Can Dogs Eat Almonds? What Are The Dangers
Have you noticed the excitement in your pup’s eyes when you are snacking on nuts? Are you curious whether you can reward your dog with some almonds?
The short answer to your question is – no, because almonds, like other nuts, can actually be toxic to canines.
All nuts from the walnut family, as well as pecans, are toxic to canines, and Macadamia nuts are the most dangerous ones. Even a few can cause tremors, vomiting, high fever, and weakness in the back legs leading to an inability to walk.
While almonds are not that poisonous to dogs, they can still cause adverse effects and lead to health problems.
In other words, you should steer away from feeding most kinds of nuts, including almonds, to your dog.
Read on about the potential hazards for dogs from eating almonds and how to act if your pup has accidentally swallowed a bunch of almonds.
The potential risks of feeding almonds to your dog
There are several reasons why almonds can be hazardous for dogs.
The first is that canines swallow the nuts whole instead of chewing them first. This can lead to choking or intestinal and bowel obstructions, especially when consumed in larger quantities or by smaller dogs.
Another danger of feeding your dog almonds is that they have a very high fat content, which can lead to pancreatitis in some canines. The symptoms of this condition are diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and a loss of appetite.
Related: Can Dogs Have Almond Butter?
A flare-up of pancreatitis can be only mild but, in some cases, can turn into a severe and even fatal illness in dogs.
Your veterinarian will perform the appropriate tests and examinations to diagnose the dog. If pancreatitis is confirmed, he will prescribe a treatment.
The third potential danger of dogs eating almonds is that the nuts sold in packages are usually very high in salt content, which can cause water retention. This is dangerous for dogs with heart conditions or those who need to be on a low sodium diet.
Keep in mind that dogs usually love almonds and most other nuts and will happily eat a whole bunch if given a chance. This goes especially for the flavored ones such as smoked, barbecue, salted, and other almonds.
So as a pet parent, it would help if you made sure that all nuts are stored and kept out of the dog’s reach.
Related: Can Dogs Have Almond Flour?
What to do if my dog has eaten almonds?
How your pup reacts to eating almonds depends on the quantity and type of nuts ingested as well as on the size and health of your dog.
A few almonds should not be worrisome if your dog is not showing any signs of choking or obstruction.
But if your dog got hold of a huge pack of almonds and ate them all, then you should induce vomiting as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes after the dog has gobbled them up.
You can induce vomiting in dogs using hydrogen peroxide but with the guidance of your vet or poison control.
If you are unsure what the dog has eaten and cannot induce vomiting, you should monitor your pup closely for any adverse reactions.
If the dog is not choking and doesn’t seem to have a blockage, and if it is not vomiting, bloating, gagging, or otherwise feeling discomfort, then it is probably safe to assume that it will be ok.
In case it shows any signs of illness, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Overall, it is never a good idea to give your dog almonds. They do not have any health benefits for canines and can be harmful and even dangerous for them.
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