While it's rare that eating an acorn can kill a dog, it can nevertheless make them seriously ill, says pet nutritionist Emily Boardman at Burns Pet Nutrition.
And during the autumn months, when the acorns have fallen to the ground, they are the most at risk.
If eaten, they not only causing an upset stomach, but damaging or even causing a blockage to the stomach, due to their hard spiky exteriors.
If a dog that has eaten an acorn or more they might have the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
- Collapse
- Death
It's hard to believe that something as innocent looking as an acorn could potentially wreak such havoc with a dog’s health, but acorns contain tannins, a kind of chemical that is toxic to dogs and can cause stomach upsets, and (although rare) liver and kidney failure, which can prove fatal.
To discourage your dog from eating acorns, it’s best to keep a close eye on them when out walking under or near oak trees. They might love snuffling through the leaves, taking in the smells and scents but be aware there are risks involved in giving them free reign.
If your dog has an acorn in its mouth, do try and remove it, you can try techniques such as offering them a treat to distract them.
If you have any concerns at all please always consult your veterinary surgeon - especially if you know they have eaten acorns.
Acorns are also poisonous to many other animals, including horses, cows and cats
- Poisonous plants to cats: Cats Protection warn about the deadly plants to avoid if you have cats
- Poisonous plants to dogs: vet warns about deadly flowers, trees, shrubs and bulbs
- Plants poisonous to horses: from heart issues to blindness and even death, these toxic plants can cause an array of issues for equines
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