Can Dogs Eat Pecans or Walnuts? Pie, Nut Bowls and Mold

Which nuts are risky for dogs, why moldy or fallen black walnuts need a clinic now, and what to do after a pecan pie or nut bowl raid.

Quick answer: Pecans, walnuts and almonds are not good dog treats. After a few fresh, plain nuts, watch for 4 days and call a vet today at the first sign, such as one vomit or eating less. Moldy nuts, including fallen black walnuts, can cause tremors: go to a clinic now, even with no signs. Macadamias mean a poison line or vet now. Repeated vomiting, belly pain, trembling or possible xylitol means an emergency vet now.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Go to an emergency vet now if you see these signs

A dog that trembles, wobbles, has a seizure, gags, struggles to breathe, vomits more than once or has a painful belly after eating any nuts needs an emergency vet now, even if it already vomited the nuts back up.

• Heavy drooling, agitation, a racing heartbeat or overheating.
• Vomiting with lethargy, even once; not keeping water down; blood in the vomit; black or bloody stool; pale, blue or yellow gums; weakness or collapse.
• The prayer pose (front legs down, rear end up), a swollen belly, or straining with no stool.

Possible xylitol, such as a sugar-free pie or a nut butter that lists xylitol, means an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine; call a poison line on the way. Any black walnut or hull, any nut picked up from a yard or sidewalk, and any old or moldy nut means a clinic now (an emergency hospital if yours is closed), even with no signs, before tremors start. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). Both poison lines take calls every day, including holidays.

Are pecans and walnuts toxic to dogs?

Fresh, plain pecans and English walnuts are not toxic to dogs the way macadamias are, but they are high in fat and hard to digest, and moldy ones can carry tremor-causing toxins, so neither is a good dog treat.

The ASPCA says almonds, pecans and walnuts are high in fat and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and possibly pancreatitis. No source sets a safe number of nuts. A dog that has had pancreatitis, eats a low-fat prescription diet, is a Miniature Schnauzer or another prone breed, has high blood fats, diabetes, Cushing's disease or extra weight, or ate a lot of nuts or pie for its size needs a vet call the same day, even if it seems fine.

Moldy nuts and black walnuts: the tremor risk

Moldy walnuts and pecans, including black walnuts and hulls that fall in yards each autumn, can carry tremor-causing mold toxins, so a dog that ate them needs a clinic now, even with no signs, before tremors start.

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists moldy walnuts among the foods that can carry tremor-causing mold toxins, with vomiting, drooling, overheating, wobbliness, tremors, a fast heart rate and seizures as signs that can start within a few hours.

The ASPCA lists black walnut as toxic to dogs and says moldy nuts or hulls can cause tremors and seizures. In a 2016 study of 93 dogs reported to the ASPCA poison center for black walnut exposure, about half of the 65 dogs that ate nuts or hulls vomited, and about 1 in 4 had neurologic or muscle signs. Of the 28 dogs that ate the wood, 26 had those signs, so chewing black walnut sticks or shavings also means a clinic now.

Black walnut is native across the eastern U.S., including New York and Virginia; in Florida it grows only in the northwest. You can't judge mold on a fallen hull, so treat every black walnut, yard or sidewalk nut, and old, stale or compost nut as possibly moldy, and don't make your dog vomit at home.

Nut by nut: which are riskiest?

Black walnuts and moldy nuts are the riskiest nuts for a dog and mean a clinic now, macadamias mean a poison line or vet now, and other plain nuts mainly cause stomach upset, fat overload or choking.

Nut	Main risk	Do this
Pecans	Fat, mold	Few, plain: watch 4 days
English walnut	Fat, mold	Few, plain: watch 4 days
Black walnut	Mold, tremors	Clinic now
Almonds	Choking, fat	Few, plain: watch 4 days
Pistachios	Shells, salt	Few, plain: watch 4 days
Macadamia	Weak legs	Poison line or vet now
Moldy or yard nut	Tremors	Clinic now

"Few, plain" means a few fresh, shelled, unsalted store-bought nuts in a bright adult dog; one vomit or eating less means call a vet today. Whole in-shell nuts or a lot of shell pieces, especially in a small dog, mean an in-person vet now, even with no signs, and trembling or wobbliness after any nut means an emergency vet now.

The ASPCA says macadamias can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and overheating in dogs, usually within 12 hours, so a dog that looks fine an hour later is not cleared; wobbly legs or trembling mean an emergency vet now.

Pecan pie and holiday nut desserts

A slice of regular pecan pie combines nuts with butter, sugar and corn syrup, so for a dog it usually means a stomach upset and a 4-day pancreatitis watch, while a sugar-free pie can contain xylitol and means an emergency vet now.

Pet Poison Helpline says pancreatitis signs can occur up to 4 days after a dog eats a fatty food. After regular pecan pie with no chocolate, watch for 4 days but act on the first sign; repeated vomiting, belly pain or weakness means an emergency vet now. See the 4-day pancreatitis watch after a dog eats fat and the dish-by-dish Thanksgiving chart for dogs.

The FDA says xylitol can drop a dog's blood sugar within 10 to 60 minutes, though serious effects can be delayed 12 to 24 hours. If you can't check a pie's label or recipe, treat it as sugar-free. A bourbon or rum pecan pie means a poison line or vet now, and an eaten foil tin or wrapper means an in-person vet today.

Salted, seasoned and chocolate-covered nuts

Seasoning changes how risky nuts are for a dog: chocolate coatings and garlic or onion seasoning mean a poison line now, a nut butter with xylitol means an emergency vet now, and heavy salt adds thirst and vomiting.

The ASPCA says salt toxicity signs include vomiting, tremors and seizures, so vomiting with extreme thirst, or wobbliness after salty nuts, means an emergency vet now. The ASPCA adds that garlic and onion can damage red blood cells, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says signs of anemia, such as weakness or pale gums, can take several days to appear; see what to do after a dog eats onion or garlic.

In the bowl or pie	Do this first
Chocolate	Poison line now
Sugar-free or xylitol	Emergency vet now; call a poison line on the way
Garlic or onion	Poison line now
Raisins or currants	Poison line and in-person vet now
Bourbon or rum	Poison line or vet now; wobbly: ER now
Heavy salt	Fresh water; vomits and very thirsty, or wobbly: ER now
Foil tin or wrapper	In-person vet today; bring packaging

If more than one row fits, follow the most urgent.

Whole nuts and shells: choking and blockage

Whole nuts and shells can lodge in a small dog's throat or gut, so gagging, struggling to breathe, repeated vomiting or a painful belly after a nut bowl raid means an emergency vet now.

PetMD says whole or in-shell pecans can cause choking or an obstruction and pistachios, with or without the shell, can cause an intestinal blockage, and the AKC says almonds can block a small dog's esophagus, intestines or windpipe. A dog that swallowed whole in-shell nuts or a lot of shell pieces, especially a small dog, needs to be seen in person now, even with no signs. After swallowed shells, any vomiting, refusing food, belly pain or straining with no stool, even days later, means an emergency vet now; see the signs and timeline of an intestinal blockage in dogs.

What to do if your dog ate nuts

If a dog ate nuts, take the bowl away, note the nut type, how many are missing and whether any look moldy or came from the yard, and don't make your dog vomit unless a vet or poison line tells you to.

Keep the bag or label, check it for macadamias, chocolate, raisins, xylitol or seasoning, and don't fast your dog or give human medicines unless a vet says to; see when making a dog throw up helps and when it harms.

What you see	Do now
One vomit, still bright	Call a vet today
Quieter or eats less	Call a vet today
Diarrhea only, still bright	Call a vet today
Refuses food	In-person vet today
Vomiting and diarrhea	In-person vet today
Any puppy, vomit or diarrhea	In-person vet today
Vomits again	Emergency vet now
Vomits once, dull	Emergency vet now
Not keeping water down	Emergency vet now
Prayer pose or sore belly	Emergency vet now
Blood in vomit, black or bloody stool	Emergency vet now
Pale or yellow gums	Emergency vet now
Weak or collapsed	Emergency vet now
Trembling or wobbly	Emergency vet now
Seizure	Emergency vet now
Gagging, pawing at mouth	Emergency vet now
Blue or gray gums	Emergency vet now

If more than one row fits, follow the most urgent. Each new fatty snack starts a new 4 days, and a quiet stretch is not an all-clear. For loose stool after a holiday raid, see diarrhea after table food or holiday leftovers.

Cats and nuts

A cat that ate nuts faces the same fat and mold cautions as a dog, so a cat that ate moldy food or is trembling needs an emergency vet now, and a cat should never be made to vomit at home.

The ASPCA lists the black walnut plant as non-toxic to cats, but moldy food can carry tremor-causing toxins for cats too.

When a video visit helps

A video visit fits a dog that ate a few fresh, plain store-bought nuts (not macadamias) or a slice of regular pecan pie and is still bright, eating and keeping water down.

During days 1 to 4 after a regular pecan pie (no chocolate, alcohol, xylitol or foil), one vomit or soft stool, not both, still fits if your adult dog is bright, eating, keeping water down and not sore in the belly. A higher-risk dog that seems fine, such as a Miniature Schnauzer or one that has had pancreatitis, fits too.

RexVet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. In a $64.99 live video visit, a licensed RexVet vet, a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state (Florida, New York or Virginia, with your pet located there during the visit), reviews what was eaten, how much and when, and your dog's size and history. The veterinarian looks at your dog's gums, posture, belly and energy on camera, tells you whether your dog needs to be seen in person, and helps you set the 4-day watch and a clear point to go in. Live slots run about 8 AM to 11 PM ET. Holiday availability isn't confirmed, so check open slots when you book; if your dog is out of state for the holiday, use a local vet.

When it doesn't fit: in a possible poisoning, your first call goes to a poison line or an emergency vet, not to RexVet. Moldy, old or yard nuts and any black walnut or hull mean a clinic now; macadamias, chocolate, garlic or onion, xylitol, raisins or alcohol mean the poison line or emergency steps in the tables above; any sign at the top of this page means an emergency vet now. Swallowed shells mean an in-person vet now, and a foil tin, refusing food, vomiting plus diarrhea, or a puppy that vomited, has diarrhea or won't eat means an in-person vet today. Outside about 8 AM to 11 PM ET, use an emergency vet or a poison line.

A video visit can't feel the belly, rule out pancreatitis or a blockage, run blood tests or X-rays, or give the IV fluids or hospital care a very sick or trembling dog needs, and the veterinarian won't direct home vomiting over video.

No prescription is promised; whether any medicine is right is the veterinarian's decision after the visit. In Florida, a prescription based only on a video visit is limited to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled solely for flea and tick control), and can't be renewed without an in-person exam; human-labeled drugs, controlled drugs, and compounded antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic drugs need an in-person exam first. Virginia allows the exam to be electronic, but federal rules still require an in-person exam before any vet prescribes a human or off-label drug. New York's rules for veterinary video care, including prescribing, are still unsettled, so a visit there may cover less. RexVet isn't a pharmacy: if the veterinarian prescribes and you ask RexVet to send the prescription to an outside pharmacy, a pharmacy transfer fee applies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will one pecan hurt my dog?

Usually not: one fresh, shelled, plain pecan rarely causes more than a mild stomach upset in a healthy adult dog. Watch for 4 days and call a vet today at the first sign, such as one vomit. A pecan from the yard, or an old or stale one, counts as possibly moldy and means a clinic now, even with no signs.

Are pecan shells dangerous for dogs?

Yes: pecan and walnut shells can break into sharp pieces and lodge in a dog's throat or gut. A dog that swallowed whole in-shell nuts or a lot of shell pieces, especially a small dog, needs to be seen in person now, even with no signs; don't make it vomit at home. Gagging, struggling to breathe, any vomiting, refusing food, belly pain or straining with no stool means an emergency vet now.

Can dogs eat walnuts?

No: walnuts are not a good treat for dogs, because English walnuts are high in fat and moldy walnuts can carry tremor-causing toxins. After a few fresh, plain English walnuts, watch a bright adult dog for 4 days and call a vet today at the first sign; black walnuts, fallen hulls or any old walnut mean a clinic now.

What happens if a dog eats a black walnut?

Take your dog to a clinic now, even if it seems fine, because fallen black walnuts and hulls can carry tremor-causing mold toxins. The Merck Veterinary Manual says mold signs can start within a few hours, so don't wait for them and don't make your dog vomit at home. Trembling or a seizure means an emergency vet now.

Can dogs eat almonds or almond butter?

No: almonds aren't toxic, but whole almonds can block a small dog's throat or gut, and almond butter with xylitol means an emergency vet now. The FDA says xylitol may be listed as birch sugar or wood sugar and serious effects can be delayed 12 to 24 hours, so if you can't check the label, go to an emergency vet now and call a poison line on the way. After a few plain, shelled almonds or plain almond butter, watch a bright adult dog for 4 days and call a vet today at the first sign.

Should I make my dog throw up after eating nuts?

No: don't make your dog vomit after eating nuts unless a vet or poison line tells you to. Never try it after shells or moldy nuts, or in a dog that is trembling, wobbly or already vomiting. Never use salt, mustard, soap or your fingers, and never make a cat vomit at home.

Can an online vet help after my dog ate nuts in Florida, New York or Virginia?

Yes, if your bright dog ate a few plain nuts, vomited once at most and is in Florida, New York or Virginia during the visit. It should also be eating and keeping water down. On camera, a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state can review what was eaten, check gums, posture and energy, set up the 4-day watch and say whether your dog needs to be seen in person. Moldy or yard nuts, black walnuts, macadamias, chocolate, xylitol, raisins, trembling, choking, repeated vomiting, belly pain, swallowed shells or a puppy that vomited or won't eat need in-person or emergency care instead. No prescription is promised. In Florida, a video-only prescription is limited to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled solely for flea and tick control), with no controlled drugs and no renewal without an in-person exam. Virginia allows an electronic exam, but federal rules still require an in-person exam before any vet prescribes a human or off-label drug. New York's rules for veterinary video care, including prescribing, are still unsettled, so a visit there may cover less.