Acorn warning
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:49 pm
Since it is about this time of year...
Warning! Acorns
This little seed of the mighty oak may hold potential dangers for your pet.
This time of year, our parks and yards are randomly strewn with acorns. The squirrels are busy gathering and hiding them away, the kids are fitting them into slingshots, and the dogs are idly chewing on them. Probably one of the most well-known and common of the North American seed nuts, the acorn also poses hidden dangers for our companion animals.
In the northern hemisphere there are approximately 500 different species of oak, varying from small shrub-like plants to large trees. Here in Texas alone, we have 39 species and many variations. Across the US, the oak enjoys wide distribution, and their habitat ranges from dry rocky slopes to wet bottomlands to heavy sands.
The leaves vary widely from species to species, however they are generally deciduous and stemmed. The fruit of the oak is one seeded, with the seed being encased in a shell forming a nut or acorn. The nut sits in a cup which may encase the whole seed, or may simply form the familiar cap. Because of the wide variation in appearance, you should consult a local botanical guide when unable to positively identify particular plants.
Oak toxicity is well known in the livestock industry, primarily for its effects on cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. In fact in the cattle industry, there is a common term for birth defects caused by the mother's ingestion of large quantities of oak. Offspring affected by "oak calf syndrome" are usually born with shortened limbs, abnormal hooves, and misshapen heads.
The mature leaves of the oak are not toxic, however the buds, flowers, young stems and acorns all contain hazardous levels of the primary toxins. The actual levels are dependent on the species of oak, the time of year, and the climatic conditions during the year in question.
The primary toxins found in the plant material are tannins and phenols. These compounds attack proteins they come in contact with possibly causing ulcers and bleeding of the mouth lining, the esophagus, and the intestines. This may be demonstrated by bloody or dark diarrhea. Additionally, the toxins are converted in the digestive tract where they may enter the blood stream causing hepatic (liver) and renal (kidney) damage and in extreme cases failure.
The symptoms are usually delayed, in some cases a week after ingestion. These signs may include depression, constipation or diarrhea (both accompanied by blood), abdominal pain, rough coat, a period of frequent urination followed by no urination.
The lethal dose for dogs is not known, for cattle it is approximately 6% of the animal's body weight. If you have a 40 pound dog, that's almost 2½ pounds of acorns. However the literature does not state how long a period of time this quantity could be consumed over and still be lethal. As a precaution, keep all areas available to your dog free of acorns and downed oak vegetation. Be especially vigilant after periods of extreme wind or strong storms when there may be more plant material on the ground.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten a large quantity of acorns, and it has been an hour or less since ingestion try to induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. Play it safe and follow up with a dose of charcoal (such as toxiban). In extreme cases, an emergency trip to the clinic may be warranted.
Warning! Acorns
This little seed of the mighty oak may hold potential dangers for your pet.
This time of year, our parks and yards are randomly strewn with acorns. The squirrels are busy gathering and hiding them away, the kids are fitting them into slingshots, and the dogs are idly chewing on them. Probably one of the most well-known and common of the North American seed nuts, the acorn also poses hidden dangers for our companion animals.
In the northern hemisphere there are approximately 500 different species of oak, varying from small shrub-like plants to large trees. Here in Texas alone, we have 39 species and many variations. Across the US, the oak enjoys wide distribution, and their habitat ranges from dry rocky slopes to wet bottomlands to heavy sands.
The leaves vary widely from species to species, however they are generally deciduous and stemmed. The fruit of the oak is one seeded, with the seed being encased in a shell forming a nut or acorn. The nut sits in a cup which may encase the whole seed, or may simply form the familiar cap. Because of the wide variation in appearance, you should consult a local botanical guide when unable to positively identify particular plants.
Oak toxicity is well known in the livestock industry, primarily for its effects on cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. In fact in the cattle industry, there is a common term for birth defects caused by the mother's ingestion of large quantities of oak. Offspring affected by "oak calf syndrome" are usually born with shortened limbs, abnormal hooves, and misshapen heads.
The mature leaves of the oak are not toxic, however the buds, flowers, young stems and acorns all contain hazardous levels of the primary toxins. The actual levels are dependent on the species of oak, the time of year, and the climatic conditions during the year in question.
The primary toxins found in the plant material are tannins and phenols. These compounds attack proteins they come in contact with possibly causing ulcers and bleeding of the mouth lining, the esophagus, and the intestines. This may be demonstrated by bloody or dark diarrhea. Additionally, the toxins are converted in the digestive tract where they may enter the blood stream causing hepatic (liver) and renal (kidney) damage and in extreme cases failure.
The symptoms are usually delayed, in some cases a week after ingestion. These signs may include depression, constipation or diarrhea (both accompanied by blood), abdominal pain, rough coat, a period of frequent urination followed by no urination.
The lethal dose for dogs is not known, for cattle it is approximately 6% of the animal's body weight. If you have a 40 pound dog, that's almost 2½ pounds of acorns. However the literature does not state how long a period of time this quantity could be consumed over and still be lethal. As a precaution, keep all areas available to your dog free of acorns and downed oak vegetation. Be especially vigilant after periods of extreme wind or strong storms when there may be more plant material on the ground.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten a large quantity of acorns, and it has been an hour or less since ingestion try to induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. Play it safe and follow up with a dose of charcoal (such as toxiban). In extreme cases, an emergency trip to the clinic may be warranted.
