Dogs and Nuts
Are there any nuts that are toxic to your pet? What's the truth about dogs and peanut butter? Find out the answers to these question and more!
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CAN DOGS EAT PEANUTS?
Can dogs eat peanut butter? One of the questions we're asked most frequently, believe it or not, is if it is safe for dogs to eat peanut butter and peanuts. The answer is yes; generally speaking, it is safe for dogs to eat peanut butter, peanut products or peanuts themselves. However, just like humans, some dogs may experience an allergic reaction to peanuts. For those dogs, eating peanuts can be very dangerous, so proceed with caution.
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CAN DOGS EAT ALMONDS?
Some nuts are safer than others for your dogs to eat. If your dog gets into your almonds, there's no need to panic; your dog should be OK. The almonds aren't deadly. That said, almonds can be difficult for dogs to digest, and therefore may cause gastrointestinal distress, i.e., an upset tummy. So, it's not a good idea to intentionally feed almonds to your dog as a snack.
MORE: 10 'People Foods' Dogs Can Eat Too
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CAN DOGS EAT MACADAMIA NUTS?
Of all the nuts on this list, macadamia nuts represent the greatest threat to dogs. If consumed in even small amounts, these nuts can cause severe neurological symptoms, including weakness, vomiting, walking "drunk," tremoring, lameness (especially in the rear legs) or even a complete (but temporary) inability to walk. It is unknown exactly what toxin macadamia nuts contain that causes this reaction in dogs.
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CAN DOGS EAT PISTACHIOS?
Pistachios are generally safe for dogs, but be cautious about moldy nuts. These may contain aflatoxins, which can lead to a variety of health troubles for your dog, including liver failure. Always use caution, or just pick a better treat to give your pet.
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CAN DOGS EAT PECANS?
As with other tree nuts, moldy pecans may become contaminated with low levels of aflatoxins. This can be dangerous for dogs. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, orange-colored urine and jaundice, liver failure, blood-tinged vomit and bloody or blackened stools.
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CAN DOGS EAT WALNUTS?
VPI Pet Insurance says that walnut poisoning is one of the most common claims for toxic ingestion. The company's reports that the average cost to treat it is $315.74. Walnuts can cause upset tummies in dogs, or even bowel obstructions. Moldy walnuts are a particular hazard and especially prone to tremorgenic mycotoxins, which are toxic chemicals produced by fungi. Ingesting these toxins can cause seizures or other neurological symptoms in dogs.
MORE: 10 Surprising People Foods Dogs Can Eat
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CAN DOGS EAT CASHEWS?
Cashews may be OK to feed dogs occasionally and in moderation, but if you're erring on the side of caution, you might want to avoid these nuts altogether. Cashews are very high in fat, and it doesn't take too many before your dog will have eaten too many. Too much fat from cashews can lead not only to weight gain, but may cause pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas.
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CAN DOGS EAT BRAZIL NUTS?
Brazil nuts are among the fattiest of all nuts. They contain a particularly high amount of saturated fat compared to other nuts. Even eating a small of amount of these nuts can equal too much fat for your dog, which can cause gastrointestinal upset and/or other digestive difficulties. You may want to avoid feeding Brazil nuts to your dog altogether.
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CAN DOGS EAT BLACK WALNUTS?
Black walnuts contain a substance called juglone which, while toxic to some animals, is mostly non-toxic to dogs. Still, eating black walnuts is a bad idea for dogs, so don't offer them as a snack. They can still cause gastric intestinal upset or an intestinal obstruction if eaten, and are susceptible to tremorgenic mycotoxins.
MORE: Nuts That Are Unsafe for Dogs to Eat
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CAN DOGS EAT HICKORY NUTS?
Hickory nuts can cause severe gastronomical upset in dogs. They also contain juglone. Like with walnuts, be particularly wary of moldy hickory nuts that may have tremorgenic mycotoxins, which may cause seizures or other neurological symptoms if ingested.
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