Toxicity to pets

Australian nuts, also known as Macadamia nuts, are harvested from Macadamia trees that were originally found in Australia. These trees are now also grown in the US (Hawaii, California, Florida), South Africa, Brazil, and many other countries with the nuts being sold widely in stores.

Australian nuts are very high in fat content. Ingestion of small amounts may cause minor gastrointestinal upset, while toxic amounts can result in: 1) an elevated body temperature, 2) central nervous signs, 3) lameness/stiff joints, and 4) pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. Dog breeds that are more predisposed to pancreatitis (e.g., Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, obese dogs) are at higher risk for clinical signs.

If you suspect your dog or cat ingested Australian nuts, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® immediately for life-saving treatment recommendations.