Are Dogs Allowed to Eat Nuts? A Nutritional Guide!

Safety Concerns

As the old saying goes, talking about toxicity without considering dosage is mere mischief. The same principle applies to nuts for dogs.

Occasionally giving a dog a single nut won't harm them, but feeding nuts to your pet regularly can lead to symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Why does this happen?

Most nuts are high in fat, and these small, highfat snacks can easily upset a dog's stomach, causing the aforementioned symptoms. If nuts are fed longterm, the most severe outcome could be pancreatitis.

Moreover, many packaged nuts today contain a host of additives, which are not beneficial and can be harmful to dogs. Salt is the most common additive.

Some might argue that if you give your dog unpackaged nuts, it's safe. Indeed, these are generally safer than their packaged counterparts, but be aware that they are also more prone to mold. Those who often eat walnuts are familiar with the occasional moldy kernel. Even a small amount of mold can affect a dog's nervous system, leading to tremors, vomiting, and potentially even death.

So, if your dog loves nuts and you occasionally want to indulge them, remember to ensure the nuts are not moldy and opt for loose, unpackaged nuts whenever possible.

Of course, for most pet owners, the safest approach is not to feed nuts at all.

Are there no nuts safe for dogs to eat?

Almonds

Like many nuts, almonds are high in fat. While a few almonds here and there are fine, feeding almonds regularly can have the same consequences as walnuts, leading to difficulty digesting the fat and potentially causing pancreatitis and other diseases.

Peanuts

Both raw and roasted peanuts can be given to dogs, but the quantity must be controlled.

Pistachios

As a highfat nut, pistachios share the same challenges in digestion with the nuts mentioned above, with no significant differences.

It's important to note that when feeding nuts to dogs, always remove the shells before giving them the kernel. Don't assume that dogs can crack open nuts themselves. Each year, a significant number of dogs die from choking on nut shells in the United States.

Cashews

Don't be misled by their size; cashews are also high in fat and should be given to dogs in moderation.

Hazelnuts

This nut, which belongs to the same family as walnuts but is a different genus, is one of the most popular nuts in our daily lives, especially during the New Year celebrations when it's often found in every household.

However, like walnuts, hazelnuts are high in fat and hard to digest. Overfeeding hazelnuts can cause stomach discomfort in dogs, which is one of the most common clinical cases.

Australian Nuts (Macadamia Nuts)

Also known as the macadamia nut, this is a particularly dangerous nut for dogs. To date, scientists have not identified the toxic reason for dogs consuming this nut, as symptoms of poisoning typically appear within 12 hours. It's crucial to keep this nut out of reach in your home.