Toxic Nuts to Dogs
Nuts that may be poison to your Dog!
In this Article We give a video on what not to feed your dog in general AND we discuss Almonds, Pistachios, Peanuts, Pecans and Macadamia Nuts. We tell you which are bad, which are OK, the cause, the symptoms and what to do and provide and emergency number to call if your dog is ill. You can click on this link to read our article Is Broccoli toxic to dogs which gives a list of other dog poisons and symptoms.
A Neighbors dog who came to visit while we were making a Snow Horse in the front yard, He was big and friendly and lovable!
Below is a video that covers foods that are toxic or otherwise bad for dogs. Note it is a little loud but worth watching
Nuts that CAN BE POISONOUS to Dogs – Almonds, Pecans and Macadamia Nuts
Must Know Summary : If your dog is sick -Vomiting, Diarrhea, other other symptoms on the list further down the page – call a vet. Even if your dog ate something that is not supposed to be toxic THEY MAY HAVE EATEN SOMETHING ELSE YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT!
Macadamia Nuts – TOXIC they can cause a temporary paralysis
Pecans and Almonds – TOXIC ONLY IF the nuts have a mold on them. It is this mold that makes the dogs sick
Pistachios – Not poisonous to dogs
Peanut – Not poisonous to dogs
Ten Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Dogs:
- Vomiting.
- Vomiting along with diarrhea.
- Your dog is abnormally lethargic,
- Your dog is whimpering and perhaps curling into a ball.
- Other unusual activity – Yes your dog may try to “tell” you he is sick: My dog had a serious stomach ailment and he came up to me while I was laying down and placed his belly right next to my Head! He never did that before. I noticed his stomach was tight and took him to the vet. It saved his life!
- A sick dog will also be off its food.
- Jaundiced eyes and pale gums.
- Suddenly hyperactive behavior.
- The dog may become disoriented
- Seizures , collapsing, Coma.
IF you think your dog has been poisoned: Call a vet OR Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The ASPCA Poison Control Centers Phone Number is telephone number is (888) 426-4435. There is a $65 consultation fee for this service. So if you can call a local vet it will be cheaper!
Here is a great guide to Dog Health. I know you love your dog so if you want to pro-actively keep them healthy and want to prevent costly Vet visits then this Book is worth checking out. You can just click on the Book to go to the Authors page and find out more about it!

Poisonous Macadamia Nuts and your dog – The Facts
- Macadamia Nuts Are poisonous to dogs and can require hospitalization.
- Chocolate makes it worse.
- Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters.
- Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting.
- Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.
Almonds and Pecans – The Facts
- Dogs that have eaten pecans and almonds would suffer from stomach upset.
- Moldy Almonds and Pecans can make a dog sick AND they should see a vet
- Tremorgenic mycotoxin is found in moldy almonds and pecans.
- Almonds and pecans become toxic to dogs because of this chemical that is produced by molds.
- Seizures and other neurologic symptoms result when dogs consume moldy almonds and pecans.
- Only humans can safely eat pistachio nuts because the aflatoxin it contains cannot be tolerated by animals.
- Pistachio ingestion would cause cancer and liver diseases in dogs
Pistachios and peanuts – The Facts
- Pistachios and peanuts are not considered to be toxic to Dogs.
- but all nuts contain fats, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea.
- Foods with high fat content can also produce an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.
- Many commercial nuts are heavily salted, which poses a risk for the development of sodium ion toxicosis in large quantities.
- Bottom line – they will get over it BUT DO NOT feed them to them in large quantities
Why are we even talking about nuts and your Pet?
Dogs have great appetites. Dogs rarely turn away from food. Dogs would wolf down the food not even bothering to chew and to savor the taste. Dog owners can be surprised how the pet can clean the doggie bowl in a matter of minutes. The indiscriminate eating habit often lands the pet in tight spots. Poisoning is one of the most common causes of dog deaths. Dog poisoning is usually caused by ingestion of toxic chemicals. Not many dog owners are aware that some common human foods can poison the dog too. Humans and dogs have different metabolism thus foods that are perfectly safe for humans to consume can have dangerous effects when consumed by dogs.
Dog owners must make sure that the pets are steered away from nuts as this people food have harmful effects to dogs. Because of its harmful effects, dog owners should not use nuts to train the pet to catch food with its mouth. Nuts are generally not tolerated by dogs though the harmful effects vary. While some nuts would cause the pet stomach upset, others would have more dangerous effects that would necessitate urgent medical attention.
Roasted, barbecued or sugared – nuts are favorite snacks. People that watch TV would usually snack on a bowl of nuts. Dogs are food motivated and the smell of the food being eaten by the master would be very interesting thus nuts must not be left lying around. Due to the high fat and phosphorous content, nuts are generally considered harmful to dogs. Nuts cannot be digested easily by dogs and as dogs don’t usually chew the food, nuts can create an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. Almonds, walnuts, pistachio, pecans and macadamia nuts must be kept away from the dog’s reach.
Dogs that have eaten pecans and almonds would suffer from stomach upset. Tremorgenic mycotoxin is found in moldy almonds and pecans. Almonds and pecans become toxic to dogs because of this chemical that is produced by molds. Seizures and other neurologic symptoms result when dogs consume moldy almonds and pecans. Only humans can safely eat pistachio nuts because the aflatoxin it contains cannot be tolerated by animals. Pistachio ingestion would cause cancer and liver diseases in dogs
An unknown toxin in macadamia nuts causes temporary paralysis in dogs. By eating as few as six macadamia nuts, the dog would develop tremors and swelling of limbs. The pain associated with the swelling of the limbs would make it hard for the dog to move. Manipulation of the hindquarters would make the pet yelp in pain. Dogs that have ingested macadamia nuts can develop bladder stones because of the nut’s high phosphorous content.
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