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My 12 kg collie swallowed a mouthful of walnut stuffing from my Thanksgiving dinner plate — what should I watch for tonight?

Dogs · Food safety

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

Short answer

Watch for wobbliness, tremors, and vomiting throughout the night. Moldy walnuts carry tremorgenic toxins that can trigger seizures even in a 12 kg dog, and stuffing often hides broken shell fragments that can splinter and block the gut. Keep her on a hard floor near the bathroom so you can see her stool and any vomiting clearly. Do not give food or water for now — if she starts shaking or cannot stand, get to an emergency vet immediately. Bring the recipe card or packaging so the vet knows what else might be in that stuffing.

Walnuts — Food safety facts

Do not feed · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Risk of mould tremorgenic toxins and blockage; the shell can splinter. Avoid entirely.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Walnuts should not be given to dogs at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.

Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.

Why these cautions matter

Mouldy food can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins, which produce uncontrollable tremors and seizures rather than a simple stomach upset.

Walnuts has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

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

Open the full food page: Walnuts food facts →