Can Dogs Eat Pistachios?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Pistachios are healthy, tasty, and nutritious. They’re perfect as our snack that we can get through while working or provide us with energy when we’re hiking some trail. What if we have dogs in the house, though? Can dogs eat pistachios?
It will depend on the nut. There are some which are very safe if eaten in small quantities as an extra treat.
They can be toxic or could cause health harm. There are some other types of nuts that can be safe for the dogs but will turn poisonous when consumed in excess.
Healthy dog treats and snacks for dogs offer up to 10 percent of the daily caloric needs of the dog. So, if you are wondering, Can dogs eat nuts?, the answer is a simple yes but only some certain types of nuts in moderation.
Tasty treats to table fare in moderation, there are several healthy foods you can use in pet nutrition. Purina’s nutritionist, Karina Carbo-Johnson MS, offers a glimpse at the use of nuts as a garnish in a complete dog food recipe.
Are Dogs Permitted to Consume Nuts?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Dogs may have certain nuts as an occasional treat if offered in small, halved portions. However, because nuts are very high in fat, they can trigger pancreatitis—an inflammation of the pancreas—which often leads to painful symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, warns Carbo-Johnson.
Nuts also lead to weight gain because the fat and high calorie contents are excessive. Some of the nuts are toxic in dogs. Be cautious and do some research work before you feed nuts to your dog.
Pistachiões vs. Pistacios
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Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? When we’re thinking of giving our fur babies nuts as part of their nutrition, we must get informed. Some are safe, some are poisonous, and all but almost all the others—if swallowed whole—hold the risk of choking on or even the risk of an intestinal blockage in your dog.
Pistachios are not poisonous so if your dog was left with a few, he’d be fine. In fact, pistachios have some nutritional value that your dog would be benefiting from, such as:
- Unsaturated fats
- Vitamin B6
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Red flags go up when your dog eats huge quantities of pistachios throughout decades. Because pistachios, being any other nut, are so fatty and calorie-dense, eating more than their portion is not healthy for your dog’s overall health and can cause obesity, pancreatitis, diabetes, and/or heart disease. Pistachios also turn out to be usually salted, and salt is bad in the long term for your dog to eat.
One of the pistachio problems is aflatoxin poisoning. Aflatoxins are a family of poisons that are found in a mold and may be on corn, grains, and other foods—and pistachios, according to the Federal Drug Administration. The poisons may show up with no indication of mold growth and are poisonous to humans and dogs.
Consuming pistachios contaminated with this mold in large amounts may result in aflatoxin poisoning. Some of the following symptoms to watch for are:
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
If your dog shows any unusual symptoms after eating pistachios, contact your veterinarian right away.
Risk of Pancreatitis
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Because pistachios are extremely high in fat, they are not considered safe for dogs and should be avoided. “The nut is very high in fat and salt and has made some dogs’ stomachs a bit upset,” says Dr. Klein. Pancreatitis is triggered by excessive fat, high-salt snacking in dogs.
Watch for symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Pancreatitis is serious and progresses rapidly. In case the dog gets sick at heart or develops any sign of gastrointestinal upset following the consumption of pistachios, see a veterinarian immediately.
Toxic Constituents
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Pistachios are not toxic to dogs but contain pungent chemicals that will be toxic. Urushiol, the identical toxic chemical found in poison ivy, will make the dog suffer an allergic sickness. Aflatoxin is the natural toxin of the mold that infects the shells of the nuts. Consumed after eating aflatoxin, the latter will immobilize and disable the dogs, cause indigestion, and cause convulsions.
Nicely cooked processed pistachios are non-toxic and safe for dogs. Exceptions exist why, however, pistachio nuts your dog can’t eat. Like most tree nuts, pistachios do contain aflatoxin, a poison aspergillus mold makes. Aflatoxin, if ingested in ginormous amounts, will assassinate your dog’s digestive system. Second, pistachio nuts do contain urushiol—a chemical poison ivy possesses. Urushiol is a dog allergen. Pistachios are also packed with fat and salt, which is not healthy for your dog. Finally, the hard pistachio shell can be a choking hazard for your dog.
When Are Pistachios Good for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? According to Fadl, pistachios contain protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and beneficial fats that may support a dog’s skin and help reduce inflammation. While these nutrients suggest some health value, dogs should only have pistachios in very small quantities. The safe amount depends on the dog’s size — larger breeds may handle up to ten pistachios daily, while smaller dogs should be limited to just one.
Be sure to check with your vet before you provide your dog with pistachios. With all the risks involved, you might as well keep the pistachios for yourself and give your dog something else instead.
Can Dogs Eat Other Nuts?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Pistachios are not the only nut that you would do well to avoid with the question of whether dogs can eat nuts. Macadamia nuts are toxic for dogs, so avoid giving them or related nuts such as English walnuts, horse chestnuts, and ginkgo nuts. Pecans are poisonous to dogs, and our dogs need to stay away from walnuts, as well. Almonds, cashews, and peanuts can maybe be safer for your dog, but they’re not healthy for your dog, either. Maybe you should just keep your dog away from getting any nuts altogether.