Can dogs eat pistachios nuts? Even though pistachios are best when served with almonds, Pistachios are not best for dogs because they contain a high level of fats. Pistachios have many health benefits, but its high levels of fat content can make dogs sick. Based on ASPCA, nuts such as macadamia, pistachios, and pecans contain enough fats to cause diarrhea or vomiting in dogs.
There are many health risks associated with giving your dog pistachios. Pistachios are tasty and mainly recommended for humans. Animals should not be given pistachios in large quantities. In case you decide to feed your dog pistachios, do not give it in large amounts.
Dogs that take pistachio in large quantities suffer from pistachio poisoning. Pistachio poisoning is what causes diarrhea, stomach, upset, and vomiting. Foods containing high content of fats can also cause pancreatitis in dogs.
Pistachio shells can present an intestinal obstruction or a choking hazard. According to PETMD, safer nuts such as almonds, cashews, and peanuts are recommended for dogs. However, when feeding your dog with any of these nuts, they should be unseasoned and unsalted.
If your dog ingests a lot of sodium from salted nuts, it will likely suffer from sodium ion poisoning. Based on research done by WebMD, too much salt can make a dog suffer from excessive thirst, vomiting, tremors, lethargy, and diarrhea. Salts can cause water retention issues, causing kidney failure in dogs.
Can dogs eat pistachios nuts? The risks outweigh the benefits when it comes to giving your dog Pistachios.
Pistachio poisoning
Pistachio belongs to the cashew family, and it is gotten from the Pistacia vera tree, found in hot climates mainly located in Middle Eastern and Central Asia countries. In the United States, pistachios are mainly obtained from California.
Pistachio has many health benefits for humans since they contain a lot of nutrients, such as proteins and antioxidants. Still, the nut has some other dangerous components which can cause havoc in dogs. Pistachio can dangerously affect the digestive system of a dog.
Pistachio contains Aspergillus mold, which produces aflatoxin, which does not go well with dogs. The following are symptoms associated with pistachio poisoning.
- Loss of appetite
- Liver failure
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Orange-colored Urine
A dog’s liver is negatively affected by Aspergillus mold, which causes aflatoxins. Based on the National Institute of Health (NIH), aflatoxins are produced by some fungi that cannot be traced to tree nuts, corns, cottonseeds, and peanuts.
Based on NIH, Aflatoxins belong to a group of mycotoxins, which are thought to be secondary metabolites gotten from microfungi, which can cause death in animals and human beings.
Other dangerous components present in pistachios include urushiol and phosphorous.
High amounts of phosphorus cause bladder stones in dogs. Once urushiol is absorbed into the body, it quickly gets into the skin, causing allergic reactions similar to poison ivy. It is thought that dogs that eat pistachios are likely to get this kind of reaction somewhere around their mouths and faces.
Nutrition is key
Dogs need to be given foods that help their mind and body to flourish. Dogs should have healthier lifestyles, just like human beings. The healthier your dog is, the more it will be able to fight infection and diseases.
Most times, people feed their dogs with foods that do have enough nutrients. The foods may be lacking enough fiber, low-quality protein, and a high level of artificial flavors.
Other dangerous nuts to avoid
Apart from pistachios, there are other types of nuts you should not give to your dog. Never allow your dog to take macadamia nuts.
According to the pet poison Helpline, Macadamia nuts damage your dog’s muscles and nerves and can also cause an inability to walk, vomiting, increased temperature, joint stiffness, muscle tremor, and lethargy.
If your dog is displaying any of the above symptoms, it is advisable to contact the Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian.
If you have to give your dog pistachios, give it in small quantities. However, you should omit pistachios in your dog’s everyday diet. Also, ensure that you don’t feed your dog with pistachios that have a shell to avoid intestinal obstruction or choking.
However, there are other healthy diets out there for your dog. It is safer for you to keep human food to yourself rather than share it with your dog.