Comments on: Dogs please note: some walnuts and fungi can be poisonous

By: susan

susan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:15:16 +0000

Hi,My dog spent the weekend at the veterinary emergency hospital because she was extremely dehydrated from vomiting, had very low plasma albumen, and had extremly elevated liver enzymes. These symptoms indicated mushroom poisoning. However, since my yard consists of elevated porches with no fungus and because she had not been walked for 4 days, I believe it is more likely that she was poisoned by aflatoxin from chewing on acorns. There was evidence that she had chewed on acorns and examination of lots of acorns has convinced me that they are all filled with mold. My internet research indicates that this mold is most likely always Aspergillus flavus and that it would only take one contaminated acorn to cause these symptoms in my 20 pound dog. Had I not rushed her to the emergency hospital, she would have died. Please post this comment to alert other Bay Area dog owners to this potential source of aflatoxin. Thanks,Sue

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:06:34 +0000

Natalie: Walnuts used in baking are not a problem.
I went to http://www.google.com and did a search for … camphor tree, toxic plant … and found that it is considered a toxic plant for pets. So you should make sure to put your dog’s water dish where the berries and leaves can’t fall into it. I don’t know what you can do about keeping stuff from falling into your little pond. You’ll have to figure that out. You should Google the above subject on your own and learn more about the camphor tree. How long has your dog been with you and drinking from the pond and water dish? Maybe it’s not a big problem? or maybe it is. It might be a good idea to have a chat with your veterinarian about it. Hope this helps. This is one file I found that lists camphor trees as toxic to pets: http://www.sniksnak.com/plants-toxic.html

By: Natalie Timm

Natalie Timm — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:09:59 +0000

Gary,
I’m wondering about walnuts in dog biscuits, for holiday baking. And, can you help me with this?—-what about the tree in our back yard, an aging camphor? The berries and leaves from this messy evergreen fall into water bowls and into a small 4 foot diameter pond. Our dog drinks from these sources–is it a contaminant/poison and would it be concentrated because there’s no circulation of water? I couldn’t find info on camphor tea. Thank you so much. We all worry about our environment for ourselves and our pets. Best regards, Natalie

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:12:44 +0000

Ron:
I don’t know about the packaged walnut meats. I’ve never come across that before. I wonder if the rotting Chinese chestnuts have developed some sort of fungus similar to the walnut husks? The fact that your dog had violent seizures might indicate that. I’d definitely clean up all those rotting chestnuts from your yard, or certainly keep your dog out of that area so this doesn’t happen again. It might not recover next time. /Gary

By: Ron Odom

Ron Odom — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:27:43 +0000

Can a dog get poisoned by packaged walnut meats. Mine (Border Collie) ate a bunch that were thrown out and the next day had violent siezures. He also loves to eat rotting/decayed Chinese Chestnuts which are all over my yard. Any advise/comments?

By: Courtney

Courtney — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:17:32 +0000

I just recently moved to San Jose. My lab started shaking and pretty much all the symptoms you listed above. I looked and saw that she had swallowed part of a walnut. It was green/moldy on the inside. I instantly took her to the vet. They made her throw up and are keeping her for observation. I hope she will be ok.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:43:25 +0000

Mark:
Dogs can be treated by pumping their stomachs if you get them in soon enough, and by treating the symptoms. A lot of it depends on how soon you can get the dog in for treatment. /Gary

By: mark

mark — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:09:59 +0000

is there a cure for this walnut poisining in dogs>>???