- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Maybe. Dogs love peanut butter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that other nuts are safe or healthy for your pet. Cashews are not toxic for dogs, but it’s possible that your dog could be allergic to them—this is rare, but dangerous. Therefore, when you feed your dog cashews, be sure to look carefully for signs of an allergic reaction.
If your dog is not allergic, cashews can be an occasional snack. They’re high in protein and high in fat, which is great for young, active dogs but harder on the system of older or overweight dogs. If you do serve your dog cashews, make sure that they come from a cashews-only bag (to avoid contamination with other nuts), and that you give them the unsalted variety.
Cashew Allergy Symptoms to Watch Out For
- Swelling
- Hives
- Itching
Which nuts are bad for dogs?
- Macadamia nuts (toxic): Toxicity signs include vomiting, difficulty walking, depression, cold intolerance, and weakness. These signs aren’t fatal, and the ingestion of these nuts isn’t considered lethal.
- Walnuts (toxic): Walnuts are not safe for your dog especially when they become mouldy. Mouldy walnuts contain tremorgenic mycotoxins that can lead to seizures or neurological issues. Toxicity signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, fever, seizure or tremors.
- Hickory nuts (not toxic): They can cause stomach upset and intestinal obstruction. Mouldy hickory nuts also contain tremorgenic mycotoxins.
- Mouldy nuts of any kind can give your dog an upset stomach or cause an intestinal obstruction leading to more serious digestive issues.
Which nuts are safe for dogs?
The following nuts are safer for dogs, but all of them contain a lot of fat, which can cause weight gain, pancreatitis, and upset stomach in your pet in larger quantities.
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Peanuts
- Almonds
For More Information
We offer a collection of articles on foods that are safe, dangerous or even toxic for dogs to eat, including vegetables, dairy, bread, and junk food. There is a wide variety of “human food” that is healthy for your dog to eat, while others are considered toxic and dangerous. Check out which fruits and veg are good for your dog and which spices and seasonings are ok to give to your furry little buddy. We’ve created these articles to ensure you’re informed on feeding your dog a wonderfully varied diet while learning the limitations of a dog’s sensitive digestive system.