You just bought some pistachio nuts to eat in a convenience store while returning home. While eating, there is an urge to offer some to your canine, but you are left wondering if it’s a good idea to give some pistachios to your dog.
It is safe to give pistachio occasionally to your canine, but it is not the most suitable food. Your dog can easily obtain the nutrients it would get from pistachio from other food sources. The high-fat content in pistachios makes them unsafe for dogs to eat in large quantities.
One of the drawbacks of giving pistachios to your dog is that canines find it difficult to digest their shells. I encourage you to keep reading this article to know about the benefits of feeding pistachios to your dog in moderation.
Now, let’s examine if it’s even safe to give pistachios to your dog.
Will Pistachios Hurt My Dog?
Pistachio nuts will not directly hurt your dog in small quantities. The nuts found in pistachio even provide some useful nutrients for your four-legged furry friend.
The best way to feed pistachio to your dog is to make it unsalted, unshelled, and in small quantities. Pistachio should also not be your dog’s main diet.
Never attempt to feed pistachio shells to your dog. Canines find it difficult to digest pistachio shells. If your dog is obese, do not give it pistachio nuts.
Is Pistachio Toxic For My Dog?
Pistachio is not toxic to dogs. But it is strongly not recommended you feed pistachios to your dog. Pistachios, in large quantities, can cause belly pain for your canine.
If your canine eats a large number of pistachios at once, there is a high risk of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a serious condition that causes extreme belly pain.
Apart from the havoc pistachio nuts can render themselves, it is also common for the nuts to harbor Aspergillus mold. The substance elicited by this mold is toxic to your dog.
Can Pistachios Kill My Dog?
No, pistachios will not directly kill your dog, but they can cause life-threatening conditions such as bowel obstruction and pancreatitis in large amounts.
The high salt content found in pistachios is another reason for concern. If your canine has a heart condition, you should avoid giving your dog pistachios to your dog at any cost!
There is also a high risk of bladder stones if you feed pistachios to your dog in large amounts. This risk is due to the high phosphorus content in the nuts.
If you decide to give pistachios to your dog despite all the risks involved, do well to keep an eye on your pup to nip any problem in the bud as early as possible.
Which Nuts Are Poisonous To Dogs?
Examples of nuts that are poisonous to your dog include the following:
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Hazelnuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Walnuts
According to the American Kennel Club— dog owners should not give almonds as treats to their dogs. Almonds are known to be very difficult to digest for canines. Ironically, a lot of dogs love the taste of it.
If you truly care for your pup, look for other healthy treats, aside from almonds. Like almonds, macadamia nuts are completely toxic for your canine. If your dog consumes these nuts, it causes muscle weakness and tremors.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Pistachio?
What happens to your dog depends on the quantity of pistachio consumed. Abdominal pain will occur if your pup eats a large number of pistachio nuts.
Asides from abdominal pain, there are some other symptoms to look out for if your dog consumes a lot of pistachio nuts.
If you choose to go overboard with pistachio nuts, it will likely make your dog pretty sick. Moderation is key!
Symptoms Of Pistachio Poisoning In Dogs
If your pup accidentally eats a large portion of pistachio nuts, there are symptoms you should look out for.
Some of the symptoms of pistachio poisoning include the following:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Orange colored urine
- Lethargy
- Jaundice
- Liver failure
All the above symptoms would typically not happen at the same time. One of the symptoms you will first notice is loss of appetite followed by vomiting.
Pistachio nuts have also been discovered to sometimes contain urushiol. Urushiol causes allergic reactions in canines and some of the symptoms listed above.
Are Pistachio Shells Digestible?
No. Pistachio shells are hard and indigestible by dogs. You should never consider feeding these shells to your pup. Pistachio shells cause real problems.
One of the major risks of pistachio shells is intestinal obstruction. If your dog is a small-sized dog, there is an increased risk of bowel obstruction, which is deemed to be a medical emergency.
Pistachio shells can also choke your dog if swallowed. One major sign you’ll see in your dog is difficulty in breathing.
Your dog can take pistachio nuts in moderation, but never the shells. The shells have high-fat content. Dogs mainly benefit from a low-fat diet.
Do I Need To Take My Dog To The Vet If It Ate Pistachios?
No, you don’t have to take your pup to a vet immediately after eating pistachios. Take your dog to a vet only after it starts showing symptoms.
If your canine is showing symptoms, you can wait for a day or two to see if there would be an improvement in symptoms.
If there are no significant improvements, do not delay going to a vet for help. One of the things a vet would normally do is to induce vomiting of the pistachio nuts.
The vet would also likely prescribe analgesics to treat the belly pain of your pup. Antibiotics will also be given to your dog if the infection is suspected.
Are Pistachios Healthy For Dogs?
Yes, but pistachios are not the healthiest food your dog can eat. The issue of pistachios for dogs has generated a bit of controversy.
Some vets feel dogs can eat it in moderation, while some are completely against it. Instead of putting your dog at risk, I would advise you to seek an alternative.
To make pistachios more healthy for your canine, do not season them with salt or any flavors. Adding salt to pistachios for your dog would impact its kidneys.
Now, let’s examine some of the healthy benefits of pistachios.
Blood Sugar
Pistachio is loaded with both essential nutrients and micronutrients. If you own a diabetic dog, studies have shown pistachios help regulate blood pressure.
Pistachio has a low glycemic index which makes it suitable for diabetic dogs in moderation.
A cup of dry roasted pistachios with salt has 526 mg of sodium. Giving your canine these nuts will cause its blood pressure to spike. Pistachio is healthy only in moderation.
Cardiovascular Disease
Pistachios are a great source of potassium. It is an important mineral that is involved in many functions as regards your dog’s body.
Potassium is quite vital to the normal electrical charges in the heart, nerves, and muscles of your pup.
Do I Need To Worry About Aspergillus Mold Found In Pistachio?
Yes. Pistachio shells can harbor a mold known as Aspergillus. This mold produces some kinds of toxins that are harmful to dogs.
If your dog eats infected pistachio shells, the mold enters the body and starts growing. It is common for mold to attack the respiratory system of dogs.
The Aspergillus mold mainly affects dogs with weakened immune systems. The symptoms you will notice if your dog comes down with this disease include the following:
- Incoordination
- Weakness
- Lameness
- Fever
- Weight loss
If you notice any of the symptoms in your dog after eating pistachio shells, do not delay in taking your dog to the emergency room.
Can I Give Pistachio To My Dog Every Day?
No. Feeding your dog with pistachios every day is not safe. If taken in excess, pistachios can cause serious harm to your dog.
Pistachios should only be fed occasionally to your pup. There are other awesome treats you can safely feed your dog with little or no minimal risk.
If your canine is a literal puppy, you should avoid pistachios altogether. A puppy will likely choke while eating pistachios.
