Oak Trees

Hello, I have an oak tree overhanging my garden and I am wanting to get a puppy, I’ve read that acorns and leaves from oaks are poisonous. Would it be recommended not to get a puppy for this reason? Do dogs often eat acorns or leaves? Thanks, Ellie

Hello - I agree that acorns are toxic to dogs and that they definitely shouldn't be eating them.  Certain chemicals within acorns can affect the liver and kidneys and digestive tract.   However, I have vetted very close to parks and woods which have acorns scattered over the ground, without having identified such a toxicity.  I wonder why that is?  First, most dogs don't identify acorns as a foodstuff.  Acorns do not taste particularly good.  So while they are plentiful on the ground, most dogs simply ignore them - particularly if food that is actually tasty is readily available in their lives.  However, there is always the exception that proves the rule and young dogs in particular are keen to try new things .  This is particularly true below the age of 8 weeks, where a pup would still be in the care of the Mum, who would stop them from making mistakes. At this stage, any new food they are given is accepted as 'normal'; after about 12 weeks, pups tend to be more suspicious of new possible foodstuffs.  It is obviously not enouraged to use them for 'fetch' like play.  Finally, oaks only produce acorns for a few months a year, so falling acorns are only a problem then.  Brushing acorns every morning or avoiding the yard may be an option at that time.  In conclusion then, there are many occasions when dogs and acorns appear to mix without incident.  Being aware of the threat, quantifying it and mitigating against it are important.  More common than acorn toxicity, I have seen acorns lodged in small intestines - in this regard, a single large acorn us potentially dangerous.  Toxicity would require many acorns, likely over time. Whether you avoid getting a dog completely, perhaps depends how careful you are willing to be.  I hope that something there helps.