Are acorns bad for dogs?


There are many dangers on the street for our furry friends. Let’s see together if the acorns are bad for the dog or not.

In addition to the leaves, acorns, the fruit of the oaks, also fall in autumn. Acorns belong to the diet of various animals such as birds and small mammals such as squirrels.

Even wild boars, bears and deer can eat this dried fruit, but what happens if our four-legged friends ingest it? Are acorns bad for dogs? Let’s find out together in the following article.


Are acorns bad for dogs?

As nice as it may be to walk down the street with dog during the autumn days, there are many dangers that our furball can encounter during walks.

In fact, in autumn, in addition to the leaves, much loved by our furry friends, acorns can also fall from the tree, specifically the oak.

The latter, although they can be an excellent food for some animals, such as squirrels or pigeons, can be very dangerous for our dogs.

In fact, acorns are composed of a hard shell which, if eaten by dog, can cause them to suffocate or even damage their digestive system.

While the seed present inside it contains toxins, tannins, which can cause serious problems for our four-legged friend’s kidneys, liver and stomach.

These toxins are more present in green (unripe) acorns and less present in brown acorns, thus making them less poisonous. A large quantity of acorns ingested by dog can be fatal for the latter.

The dog ate an acorn: symptoms and what to do

Since acorns can be dangerous for our four-legged friends, it is very important to pay attention to some symptoms if dog ingests one.

The main symptoms that we can find in a dog that has eaten an acorn are:

  • Weakness
  • Vomiting in the dog
  • Inappetence in the dog
  • Diarrhea (with traces of blood in the stool)
  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent urination (with traces of blood in the urine)

In case dog exhibits such symptoms, you should contact your vet immediately. To prevent the dog from running into this autumn danger, it would be advisable to take the ball of hair for a walk away from the oaks and acorns.

It would also be advisable to keep them on a leash and distract dog with some games in order to prevent them from looking for objects that could harm them.

Finally, it is important to always keep the dog under control during walks, as there are many dangers that can arise and damage the health of our four-legged friend.


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