Pet ate something toxic? ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435
Tailwise

Nuts & seeds

Can dogs eat pecans?

No Toxic

Pecans can carry moulds that produce toxins causing tremors and seizures, and they contain juglone and a lot of fat. They are also a choking and blockage risk.

Why Mycotoxins from moulds (aflatoxin, tremorgenic toxins); juglone; fat

By Maya HartReviewed by Tailwise Editors ·

If your dog ate some

  1. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
  2. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
  3. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Tremors and seizures (mouldy nuts)
  • Pancreatitis
  • Blockage

Dogs and cats, side by side

Dogs Toxic

No. Pecans can carry moulds that produce toxins causing tremors and seizures, and they contain juglone and a lot of fat. They are also a choking and blockage risk.

Cats Toxic

No. The same risks apply to cats.

Can cats eat pecans?

The details

Pecans are related to walnuts and share many of the same risks. Fresh, shelled pecans in small amounts often cause no more than a stomach upset, but old or fallen nuts can carry toxin-producing moulds. Because you can’t easily tell which nuts are mouldy, we take the conservative view and recommend no pecans for pets.

Pecan pie adds butter and sugar, and pralines sometimes contain chocolate.

Safer treats your dog can have instead

Questions owners ask

Can dogs eat pecans?

No. Pecans can carry moulds that produce toxins causing tremors and seizures, and they contain juglone and a lot of fat. They are also a choking and blockage risk.

What makes pecans risky for dogs?

Mycotoxins from moulds (aflatoxin, tremorgenic toxins); juglone; fat.

What are the signs to watch for in dogs?

vomiting and diarrhoea, tremors and seizures (mouldy nuts), pancreatitis, blockage.

What should I do if my dog ate pecans?

Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.

Is pecans safe for cats too?

No. The same risks apply to cats.

Sources

  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: people foods to avoid
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: toxicology
  3. Pet Poison Helpline: poisons

Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts

More foods for dogs

One useful email a week

Seasonal safety alerts, one new guide and one quick answer. No spam, unsubscribe in a click.