10/15/2026
🍂 A FALL SAFETY REMINDER FOR DOG OWNERS
Did you know that oak trees contain compounds that can be toxic to dogs?
I've had dogs my entire life, and this is something I had never fully appreciated.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, oak contains naturally occurring tannins that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, can cause serious gastrointestinal and kidney damage. Liver damage is also possible.
Acorns and young oak leaves are recognized sources of concern. While the risks associated specifically with chewing seasoned oak firewood are less clearly documented, that doesn't mean logs are safe chew toys.
With fall here and families stacking firewood, cleaning up fallen branches, and spending more time outdoors, it's worth taking a few precautions.
🐾 Keep acorns and fallen oak debris out of areas where dogs play.
🐾 Store firewood where dogs cannot chew or swallow pieces.
🐾 Never encourage dogs to use logs or branches as chew toys.
🐾 Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control service if you suspect your dog has ingested potentially harmful oak material.
Sometimes the things we have around our homes every day are the things we never think to question.
Please share. You never know whose dog this information might help protect. ❤️
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual, Oak Toxicosis in Animals (June 2026).
