Can Dogs Eat Almonds? Are Almonds Bad for a Dog
If you eat anything in front of your dog, they are more than likely going to want to eat it too. In fact, chances are that they’ll think it is just as delicious as a perfectly cooked New York strip steak, even if it is really just some lettuce or even a handful of simple almonds. While your pup may find it a delicious snack, in reality, your dog isn’t able to actually eat everything that you eat. This is especially true when it comes to nuts, as there are some kinds that can be extremely toxic to them if eaten.
Studies have shown that some of the nuts that are actually toxic to dogs include all the nuts from the walnut family, as well as pecans. The most commonly toxic types of nuts are going to be macadamia nuts, which have been known to cause tremors, an inability to walk, vomiting, and even an increase in your dog’s body temperature as well. This just begs the question, are almonds bad for dogs?
To keep it short, almonds are a definite no-no when it comes to your dog and their diet. It is true that almonds are not technically toxic to your dog, but they do have the potential to cause potential health problems and you should definitely keep them away from your dog.
Are Almonds Safe for Dogs to Eat?
In a word, no. Some of the hazards that are associated with almonds and dogs can be found right below:
- Cause an Obstruction – It’s no big secret that dogs simply do not chew their food like humans do. This means that they will more than likely swallow the almonds they eat whole. This is bad as it can lead to some potential obstructions within their stomach, esophagus, or even their windpipe, all of which are potentially life-threatening situations. The chances of this happening are even greater if your dog is a smaller breed.
- Severe Gastro-Intestinal Upsetting – Almonds are considered a super-food for humans as they contain all different types of the healthy fats we need to survive. However, when it comes to your dog, it is the almonds higher fat content that can cause flair-ups of their pancreatitis. If this is the case, some of the signs and symptoms you should look for include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and a loss of appetite. While pancreatitis can cause your dog some simple indigestion, it can also become much more severe and even transform into a fatal disorder. If you suspect that your dog does have pancreatitis, be sure to get them to your veterinarian so they can be properly diagnosed and treated to prevent any further symptoms.
- Water Retention – Almonds, just like many of the other packaged nuts available at the grocery store, are typically heavily salted. This extra intake of salt is able to potentially cause your dog to increase the amount of water they retain, which can become potentially fatal if your dog already has any type of heart disease.
While dogs typically do enjoy eating almonds as they are normally flavored, it is up to you to prevent them from doing so and keeping them healthy in that regard.
What if Your Dog Eats Almonds?
While the size of your dog will cause them to react differently even if the exact same proportion of almonds is eaten, the best thing you can do is to simply keep an eye on them and watch for any of the signs and symptoms that have been listed above. If they do consume some almonds and don’t have any signs signifying that they are chocking or that there is any type of obstruction, there is probably nothing for you to worry about.
However, if you find that you dog ate the giant 3-pound bag of almonds that was accidently left next to your favorite chair, the best thing you can do for your pup is to try and induce vomiting. This can be extremely effective if you catch them within about 30 minutes of eating all the almonds. To do this, you can use hydrogen peroxide if under the guidance of your veterinarian, or even with assistance from the poison control center. If you have no idea when your dog ate the almonds or you simply cannot get your dog to vomit, the only other thing to do is keep a watchful eye on them and monitor for any signs or symptoms of illness. If they do become ill, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately and get them seen as soon as possible.
If your dog doesn’t show any signs of gagging, vomiting, choking, bloating, or any type of discomfort and you feel that only your dog ate a few almonds, chances are that they will be ok. If this is the case, you should just keep them at home and monitor them for any signs or symptoms of illness.
Just be sure that you have your veterinarian’s phone number handy in case things do take a turn for the worse. And if you really wanted to cover your basis, you can even call your veterinarian and let them know about the situation, as well as get some advice from them on things to look for and what the best thing to do moving forward would be. This way, if there is a turn for the worse, your veterinarian is already familiar with the situation and will be able to jump into action and help your dog that much faster.
At the end of the day, be sure that you remember that while almonds are great for humans, dogs actually do not provide any nutritional benefit form eating almonds, and almonds can actually cause serious harm to your dog. There are many other healthy choices that you can select for a treat for your dog. So no matter if they beg, ask, or even go nuts over almonds, always remember that they are not a good food to feed your dog, no matter what the circumstances may be.
