderation, refrain from feeding them horse chestnuts (also known as conkers), which contain aesculin, a chemical toxic to dogs and humans.