I loved that old commercial for almond joy candy bars. Sometimes you feel like a nut…. I had a recent scare that may change my relationship with nuts, at least one kind of nut, forever.

I went out one evening for a couple of hours. When I came home my dog Brody was happy to see me. We called it a night and in the morning I saw him sitting on the floor next to his crate and a large donation of recycled macadamia nuts next to him. He was quiet and still. I assumed he was waiting for my reaction to the mess but it was much more than that. He couldn’t move. His back legs were paralyzed and he was in pain. I went online to check out dogs reactions to macadamia nuts and found that it is toxic. Initial signs are vomiting, lethargy, pain and paralysis.

Brody’s newest skill is climbing onto the kitchen counters. He found a half empty bag of macadamia nuts, took them into his crate, and had a feast. Twelve hours later we were at the vets office. He spent the day getting intravenous fluids and pain medication, blood was drawn to check out his organs and he mostly slept. By the end of the day he was much better and the next day he was walking and climbing again.

Please add macadamia nuts to your list of foods that are toxic for dogs. Who knew? I don’t think I will be purchasing these particular nuts anytime soon. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t!

Ardis and Brody

I promise not to eat macadamia nuts.

I promise not to eat macadamia nuts.

I promise not to eat macadamia nuts.

I promise not to eat macadamia nuts.

“Am I done doing lines? My paw hurts!”