Dogs and acorns

5 replies

Wishiwasonabeachinmaldives · 30/09/2025 13:20

Does anyone else’s dog try to eat acorns? He’s never done it before (or I don’t remember him eating them) and he had a busy time chomping on a few before I stopped him. I then looked them up and didn’t realise they were so poisonous to dogs so it was an emergency trip to the vets! Now I’m paranoid at letting him off the lead! I’m thinking of taking him on the lead to see if having the vet make him sick has put him off the darn things! He’s a spaniel so needs to run!

OP posts:

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 30/09/2025 13:27

We're having the same issue. Our Pyrenean was crunching on one the other day (fortunately she allowed me to fish it out of her mouth), so I'm scouring the garden for them every 5 minutes and being hyper vigilant on walks. I hope your dog is okay...
Weirdly, I don't recall this happening with our previous dogs.

BadWoIf · 30/09/2025 13:44

My dog has been doing this too! I didn't realise they were poisononous...she ate one last week, and one a few days before that. She seems fine but I'll be more vigilant in future.

BadWoIf · 30/09/2025 13:53

...although that said, this veterinary toxicology service doesn't seem unduly concerned:
https://www.vpisglobal.com/2019/10/01/conkers-and-acorns/

Conkers and acorns » Veterinary Poisons Information Service

We receive lots of enquires at this time of year about dogs eating acorns (the fruit of oak) and conkers (the seed of the horse chestnut). With acorns about a quarter of dogs remain well and with conkers about a third of dogs do not develop any signs....

https://www.vpisglobal.com/2019/10/01/conkers-and-acorns

Original poster

Wishiwasonabeachinmaldives · 30/09/2025 15:22

My vet erred on side of caution as apparently it has cyanide type chemicals in them and can cause liver and kidney damage!

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Needanadultgapyear · 03/10/2025 07:49

The biggest risk is acorns or confers causing an obstruction.

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