Can Dogs Eat Almonds?

Dogs love human food, and most humans have a hard time resisting the pleading face of a dog who wants a bite of what they're eating. On the other hand, some human foods are not only unhealthy for dogs, but a few can actually kill them. One food some people reward their dog with is nuts, especially almonds. Can dogs eat almonds safely?

Can Dogs Eat Almonds?

The humane society publishes a list of foods that are unsafe for dogs to eat, and the only two nuts on the list are walnuts and macadamia nuts. Feeding a dog as few as four macadamia nuts, depending upon the dog's size, can cause neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness, tremors and even paralysis. Walnuts can cause stomach upset in dogs and moldy ones that contain mycotoxins cause tremors in dogs. These two nuts are a definite "no-no" for all dogs.

Does this mean dog scan eat almonds since they're not on the list? Even though almonds aren't toxic to dogs, there are some good reasons to avoid giving your dog this nutty treat. Nuts of all types, including almonds, are on the list of foods that cause stomach upset in dogs.

Nuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are healthy for humans, but too much fat of any kind increases the risk of pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis can be fatal to your canine best friend, so it's best to stay from nuts and fatty human foods. Giving your dog food high in fats may earn you a few tail wags, but it could have bad long-term health consequences.

Another reason not to give your dog almonds or other nuts is they can get caught in their throat or intestines, causing an intestinal obstruction that could require surgery. Who wants to put a dog through that?

Can Dogs Eat Almonds: The Bottom Line?

Almonds aren't directly toxic to dogs like walnuts and macadamia nuts, but they do increase the risk of pancreatitis and intestinal obstruction. Almonds are a heart-healthy snack for humans, but if your dog loves them too, buy some organic peanut butter dog cookies to satisfy your dogs need for a treat. It's a safer option.

References:

Humane Society website.

Web MD. "Foods Your Dogs Should Never Eat"