Acorns contain a chemical called Tannins. Which can also be found in plants, foods and beverages and winemaking. When Tannins are consumed, they can cause upset tummies and, in rare cases, they can lead to liver and kidney failure and can be fatal.

Conkers, on the other hand, contain a chemical called Aesculin. Aesculin is found in certain plants, for example, Horse Chestnut, California Buckeye, Daphnin and the bark of an Ash tree. Conkers will cause serious blockages if swallowed.

Symptoms of your pet eating either an acorn or a conker:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Restlessness with discomfort and Abdominal Pain 
• Loss of Appetite
• Dehydration
• Collapse 
• Wobbliness and tremors 
• Death (Very Rare)

If your pet has eaten any acorn or conker, signs of illness usually develop within one to six hours. But may also appear up to two days following your pet consuming conkers. 

Contact your vet straight away if your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms. Your vet will be able to advise you on what steps to take. 

What treatment will your pet likely receive if they have eaten an acorn or a conker?

There will be treatment for acorns or conkers, depending on how serious the symptoms are. In serious cases of causing blackages, your pet may need to go into surgery and have X-rays. In less serious cases, your pet will be put on a drip to rehydrate themselves or be given medication to help with vomiting and diarrhoea.

How to stop your pet from eating acorns or conkers?

Dogs naturally love to forage when they are out exploring new areas. When walking your dog, it is best to keep a watchful eye on them when you are around acorns or conkers. For cats, try and remove them from your garden as much as you can.

There are some ways to prevent your dog from eating acorns or conkers:

• not encouraging your dog to catch or play with them
• Taking one of their toys on walks to play with as a distraction 
• teaching your dog commands such as ‘drop’ or ‘leave’ in the event of your dog picking them up 
• If you think it’s safe to do so and your is familiar with having things taken out of their mouths, you can try removing the acorn from your dog’s mouth if they’re already in the process of chewing ne, or offering a treat as a distraction