Can dogs eat nuts?

Nuts are an important part of a human diet and are packed full of protein and healthy fats. So, it may be tempting to pass your dog a couple but, before you do, can dogs eat nuts? The answer depends on the type of nut, as some are highly toxic to dogs, but others can be fed occasionally.

Important – Macadamias are toxic 

No one knows why macadamias are dangerous to dogs. The truth is, only the tiniest amount can be fatal. Do not feed them macadamias or any food product that may even contain traces of macadamia. If your dog eats some by accident, take them straight to your vet. With immediate treatment, they are likely to make a full recovery.  

What about other types of nuts? 

All other types of nuts are okay for dogs in minimal quantities. This includes:

• Hazelnuts
• Almonds
• Brazil nuts
• Cashew
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Pistachios

However, since all nuts are naturally high in fat, they can cause your dog to put on weight. In turn, this can cause them to become obese and contribute to pancreatitis. On top of naturally occurring fat, be aware that many nuts are cooked in oil and salt, both of which shouldn’t be fed to dogs.

Nuts are hard and small, so they can also be a choking hazard, particularly for small dogs and puppies. Since dogs do not have the correct teeth to grind them up, it could cause your dog to choke if they swallow them whole.

What about peanuts?

Strictly speaking, peanuts are legumes! This means they are safe for dogs to eat, although this should only be in tiny quantities. Generally, dogs don’t get peanut allergies, but there have been a few cases of dogs having an upset stomach after eating them.

Thankfully, and only very occasionally, dogs have shown neurological issues after eating a large number of peanuts. However, this may be due to the salt the peanuts were covered in, rather than the peanuts themselves.

Beware of peanut butter

Watch out for peanut butter! Unless it is specifically made for dogs, it often contains a lot of oil, salt, and additives, which can prove toxic. One thing to be particularly aware of is xylitol. This is a sweetener that is often added to peanut butter, and while it is safe for humans, it is highly toxic to dogs. 

Dogs should avoid nuts!

So, overall, nuts and nut products are not a good choice for your dog, given the risks of feeding them the wrong variety, the wrong amount, or nuts cooked in oil or salt.

To make things simple, don’t feed any nuts to your dog, so there is no chance of any problem.