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10.3: Acorns & Conkers

Updated: Feb 8

Acorns

⁉️ Acorns contain tannins which can cause upset tummies and, though rare, can lead to kidney failure


⚠️ Dogs who have eaten acorns may experience:

  • vomiting

  • collapsing

  • diarrhoea

  • abdominal pain

  • dehydration

  • toxic shock

⚠️ Depending on the severity, your dog may need to be rehydrated and given medications to manage their symptoms.


⚠️ In the case of an acorn causing a blockage, surgery will be needed.


⚠️ If your dog has eaten these, contact you vet or emergency vet for help and advice.

A good vet will only ask to see you if they feel it really is needed.


⚠️ Provide plenty of fresh clean drinking water and if necessary encourage drinking by hand feeding.


Conkers

⁉️ Conker season can be a great family fun time however it is important to not that they are not as fun for our dogs.


⚠️ Dogs can become very unwell if they ingest conkers. They can start vomiting, have diarrhoea, and display abdominal pain and look really uncomfortable.


⚠️ In severe cases, the dog may become dehydrated and go into shock. Unfortunately, if not treated quickly enough, death is also sadly not out of the question.


⚠️ Conkers taste quite bitter, so it’s unlikely that most dogs will eat enough to make them very ill. Eating small amounts may give your dog an upset stomach, but larger amounts could make your dog quite unwell. Very serious effects can occur, but they are rare.


⚠️ Blockages: Although the nut is smooth and shiny, once it has left the green spiky shell, conkers can still cause life-threatening blockages. If swallowed, they can get lodged in the stomach or intestines (gut), requiring emergency surgical removal to clear the obstruction.


⚠️ Poisoning: Conkers contain a chemical called aesculin, which can be toxic to dogs if eaten


Symptoms:

  • Being sick – may contain blood

  • An upset stomach

  • Dribbling

  • Stomach pain

  • Being thirsty

  • Not wanting to eat their food

  • Being restless

  • Not walking in a straight line

  • Shaking or tremors

  • Not being able to move

⚠️ Vets straight away for treatment



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