Can Dogs Eat Pistachios - Here is What Vets Might Tell You
03.05.2021.
Pistachios are one of America’s favorite nuts. We are absolutely nuts about these nuts, and we would eat them every chance we get. Since we are dog owners, we noticed our dogs looking at whatever we are eating. They look like we are breaking their hearts by not giving them a bite of our food. However, before we decided to give our dog a few pistachios, we needed to find the correct answer to the question, “Can dogs eat pistachios?” Here is what we found out.
Are pistachios safe for dogs?
The correct way to answer this question can be challenging. Pistachios will not poison your dog, and dogs that grab a couple of pistachios you dropped probably won’t suffer any severe consequences. In that terms - yes, pistachios are safe for dogs.
However, pistachios are not ideal for dogs. They can lead to many potential problems, and you should not give them regularly to your dog. Pistachios contain some nutrients that are not the best choice for your dog, and they have an extremely high-fat content. Dog’s bodies cannot process the fats in pistachios, and here are some of the things that can happen if you feed your dog pistachios;
Obesity
Obesity is a growing and worrying problem among American pets. About 60% of all dogs here are overweight. That can lead to obesity, and that can be a difficult and dangerous problem. Your dog will suffer, their activity will be significantly lowered, and they will develop skeletal and joint issues. Canine obesity should not be taken lightly. If you think your dog is overweight, you should talk to your vet and make all the necessary diet changes they recommend.
If you have a mixed dog or a crossbreed that doesn’t have a breed standard that describes how heavy your dog should be, check out this article that can help you determine whether your dog is overweight - How heavy should my dog be?
Gastrointestinal upset
Gastrointestinal issues are not uncommon in dogs, but they should be avoided. Dogs that have eaten something that doesn’t agree with their stomachs might experience diarrhea, vomiting, lowered energy, and decreased appetite. It might not be uncommon, but if you notice something, like pistachios, are causing this upset, you should avoid giving them to your dog, no matter how brokenhearted they look.
Want to know which other nuts dogs can eat? Check out this article - Which nuts can dogs eat?
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a severe health problem in dogs, and one of the potential causes is dietary indiscretion. Dogs that are eating things they weren’t supposed to eat can develop pancreatitis. Their pancreas will get inflamed, and it is a painful issue to deal with. Pistachios for dogs will fall under the category of dietary indiscretions. Their high fat content will cause all sorts of problems for your dog, and one of these issues can be pancreatitis. This is another valid reason not to feed your dog pistachios.
You must know how to spot signs of pancreatitis in dogs. The symptoms will be subtle initially, but over time, they will become more apparent, and you should spot them as soon as possible. Check out this article for more information - Pancreatitis in dogs.
Aflatoxin poisoning
The words “dogs” and “poisoning” should never come in the same sentence, and dog owners feel chills when they talk about dog poisoning. Unfortunately, feeding your dog pistachios can lead to aflatoxin poisoning. Aflatoxins are a byproduct of Aspergillus mold that can often be found on poorly processed pistachios. All animals are susceptible to it. There were many recalls in the dog food industry due to high aflatoxin content. This is another good reason not to feed your dog any pistachios.
Choking hazard
Your large dog will probably have no issues with swallowing a few pistachios; smaller breeds, like the Chihuahua or the Pomeranian, can choke on pistachios. If you don’t usually give your dog pistachios, but they managed to grab one that fell on the floor, you should keep an eye on signs of choking or blockage. Since pistachios are small, dogs might want to swallow them whole. That can cause some blockage, and if you notice that, call your vet and ask for advice.
What to do if your dog ate pistachios?
The first thing you should do is try to remain as calm as possible. Determine how much they actually ate. If you have a medium-large dog that ate one or two pistachios, they will likely be perfectly fine. The problems can arise if your dog got into a bag of pistachios while you didn’t see them and ate the whole thing.
If that happens, you should immediately call your vet. They will probably tell you to bring them in if you notice any symptoms of poisoning. If your dog seems fine, you should make sure they have enough water (since pistachios are very salty). Make sure you keep an eye on your dog and watch for signs of health problems. Some of those problems might be;
In conclusion
Before we decided to share some pistachios with our dog, we decided to read more about this topic. As soon as we found out all the vital information, we decided not to give our dog any pistachios. That is the advice we would give you - Do not feed your dog pistachios. There are far too many risks, and there are no benefits your dog will get from eating pistachios. There are better options, and you can read more about them here - Healthy fruits dogs can eat.
World Dog Finder team
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