One of the most important responsibilities you have as a dog parent is to feed your pup the right food and avoid giving them anything that could potentially hurt their belly. While this seems like a simple enough task, it can sometimes prove more complicated than it initially seems.
That’s why Kabo is here to help make feeding your dog easier—not to mention that we’re all about making your dog happier and healthier, too. Try it, and you’ll see for yourself.
Sometimes, dogs get into food that is not healthy for them. In some cases, food not made for dogs could even land your pup in the emergency room due to toxicity concerns.
Feeding your dog food that will help keep them strong and well is critical, but it is just as crucial to avoid feeding your dog foods that are dangerous to them. You should also always keep a mindful eye on your pup to ensure that they don’t get a hold of food that is not meant for them.
Maybe you have considered giving your pup nuts to eat before, but you are unsure if they are safe for your pet. Or maybe your pet accidentally got into a package of pistachios, and you are panicked that they will become unwell as a result.
Whatever the case may be, it is always important to have a resource on hand that will help guide you about what nuts your dog could eat. That way, if your dog ever gets a dangerous nut, you can take them to the vet as soon as possible, increasing their chance of a full recovery.
Keep this guide handy just in case you ever have any questions or your dog accidentally gets a nut that might not be good for them. Continue reading to learn more.
Yes, there are certain nuts that dogs can safely consume, but there are also some that you should steer clear of. For now, let’s focus on the nuts that your dog can eat.
It is important to note that nuts are not necessarily the healthiest snack for your pet. A fruit or veggie that is safe, for instance, would be a better option. There are plenty of alternatives out there that can provide some nutritional benefit. Nuts are tiny, but they are remarkably high in both calories and fat, leading to pancreatic problems or even obesity. They also present a choking hazard, as they are tiny and round. Even if you only give your dog a few, that little bit goes a long way.
In addition, you should never feed your dog a large number of nuts. If your dog gets a whole container of nuts, even if it was a nontoxic nut, you should still bring them to the vet. Such a quantity could lead to pancreatic problems that need to get treated.
Keep it in moderation with nuts. Ideally, you will not feed them to your dog often—but if your dog accidentally gets a few, or you drop one, and they snatch it up, the following nuts will not seriously harm your animal.
Peanuts are, technically speaking, members of the legume family. These are safe for dogs in small quantities, so as long as you do not overfeed, you should be alright. Make sure the peanuts are unsalted and do not include seasoning.
Peanuts are one of the most common nuts that your dog will encounter, typically in the form of peanut butter. Peanut butter is safe for your dog to consume in moderation. However, you should never feed your pet peanut butter with xylitol because this added ingredient could be highly harmful.
While safe in small qualities, cashews have too much fat to make a regular thing of it. If your pet gets a couple by accident when you are having a snack yourself, there may be no need to panic—but more than a few is too many. Resist feeding your pet cashews regularly for the sake of their health.
If your pet accidentally gets a few of these nuts, they will likely be safe. However, if they ingest a large amount, take a trip to the vet to ensure pancreatitis and belly aches do not ensue. You should not readily feed any of these nuts to your dog as a treat or snack.
While peanuts and cashews are acceptable for dogs to have in small portions (though there are undoubtedly better treats you could give your pet), some nuts simply should not be fed to dogs, period.
In addition to this, some nuts could prove toxic and dangerous to your pet. Even if your dog gets just a few of these hazardous nuts, they could end up fatally ill. It is important that you do your diligence on nuts before giving your pet one—or even eating them in their presence because there is always a chance they will snag a stray one somehow.
Macadamia nuts are highly hazardous for dogs to ingest because they are toxic for dogs. If your dog is suffering from toxicity resulting from these nuts, you will likely notice difficulty walking, vomiting, depression, weakness, and an intolerance for cold temperatures. If your dog ate macadamia nuts, your best bet is to rush them to the vet as soon as you can.
While these are not necessarily toxic to dogs, they contain a tremendous amount of fat, potentially resulting in an upset belly. In a more severe situation, pancreatitis could occur, which is pricey to treat and hazardous to your pup’s health.
In addition to this, walnuts pose a potential choking hazard, and their large size means that chewing them thoroughly could be difficult. Consequently, dogs could suffer from intestinal obstruction. There is also the question of mold—a moldy walnut has a significant amount of tremorgenic mycotoxins, which is bad news for your dog.
Though hickory nuts are not toxic, they are still not a good choice for your pet to eat. If your dog does snag a hickory nut, you should consider seeing a vet. These nuts could lead to stomach discomfort or intestinal obstruction, which can be hazardous.
If your dog gets nuts that they are not supposed to, you might be curious what the telltale signs are that indicate whether or not pet parents should take immediate action. Of course, some of these symptoms are vague and can be confused with another ailment.
The symptoms your dog will experience if they have nut poisoning can depend on the type of nut, the quantity, and how old the nuts were. However, common symptoms usually start within 12 hours of consumption and can include:
If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, take them to the vet and provide as much information as possible so that the proper diagnosis can be made.
Taking care of your dog can be difficult—especially when your pup has a nose for getting into food that they are not supposed to! However, Kabo makes it so much easier to help your dog live a healthy, happy life.
From farm-to-dog is our motto here at Kabo, so you know what you’re feeding your dog is fresh and healthy. Plus, you can make plenty of recipes with Kabo that are so tasty, they’ll make your dog forget all about nuts.
