Veterinarians in England warned dog owners about the dangers of acorns in October 2025. A veterinary practice called Seadown Vets in Hampshire shared this warning on social media after several dogs needed surgery. Acorn got stuck inside the dogs’ intestines.
It clogged the tubes in the body that help digest food. One of these dogs was a four-month-old black Labrador puppy named Merlin. He had to have an operation to remove the acorn, but he recovered completely.
The vets said this year had more cases than usual, possibly because the acorns were bigger than normal. This problem is especially serious for puppies and dogs that like to eat things they find on the ground.
Dog owners may need to learn one or two things from this story, and thus we are talking about it here.
What Happened to the Dogs?
Three dogs needed surgery in just three weeks at Seadown Vets, England. This was a very high number of cases in a short time. Talking to BBC, Veterinary surgeon Catherine Boeree said she had never seen anything like it before.
She believed it happened because there were many acorns this year, and they were very large. She said the acorns were “whoppers,” which means they were unusually big.
Merlin the puppy that was mentioned before was one of these three dogs. His owner, Jemima Downing, is a veterinary nurse, which means she works with animals in a medical setting. She noticed that Merlin started vomiting and did not want to eat his food.
These were warning signs that something was wrong. She took him to the veterinary surgery right away. At first, the vets gave the dog medicine to stop the vomiting. However, the medicine did not help him feel better.
The vets then took x-rays that showed that something was blocking the dog’s small intestine. The vets knew he needed an operation to remove the blockage.
Downing said she felt very emotional about the dog needing surgery. She had only had the puppy for two months, and he was still very young. It was distressing for her to see him suffer, but she knew the operation was necessary to save his life.
The surgery was successful, and the dog made a full recovery. Now he wears a muzzle when he goes outside to stop him from eating things they should not eat.
Why Are Acorns Dangerous
Acorns can be dangerous to dogs in two different ways. First, acorns contain poisonous substance. This toxin can harm some animals like cattle and horses if they eat acorns.
However, this is not usually the main problem for dogs. Boeree explained that dogs would need to eat a large number of acorns for the toxin to make them seriously sick. Most dogs do not eat that many acorns because they taste bitter, which means they basically don’t like the unpleasant, sharp taste.
The second danger is more common for dogs. Some dogs swallow acorns whole without chewing them. When an acorn is swallowed whole, it can get stuck in the intestines and clog the long tubes in the body where food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed.
If something blocks these tubes, food cannot move through properly. This causes the dog to feel very sick.
Boeree said the main warning sign that an acorn might be stuck is if a dog vomits continuously for more than six to twelve hours. If this happens, the owner should take their dog to a veterinarian immediately. Without treatment, the blockage can be very serious and even life threatening.
The size of the dog also matters. Small and medium sized dogs are more likely to have problems with acorns getting stuck. Even large acorns can usually pass through a big dog’s body without causing a blockage.
Surprising Facts
Many dog owners may be surprised when they learn that acorns caused the problem. Downing said that usually when dogs need surgery to remove something, it is because they swallowed things like stones or broken toys.
These are called foreign bodies, which means objects that do not belong inside the body. She never thought that an acorn would cause such a serious problem.
After The dog’s surgery, Downing looked at her garden more carefully. She realized that the ground was covered with acorns. There were many more than in previous years. This helped her understand why the dog had swallowed one.
With so many acorns everywhere, it was easy for a curious puppy to pick one up and swallow it while playing outside. This experience taught Downing and other dog owners an important lesson.
Things that seem harmless, like acorns, can actually be dangerous to pets. Dog owners need to pay attention to what is on the ground in areas where their dogs play and walk. During autumn, when acorns fall from trees, owners should be especially careful if they have oak trees nearby.
How To Protect Dogs?
Boeree gave some advice to help dog owners protect their pets from acorns. She said it depends on the personality of each dog. Some dogs are careful about what they eat and will not pick up acorns.
Other dogs like to eat anything they find on the ground. Owners need to know which type of dog they have. For dogs that like to eat everything, owners need to watch them very closely during autumn when acorns are on the ground.
Boeree said it would be unrealistic to keep a dog on a leash for all the months when acorns are falling. Most dogs need to run around freely to be happy and healthy. However, if a dog is prone to eating silly things, the owner should consider using a muzzle during walks in areas with oak trees.
If a dog starts vomiting and continues for more than six to twelve hours, the owner should take the dog to a veterinarian right away. Other warning signs include not wanting to eat, seeming tired or uncomfortable, or behaving differently than normal.
If there are oak trees in the garden, owners can regularly sweep up or rake the acorns before their dogs go outside. This will not remove all acorns, but it can help reduce the risk.
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