Almonds are a great snack for humans. But, can dogs eat almonds? The answer is no . While they aren’t as toxic as some nuts, it’s one of those foods canine companions can’t digest as easily as people.
Why Almonds Are Bad for Dogs?
While many dogs love the taste of almonds, consuming them can cause gastric intestinal distress. If your dog accidentally eats a few, be on the lookout for these symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- General discomfort
Almonds, like most nuts, are high in fat and can put your pup at risk of developing pancreatitis. It’s a serious condition that requires the attention of your veterinarian. This snack also poses another dangerous problem: obstruction. Almonds can block your dog’s esophagus, intestines, or windpipe, especially in small breeds. These obstructions can be fatal if not treated, and they occasionally require surgery. Flavored almonds come with unique risks. The spices and flavorings can irritate your dog’s stomach, and the salt in the seasoning can lead to water retention and salt toxicity if consumed in large quantities.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Almonds?
If your dog consumes one or two almonds, don’t panic. Instead, watch him carefully for signs of intestinal distress or obstruction. If your dog devours more than a few almonds, call your veterinarian or local emergency veterinarian for professional advice.
Dogs may find anything you’re eating just as desirable as a juicy New York strip steak — even if it’s a couple of lettuce leaves or a handful of nuts! But the reality is, our pups can’t take a bite out of everything we eat — and when it comes to nuts, some kinds can actually be toxic. “Nuts that are toxic to dogs and are a definite no include the walnut family and pecans,” explains Dr. Richard Goldstein, chief medical officer at the Animal Medical Center in NYC. “The most commonly toxic nuts are macadamia nuts, which can cause vomiting, tremors, increased body temperature, and inability to walk,” adds Dr. Maritza Perez, DVM, from the West Orange Animal Hospital in New Jersey.
The Potential Dangers of Almonds for Dogs:
Here are a few hazards that might come along with your pup chomping down on an almond.
Obstruction Hazard: Dogs don’t chew their food, like humans do, so if they swallow the almond whole, it could lead to potential life threatening obstructions of the esophagus, stomach, or even the windpipe if aspirated in small breed dogs, says Goldstein.
Potential Severe Gastro-intestinal Upset: “Almonds are high in fats and can cause a flair-up of pancreatitis in some dogs,” says Perez. Some signs of pancreatitis are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Pancreatitis can lead to simple indigestion or become severe and turn into a fatal disorder. When suspected, pancreatitis should be properly diagnosed and aggressively treated by your veterinarian.
Possible Water Retention: “Almonds, like many packaged nuts, are often heavily salted and this intake of salt can cause increased water retention in dogs, which is particularly dangerous in dogs with heart disease,” explains Perez. And Goldstein says that dogs actually do enjoy the taste of almonds — especially if they are flavored. “Jalapeno, barbecue, smoked, or salted are usually their favorite,” he says, “so they will eat them if given a chance. But it is the pet owner’s responsibility to make sure they don’t.”
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Almonds?
Pets of different sizes may react completely differently to identical quantities of nuts ingested. If your dog consumes a couple of almonds and isn’t presenting any signs of choking or an obstruction, there’s little cause for concern. However, “If you think you pet just ate that five-pound bag of almonds that you left by the sofa, the most effective treatment is to induce vomiting if the ingestion occurred within the previous 30 minutes,” says Perez. This can be done with hydrogen peroxide under the guidance of a veterinarian or with the assistance of poison control. If you are unsure of when the nuts were consumed, or you cannot induce vomiting, then the only option is to monitor your pet for signs of illness. If your pet becomes ill, call the veterinarian and make an appointment immediately. If there are no signs of choking, gagging, bloating, vomiting, or discomfort, and you believe your dog only ingested a few almonds, the dog is most likely okay and can be watched at home, says Dr. Richard Goldstein. “Dogs do not get the nutritional benefit from almonds that we do and they can cause harm. There are so many better healthy choices for a treat, even if they ask, beg, and go nuts over them.” With almond milk and almond butter rising in popularity as a human food wellness trend, it makes a dog parent wonder if almond products can be shared with their furry family members. Almond nuts and butters have become regulars in the health food aisle at grocery stores, but should you really consider letting your dog try some? Considering treating your dog to a new human food like an almond product poses a lot of questions. Are almonds bad for dogs? What are the health risks associated with feeding dogs almonds? How safe are they for your dog’s health? Though almonds are nontoxic in small quantities, there are more risks to feeding your dog almonds than there are benefits. Read on to learn all about the potential dangers almonds pose to your pet.
Why You Should Not Feed Your Dog Almonds?
Almonds have incredibly high fat content. The fat content from almonds and other nuts can wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive system and cause gastric intestinal distress. In addition to such stomach upset, another reason to not share almonds or almond products with your dog is that they can be high in salt and other seasonings — even highly dangerous artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Heavily salted foods like almonds come with side effects that affect water retention and increase the likelihood of kidney failure.
If you suspect your dog ingested a larger amount of almonds, however, talk to your veterinarian as soon as you can. Should your vet not be not immediately available, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). This is one of your best resources for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pecans and black walnuts are also no-nos. They contain a toxin called juglone, which causes more severe gastrointestinal distress and abdominal pain in dogs. So if you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, like a very large amount of the aforementioned fatty nuts,