Can Dogs Eat Pistachios?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? “While pistachios are not poisonous to dogs, issues do occur with dogs consuming quantities of pistachios,” warns Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC Chief Veterinarian. To protect your dog’s health and overall well-being, it’s advisable to avoid giving them pistachios. Pistachios may irritate your dog’s stomach, and in large quantities, pistachios have the following health concerns.
Choking Hazards
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? If your dog tries to snack on pistachios or their shells, they could choke or have the pieces lodge in their throat. When enjoying nuts yourself, make sure to… properly dispose of the shells in a trashcan or compost bin that your dog can’t access.
Pistachios are delicious, nutritious, and filling. They are a great snack to keep us focused while we’re working or to give us energy when we’re hiking on a trail. But what about for our pups? Can dogs eat pistachios?
So, Why Shouldn’t Dogs Eat Pistachios?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Pistachio nuts hold important vitamins and minerals that are useful to dogs like vitamin B6, which helps in the absorption of protein and fat and protein synthesis, thiamine that supplies brain functions and normal growth to dogs, and manganese which facilitates extracting and digesting carbohydrates and protein.
They contain calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin K, phosphorus, folate, and are filled with dietary fiber, protein, and fat. This is why these green nuts are a powerhouse of nutrition, but what’s wrong with dogs having pistachios?
Fats
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? To begin with, pistachios, like all other nuts, are extremely high in fat and calories. Now, fat isn’t inherently a bad thing, but excess fat leads to obesity or pancreatitis in dogs. The symptoms of pancreatitis are:
- Dehydration
- Heart arrhythmias
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble breathing
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Swollen abdomen
- Severe abdominal pain
- Weakness
Are Pistachios Bad for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? When we’re talking about feeding nuts to our canine companions, we must do some research. Some of them are safe, some of them are poisonous, and actually, the majority of them—if fed whole—are a potential choking hazard or even intestinal blockage for your dog.
Pistachios will not poison your dog, so in the event your dog finds a few, he will be fine. Pistachios do have some good things for your dog in them, including:
- Protein
- Antioxidants
- Unsaturated fats
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin B6
- Thiamine
- Copper
- Manganese
The second pistachio issue is aflatoxin poisoning. The Federal Drug Administration defines aflatoxins as poisons from a mold which, under the right conditions, can develop on corn, grains, and other foods—pistachios included. These poisons can be unseen even when no mold is visible and can injure humans and canines.
Consuming excess pistachios with this mold would cause aflatoxin poisoning. Signs to be aware of are:
- Loss of appetite
- Slowness
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Diarrhea
If you experience any of these symptoms following your dog’s consumption of pistachios, contact your vet.
Benefits of Feeding Your Dogs Pistachios
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Pistachios contain a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can benefit both humans and dogs. They also provide important nutrients such as potassium, iron, and calcium. They are rich in vitamins K, E, and B6. They are high-fiber nuts rich in fatty acids and proteins. All of these might be good for your dog’s health, but the dangers of giving pistachios to your dog are more than the potential benefits.
6 Risks of Feeding Your Dog Pistachios
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Giving your dog a small number of shelled pistachios is generally harmless, but eating them in large amounts can be unsafe. Risks in providing pistachios to your dog include:
- High fat content. Pistachios, macadamia nuts, and cashews contain high fat content. A high fat content in your dog’s meals can lead to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis signs are stomachache, loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy. Too much fat also causes obesity.
- High sodium level. Flavoured and salted pistachios contain a lot of flavourings and sodium. Overconsumption of salt in your dog’s meal can lead to depression, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Overconsumption of it to stimulate urination can lead to excessive urination.
- High phosphorus level. High phosphorus intake in your dog’s meal leads to bladder stone formation.
- Choking hazard. The pistachio shells can obstruct your dog’s esophagus. When your dog has eaten pistachios and is having difficulty breathing or swallowing, they might need an X-ray to figure out the extent of their esophagus damage.
- Intestinal obstruction. Not just a choking hazard, pistachio shells could become trapped in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and lead to gastrointestinal upset. That might involve an X-ray and physical examination by a vet.
- Chemical toxins. Urushiol is a chemical that occurs in poison ivy and induces allergy in dogs in the mouth and face areas. Pistachios also carry aflatoxins, a chemical excreted by aspergillus mold—a fungus that occurs in most agricultural foods—that leads to pistachio poisoning.