What seeds are bad for dogs?

Can dogs eat nuts? They might seem like a perfectly sized, tasty treat option for your dog, but are nuts safe? Here’s some insight on whether you can give nuts to dogs and the risks that you should be aware of.

Can Dogs Have Nuts? Are They Safe?

Many of the nuts we have in our pantries are technically safe for dogs, but there are a few types of nuts that are toxic to dogs, and any nuts that have gotten moldy are toxic to dogs.

While small amounts of certain nuts and nut butters may be safely fed to your dog, it is important to be aware of all risk factors and potential toxicities. Although they are small in size, all nuts are high in fat and calories. Even when only offered as a small snack or treat, a little goes a long way.

For many dogs, it may be wise to steer clear of nuts and select a safer treat option that provides fewer calories, less fat and salt, and less concern for toxicity.

Here are some risks of giving nuts as treats.

They Are High in Calories and Can Cause Weight Gain

For dogs that are overweight or prone to weight gain, nuts should be avoided, as there are much lower calorie human foods that could be given as treats instead, like green beans or air-popped popcorn that’s free of butter and salt.

If you do give your dog small amounts of peanut butter to take pills, for instance, you should not allow the calories provided by all combined treats (including the peanut butter) to exceed 10% of their total daily calories. This helps prevent treats from unbalancing your dog’s diet.

This table provides the approximate caloric content (kcal/100g)* of various types of edible nuts without shell/hull:

*Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central database, standard references

Nuts Have High Fat Content That Can Cause Pancreatitis

Additionally, the high fat content of nuts can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset in dogs with sensitive stomachs or those prone to developing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas becomes irritated and inflamed, and it usually requires a visit to the veterinarian.

Symptoms can include decreased or no appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and sometimes diarrhea. Some breeds, like Schnauzers, are prone to this condition, and a high-fat diet in sensitive dogs can sometimes trigger the irritation.

Nuts Can Have Coatings That Are Dangerous for Dogs

Nuts can be coated with ingredients like cocoa or spices like garlic and pepper, and they also can have a high salt content. Those flavorful coatings can cause GI upset in dogs, and the high salt content is dangerous for a variety of reasons.

Some dogs can develop high blood pressure as a result of eating too much salt. For other dogs prone to developing urinary stones or that have underlying heart or kidney disease, high-salt foods can worsen these conditions.1

Which Types of Nuts Are Safe or Toxic for Dogs?

While some nuts are technically safe for dogs, there are still concerns you should keep in mind based on the type of nut.

Can Dogs Eat Peanuts or Peanut Butter?

Peanuts are generally safe for dogs to eat, outside of the considerations mentioned above.

Nut butters, like peanut butter or almond butter, are commonly offered as treats or used to administer medications. However, it is important to remember that like nuts, nut butters are also high in calories, fat, and salt, so they should be used sparingly.

Look at the ingredient list carefully, because some nut butters are made with the artificial sweetener xylitol. Xylitol is very dangerous for dogs, as it causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and in some animals, liver failure.2,3

Can Dogs Eat Walnuts?

Be sure you know what type of walnut you feed your dog. English walnuts are generally safe for dogs to eat, outside of the considerations mentioned above. But black walnuts (a type of walnut not commonly eaten by people) are toxic for dogs.

The symptoms of toxicity are vomiting, muscle weakness and tremors, a high temperature, and seizures.4-6  These types of nuts should never be fed to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Macadamia Nuts?

Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs can cause the same symptoms as black walnuts (vomiting, muscle weakness and tremors, a high temperature, and seizures.

Can Dogs Eat Pistachios?

Pistachios, with or without their shells (or hulls), can be choking hazards for dogs due to their size and shape.

Can Dogs Eat Cashews?

Cashews are generally safe for dogs to eat, outside of the considerations mentioned above.

Can Dogs Eat Pecans?

Pecans are generally safe for dogs to eat, outside of the considerations mentioned above.

Can Dogs Eat Almonds?

Almonds, with or without their shells (or hulls), can be choking hazards for dogs due to their size and shape.

References:

1. Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al. (Eds.) Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (5th edition). Topeka, Kansas. Mark Morris Institute. 2010.

2. Murphy LA, Coleman AE.  Xylitol toxicosis in dogs. Vet Clin Sm Anim Pract. 42(2): 307-312. 2012.

3. Bates N. Xylitol toxicosis dogs. UK-Vet Comp Anim. 24(4). 2019.

4. Hansen SR, Buck WB, Meerdink G, et al.  Weakness, tremors, and depression associated with macadamia nuts in dogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 42(1): 18-21. 2000.

5. Coleman AE, Merola V.  Clinical signs associated with ingestion of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) wood, nuts, and hulls in dogs: 93 cases (2001-2012). JAVMA. 248(2): 195-200. 2016.

6. Richard JL, Bacchetti P, Arp LH.  Moldy walnut toxicosis in a dog, caused by the mycotoxin, penitrem A. Mycopath.76(1): 55-58. 1981.

See Also

In the human diet, nuts and seeds are some of the all-time healthiest foods that we can eat, but some can be toxic for our four-legged friends. To avoid accidentally poisoning your dog, it is essential to learn which human foods they can eat and which they should avoid. 

Can Dogs Eat Nuts?

Dogs can safely eat many kinds of nuts, including peanuts, English walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds, but just because they’re not toxic to dogs doesn’t mean that they are entirely safe. Before you start adding nuts into your dog’s diet, there are a few risks to be aware of: 

Nuts Are Calorific 

Nuts are a high-energy snack, meaning that they are very calorically dense and should be fed in moderation. If your dog is overweight or prone to weight gain, it may be best to feed them lower-calorie snacks like raw fruit or vegetables. 

Nuts Are A Choking Hazard 

Many dogs have a tendency to gobble down their food without sufficiently chewing it first. This increases their risk of choking on certain foods. It’s often best to grind nuts up into nut butter, which can be licked and ingested more slowly to prevent choking. 

Nuts Should Not Be Fed To Dogs With Pancreatitis 

Pancreatitis causes your dog’s pancreas to become irritated and inflamed. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Dogs with pancreatitis must avoid high-fat foods, and therefore, nuts are off the menu. 

Nuts Can Be Coated In Toxic Ingredients 

Finally, although peanuts, almonds, pecans, and English walnuts are safe for dogs to eat, sometimes they are coated with ingredients that aren’t. If you are buying nuts for your dog, then always buy unseasoned nuts without the extra sugar, salt, or any form of chocolate coating. 

What Nuts Are Toxic To Dogs? 

Not all nuts are safe for dogs to eat. Black walnuts and macadamia nuts are the two main nuts that should always be avoided, and some vets also add pistachios to the list as they are a particularly high choking hazard. 

Can Dogs Eat Seeds?

The vast majority of the seeds we incorporate into our diet are also healthy for dogs to eat. This includes seeds like flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds, some of which are already added to many dog foods to help with coat conditioning. Although most seeds are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, there are a few to watch out for, including apple seeds, which contain cyanide, and poppy seeds, which are extremely toxic. As with nuts, it’s important to remember that seeds are high calorie and energy-dense foods and so should always be fed in moderation and avoided if your dog is overweight or has a condition such as pancreatitis. 

Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 22, 2022

Who can resist those big brown eyes and cute doggie grin? Can a little reward from the table or getting into Mom or Dad’s stuff really hurt your dog? Well, that depends on what it is and what's in it. If it contains the sweetener xylitol, it can cause your dog some real problems. In fact, there’s a lot of people food your dog should never eat. And, it’s not just because of weight. Some foods are downright dangerous for dogs -- and some of these common foods may surprise you.

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. It can cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and coordination problems. Eventually, your dog may have seizures. Liver failure can happen within just a few days.

Is a treat from the table OK for your dog? That depends on what it is. Avocados, for example, have something called persin. It’s fine for people who aren't allergic to it. But too much might cause vomiting or diarrhea in dogs. If you grow avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as the fruit. Also, the avocado seed can become stuck in the intestines or stomach, and obstruction could be fatal.

Alcohol has the same effect on a dog’s liver and brain that it has on people. But it takes a lot less to hurt your dog. Just a little beer, liquor, wine, or food with alcohol can be bad. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma, even death. And the smaller your dog, the worse it can be.

Keep onions and garlic -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- away from your dog. They can kill their red blood cells, causing anemia. That's even the onion powder in some baby food. Eating a lot just once can cause poisoning. Look for signs like weakness, vomiting, and breathing problems.

Give your dog toys if you want them to be perky. Caffeine can be fatal.  Watch out for coffee and tea, even the beans and the grounds. Keep your dog away from cocoa, chocolate, colas, and energy drinks. Caffeine is also in some cold medicines and pain killers. Think your dog had caffeine? Get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

There are better treats to give your dog.  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog sick. Vomiting over and over is an early sign. Within a day, your dog will get sluggish and depressed.

On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream with your dog. Instead, give them some cold water. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems for your pup. They can also trigger food allergies, which can cause them to itch.

Keep your dog away from macadamia nuts and foods that have macadamia nuts in them. Just six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog sick. Look for symptoms like muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in their back legs. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, maybe even leading to death.

Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The problem in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous types  are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death.

Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, even though it seems natural to give a dog a bone, they can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and block or cause cuts in your dog's digestive system.

The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits. Seeds from persimmons can cause problems in a dog's small intestine. They can also block their intestines. That can also happen if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Peach and plum pits also have cyanide, which is poisonous to people and dogs. People know not to eat them. Dogs don't.

Some people feed their dogs a "raw diet" that includes uncooked eggs. But the major veterinary medical associations don't think that's a good idea. There's the chance of food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Talk to your vet if you have questions.

Like raw eggs, raw meat and fish can have bacteria that causes food poisoning. Some fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can also have a parasite that causes "fish disease" or "salmon poisoning disease." It's treatable, but get help right away. The first signs are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. Fully cook the fish to kill the parasite.

It’s not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can make your dog seriously thirsty. That means a lot of trips to the fire hydrant and it could  lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.

Too much sugar can do the same thing to dogs that it does to people. It can make your dog overweight and cause problems with their teeth. It can even lead to diabetes.

Before it’s baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that’s exactly what it would do in your dog’s stomach if they ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch your dog’s abdomen and cause a lot of pain. Also, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it makes alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Dogs shouldn't take people medicine. It can make them very sick. Just as you do for your kids, keep all medicines out of your dog’s reach. And, never give your dog any over-the-counter medicine unless your vet tells you to. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.

Many other things often found on kitchen shelves can hurt your dog. Large amounts of baking powder or baking soda are both highly toxic. So are large amounts of nutmeg and other spices. Keep food high enough to be out of your dog’s reach and keep pantry doors closed.

No matter how careful you are, your dog might find and swallow something they shouldn't. Keep the number of your local vet, the closest emergency clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center -- (888) 426-4435 -- where you know you can find it. And, if you think your dog has eaten something  toxic, call for emergency help right away.

You can make sure your dog has a healthy, well-balanced diet by asking your vet to suggest a quality dog food. But that doesn't mean you can't sometimes give your dog people food as a special treat. Only give them a little. Be sure the  foods are cooked, pure, and not fatty or heavily seasoned. Here are some ideas.

Most dogs are fine eating lean cuts of meat that have been cooked well. Take off all visible fat -- including the skin on poultry. Be sure that there are no bones in the meat before you give it to your dog.

Slices of apples, oranges, bananas, and watermelon make tasty treats for your dog. Take out any seeds first. Seeds, stems, and leaves can cause serious problems.

Your dog can have a healthy veggie snack of carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices, or zucchini slices. Even a plain baked potato is OK. Don't let your dog eat any raw potatoes or any potato plants from your pantry or garden.

Dogs can eat plain white rice or pasta after it’s cooked. And, a serving of plain white rice with some boiled chicken can sometimes make your dog feel better when they are having stomach problems.