Is Pecans safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Caution |
| Dogs | Caution |
Severity: Moderate
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
Pecans have a Thanksgiving-table role, in pecan pie and candied pecans, and a Southern-yard role that has nothing to do with anyone's kitchen: pecans and black walnuts drop from mature trees and moulder on lawns across the South every fall, and it's the mold on those fallen, forgotten nuts, not the pecan itself, that's the sharper hazard. Texas A&M AgriLife's own pecan guidance tells consumers to throw out visibly moldy nuts so nothing, not even squirrels or raccoons, can get to them, because Aspergillus and Penicillium molds on nuts can produce mycotoxins that are harmful or even deadly to animals in large enough doses.
Facts and examples
- Nuts including almonds, pecans, and walnuts contain high amounts of oils and fats that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Nuts are sometimes infected by molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, which can produce mycotoxins harmful and possibly deadly to animals in large doses; consumers should throw away visibly moldy nuts so nothing, including wildlife, can eat them. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Mold growth (particularly Penicillium species such as P. crustosum) in foods including walnuts and other nuts, or in compost/food waste, can produce tremorgenic mycotoxins (e.g., penitrem A) causing vomiting, tremors, ataxia, and seizures in dogs. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
Verdict re-verified against aspca.org, 2026-07-26 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-26