Can dogs eat pistachios nuts?
Cracking some nuts open and wondering, “can dogs eat pistachios nuts?“. Well, you’re at the right stop. In this article, we will also entertain you with some facts like the risks if your dog has eaten many pistachios, what are the symptoms of pistachios poisoning, and can pistachio nuts benefit your dog.
Can dogs eat pistachios nuts?
Yes, dogs can eat pistachios nuts but keep the amount in moderation. You don’t want your dog to have too many of them because excess of everything is terrible. Right? Further, we will also discuss the negative impacts of eating excess amounts of pistachios.
Pistachios are not precisely toxic for those not. Their small amounts can cause harm to your pooch. But there are many reasons dog parents refrain from feeding their dogs pistachios.
What are the risks if your dog has eaten too many pistachios?
Here are some of the risk factors that will force you to have a second thought about giving your dog pistachio nuts:
High amounts of fat:
Pistachios are high in fat content. And talking about fats- how can eating fats benefit your dog? Pistachios contain 56 grams of fats in one cup. High intakes of pistachios daily will lead to fat deposition and ultimately obesity.
Obesity will cause many harmful diseases like diabetes and heart failure etc.
High phosphorus:
Pistachios have high phosphorus, and high phosphorus intake leads to bladder stones followed by a urinary obstruction in dogs.
High salt:
Processed pistachios are highly salted and have a lot of preservatives in them for flavor. Eating a lot of pistachios leads to high salt intake, high blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness.
It also leads to increased thirst and increased urination. A lot of salt can also cause sodium poisoning.
Aflatoxins:
If not appropriately preserved, Pistachios can have molds and fungus in them that are the source of aflatoxins in blood. Aflatoxins cause disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and can cause other health problems in your pooch.
Choking:
We don’t consume shells of pistachios for a reason. We can not chew them or digest them. Instead, they can cause choking and intestinal obstruction in your fluff. If you own a small dog breed, there are higher chances of esophageal obstruction. The shells can get stuck in your dog’s throat.
If the shells get stuck in the intestine, it can cause necrosis in that part of the intestine, and your pooch will need immediate surgical attention.
Other harmful compounds:
Pistachios contain urushiol- a poisonous agent that can irritate dogs.
Can pistachio nuts benefit your dog?
Following are the minerals and vitamins present in pistachios that can give some benefit to your dog:
- Potassium
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin B6
- High fiber
- Protein
- Fatty acids
All these ingredients have their benefits in their own unique way. If you are cracking some nuts and your pooch is looking at you with innocent eyes, wondering if you will share some of your pistachios with it, you can freely go ahead but make sure to feed in moderation.
What are the symptoms of pistachio poisoning in dogs?
Aspergillus mold is commonly found in all field crops, and eating a lot of pistachios will lead to aflatoxin poisoning in your dog. Aflatoxins are also known as cancerous molds. Following are the signs of aflatoxin poisoning in dogs:
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Liver failure
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Orange colored urine
Aflatoxins cause deaths in humans. It means that they bring bad news for dogs too. If you see some of these signs in your dog, it’s time to take your pooch to the veterinarian for better health care.
What are the safe nuts you can give to your dog?
Here below-mentioned nuts are safe for your dog, and you can give them to your dog as a treat:
- Roasted cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Pine nuts
- Peanuts- plain and unsalted
What nuts cause toxicity in dogs?
Following are some of the nuts that can cause toxicity in dogs:
- Black walnuts– cause toxicity and neurological disorders.
- Macadamia nuts– can cause paralysis, hyperthermia, vomiting, weakness, and tremors in dogs.
- Moldy walnuts- cause aflatoxicosis
- Pistachios– are high in fat and sodium and cause pancreatitis in dogs. They, too, cause aflatoxicosis.
- Almonds- are not toxic, but they can get stuck in your dog’s esophagus if it is a small breed and some dogs also find them hard to chew, which can lead to intestinal obstruction.
- Pecans- might possess toxins and some fungal species that can cause nerve damage and lead to neurological signs.
Conclusion:
Today we discussed, “can dogs eat pistachio nuts?”. In this article, we also entertained you with some facts like what are the risks if your dog has eaten many pistachios, what are the symptoms of pistachios poisoning and can pistachio nuts benefit your dog.
References:
https://wildearth.com/blogs/dog-knowledge/can-dogs-have-pistachios
https://www.preventivevet.com/pets/safe-and-unsafe-nuts-and-seeds-for-pets
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/can-dogs-eat-pistachios
