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Are Brazil nuts more dangerous for my 20 kg dog than macadamia nuts would be, or are they similarly risky?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Both are risky but in different ways. Macadamia nuts are well known to cause weakness and vomiting in dogs, while Brazil nuts carry a very different threat — they are extremely high in fat and selenium, and even a few can cause selenium toxicity in a 20 kg dog. Neither nut is safe to feed intentionally, but if your dog eats Brazil nuts the concern is more about pancreatitis from the fat and potential selenium overload. Keep both types well out of reach and call your vet if ingestion occurs.

Brazil nuts — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Extremely high in fat and selenium — a few nuts can cause selenium toxicity. Avoid.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Brazil nuts is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Why these cautions matter

Rich, fatty food is the classic trigger for pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that usually needs veterinary treatment rather than rest alone.

Brazil nuts can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Brazil nuts food facts page.

Open the full food page: Brazil nuts food facts →