Image sources:Pixabay.com
An analysis done on search engine revealed an interesting fact.
Most pet owners have been using the keywords "dogs and nuts" very
frequently. The information clearly goes on to prove that many
pet owners are curious to know whether it is safe god their dogs
to eat nuts or not. It is indeed a pertinent query as there are
some common varieties of nuts, which content can be toxic for
your dogs. Some of them include pea and, macadamia, pistachios,
walnuts and almonds. However, are old-shinned and good peanuts
risky for your dogs? Or can they eat these peanuts without you
getting tensed about the possible consequences?
Though safe, be cautious about chances of side effects of
peanuts
Here is good news for you if you are a dog owner. Peanuts are not
toxic for your dogs. But you need to understand that though it is
okay for the dogs to eat dog cookies and other eatables with
peanuts in them, the fat constituent is quite high. In fact it is
tougher for your dogs to digest fat. When your dog eats something
that has a high proportion of fat chances are that it can suffer
from conditions like vomiting, diarrhea or stomach upset.
Additionally, if dogs intake excessive fat with their meals, a
painful condition known as pancreatitis can develop. It is a
condition wherein the pancreas of your dogs becomes inflammatory
because of excessive intake of fat. Although there is a cure of
this condition, it can be quite painful for your dogs. Hence, you
should try your best to ensure that such a condition is
prevented.
It is recommended to make your dog stay away from salted
peanuts
In case you are planning to give a peanut treat to your dog such
as baking a homemade cookie with peanuts giving it peanut butter,
it is better to use low-salted peanuts of peanut with low sodium
content. That is because excessive salt can cause a condition
called sodium ion toxicosis.
Avoid using almond butter
Many dog owners tend to use almond butter since they think it as
a good substitution whereas in reality it is not so. Plus, your
dog should not be given made-for-people eatables, which have
peanuts in them such peanut butter cups as well as other types of
candy bars. You should remember that even chocolate is highly
toxic for your dogs since they could result in accidental
poisoning.
Ingredients should be checked thoroughly
The market is full of different types of nut butters. So it makes
sense to check their ingredients for the presence of xylitol,
which is a substitute for sugar. This ingredient is highly toxic
got your dogs, Hence you be careful in checking the ingredients
used in a nut butter. A clue for you could be the words "natural
sweetener", which indicates that there is a possibility of the
presence of xylitol in it.
Which nuts are safe to eat for dogs?
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Dietitian’s constantly propound the health benefits of nuts for
humans. However, it can be a rather dangerous food group for
dogs. Only certain nuts are considered safe for consumption by
dogs. Even these nuts need to be taken in moderate amounts so as
to not cause gastric upset. Some dogs are more tolerant to nuts
than others. Only a handful of nuts has the ability to induce
vomiting and diarrhea in some dogs. They can even trigger off
allergies in dogs who are prone to allergies.
Nuts that dogs can safely
consume
Some of the nuts that dogs can safely consume are –
-
Peanuts –
Shelled and unseasoned peanuts are great for dogs, roasted or
raw. Dogs don’t usually exhibit peanut allergies.
-
Hazelnuts –
Again, hazelnuts are not toxic for dogs. Roast them or serve
them raw. As long as the hazelnuts are not seasoned with syrups
or spices, they are safe to consume.
-
Cashews –
Cashews have to be administered carefully. Any more than one or
two may cause stomach problems in your dog.
What about nut butters?
Dogs can be fed nut butters. However, these too should only be
provided in moderate amounts. Make sure the nut butter is
sugar-free and low sodium. A good idea is to stick to natural and
organic nut butters, so you can limit your dog’s sugar and salt
intake.
Caution
Nuts have a high fat content. While this fat is considered good
fat, eating nuts in excess can cause high blood pressure,
pancreatitis and weight gain. The pancreas gets inflamed as a
result of pancreatitis and is unable to break fat down. If your
dog comes down with this condition, rush him/her to a vet and
don’t leave them to recover at home by themselves. They will need
pain medication to deal with the severe pain in their abdomen and
IV fluids which will flush the fat from your system. Infact, your
dog may also be required to go on a lifelong low-fat type in
order to fight a certain kind of pancreatitis.
Conclusion
Are nuts as healthy for dogs as they are for humans? No. Your
dogs get the nutrition they require from their dog food itself.
Nuts can definitely improve their coat and skin health but it
doesn’t have any other specific health benefits for your dog
apart from that. You can use peanut butter stuffed into a toy to
keep your dog engaged for hours. Refrain from giving your dogs
nut mixtures as there are nuts which can be fatal for them.
Macadamias, pistachios and walnuts can be toxic for dogs. So only
feed your dogs shelled almonds, cashews and peanuts in
moderation, if you must feed them nuts.
