They’re small, tasty and nutritious: nuts are considered a true superfood in the human diet! But do they make sense in a dog’s diet too? Which nuts are healthy for dogs, and which are actually toxic? In the following article, you’ll find all the information you need on the question: “Can dogs eat nuts?”
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When feeding nuts to your dog, there are a few important points you should bear in mind.
Whether for baking, in smoothies or as a salad topping, nuts are incredibly versatile in the kitchen and, thanks to their nutrients, a very healthy addition to the human diet.
However, whether nuts are generally healthy for dogs depends on the type of nut and how much you feed your dog. While some nuts can be a healthy addition for dogs, others pose serious health risks.
Some types of nuts are unsuitable or even toxic for dogs. The reason lies not only in toxic ingredients, but also in substances found on the outside of the nut. If your dog eats too many of them, it can even be fatal.
That’s exactly why it’s important for you as a dog owner to know which nuts are safe for dogs.
In principle, dogs do not need to eat nuts when it comes to a balanced diet. However, many nuts contain a range of nutrients that can have a positive effect on your dog’s health.
Others, on the other hand, have the exact opposite effect and pose a significant health risk.
To give you an overview, below you’ll find some of the advantages and disadvantages of nuts:
Due to their ingredients, some types of nuts can have a positive impact on your dog’s health. However, this only applies if you feed nuts that are suitable for dogs and stick to the recommended maximum amount:
| Nutrient | Positive effect |
| Fibre | Fibre supports healthy digestion |
| L-arginine | This amino acid reduces the risk of thrombosis (blood clots) by helping to prevent deposits on blood vessel walls. |
| Plant protein | Protein is important for cell formation and muscle function. |
| Plant fats | Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent deposits in blood vessels and are thought to lower cholesterol levels. They also promote a glossy coat. |
| Vitamin E | As an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cells from harmful free radicals (highly reactive molecules). |
If your dog eats too many nuts or the wrong types, this can also involve certain risks:
Dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things. In addition to flea saliva allergy and similar conditions, nut allergies are also possible. Allergies to cashews and hazelnuts are particularly well known in dogs.
Reading tip: Find out more about the signs and treatment of allergies in dogs.
Nuts are high in calories. If your dog eats a lot of them, this can gradually lead to an energy surplus and unwanted excess weight (obesity).
Here you’ll find the average calories (kcal per 100 grams) of some types of nuts:
The high fat content of nuts is believed to promote inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in sensitive dogs.
Digestive problems can also result from eating nuts, which may present as vomiting or diarrhoea.
Some nuts contain high levels of phosphorus – especially cashews and Brazil nuts. However, as this substance can damage the kidneys, you should never feed these nuts to dogs with kidney disease.
Unfortunately, nuts are repeatedly found to be contaminated with toxic moulds. These include moulds that produce so-called aflatoxins. If your dog ingests them, it can suffer a life-threatening poisoning.
It can be particularly dangerous if you give your dog nuts that are seasoned. This includes, for example, nuts coated with cocoa, garlic or salt.
While cocoa and garlic can cause life-threatening poisoning in dogs, a high salt intake can lead to raised blood pressure.
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Not all nuts are the same – below you’ll find an overview of which nuts dogs can eat and which they cannot:
The following nuts are considered non-toxic for dogs:
Note: Even though these nuts are not inherently toxic to dogs, they may pose other health risks (e.g. mould contamination) or trigger allergies.
The following nuts are toxic to dogs:
You’ll find detailed information on individual types of nuts in the overview below:
Peanuts are not suitable for dogs. They contain very high levels of plant protein and magnesium, the latter of which can cause cramps in large amounts.
Especially for dogs with heart or kidney disease, this can quickly become dangerous. In addition, some dogs develop a peanut allergy over the course of their lives.
Some dog owners occasionally use peanut butter, sometimes simply as a well-meant treat, sometimes to give tablets.
Even though many dogs love peanut butter, you should be cautious, just as with whole peanuts. Also bear in mind that peanut butter often contains additional ingredients that may be unsuitable for dogs, such as sugar or salt.
The artificial sweetener xylitol (birch sugar) is particularly harmful and life-threatening, as it can cause liver failure and low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in dogs.
Tip: A more suitable but still tasty alternative is special liver sausage for dogs or unseasoned cottage cheese.
Even though many dogs like and tolerate standard walnuts from the supermarket, it’s better not to give your dog walnuts.
On the one hand, walnuts may be contaminated with moulds that produce toxins harmful to your dog. On the other hand, there are also varieties (e.g. black walnuts) that are generally toxic to dogs and therefore an absolute no-go.
Cashews are generally not toxic for dogs. However, please note that this type of nut contains a lot of phosphorus and is not suitable for dogs with kidney disease.
Yes, dogs can generally eat hazelnuts. However, reports suggest that dogs can develop a hazelnut allergy. It’s therefore best to try this variety in very small amounts first.
If your dog shows signs of an allergy, you should stop feeding them immediately.
Almonds (with or without skin) are not toxic to dogs. However, due to their pointed shape and small size, they can in rare cases pose a choking risk – especially for small dogs and puppies. It’s therefore advisable not to give your dog almonds.
Caution is advised with bitter almonds. This special variety contains high levels of amygdalin, which is broken down during digestion into toxic hydrocyanic acid. Bitter almonds are therefore an absolute no-go for dogs.
No, dogs should not eat Brazil nuts. Brazil nuts contain high levels of phosphorus, a substance that can damage the kidneys. They are absolutely off-limits, especially for dogs with kidney disease.
Pistachios are not toxic to dogs, provided they are not contaminated with toxic moulds.
Due to their small size, dogs can also choke on pistachios. As a precaution, you should avoid giving pistachios, particularly to puppies.
Pecans contain a substance called juglone, which can cause digestive problems in dogs. It’s therefore advisable to avoid pecans in your dog’s diet to prevent health issues from developing in the first place.
Like black walnuts, macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs and therefore not suitable for them. This is due to the cyanoids and glycosides they contain. As few as four macadamia nuts are said to be enough to poison a medium-sized dog.
To find out which nutrients your dog needs and whether supplements, such as nuts, are appropriate for your dog, it’s best to consult your vet or a canine nutrition expert.
In general, you don’t need to worry about negative consequences if you remove nuts from your dog’s diet.
If you still want to supplement your dog’s diet with nuts, you should follow these guidelines:
Note: If your dog has an allergic reaction to nuts or shows other signs of illness, you should consult a vet. This is especially important in cases of poisoning – act quickly to prevent the worst from happening.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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