Humans’ love for pistachios is un-deniable. They can’t get enough pistachios because they’re delicious, healthy, and versatile. Have you ever thought to yourself about your dog, “Can dogs eat pistachios?” Are these mouthwatering treats also good for our companions as they are for us?
Should you leave pistachios with your dog? Can dogs eat pistachio? Dogs may eat pistachios but in a moderate amount as they contain a high amount of fats and calories that can damage their liver.
However, eating pistachios is not recommended by vets as they can also cause digestive issues.
You may want to read about dogs having whipped cream, almond milk, watermelon, cantaloupe, and okra.
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Health Benefits Related to Pistachios
Can dogs eat pistachios? Pistachios are neither safe nor toxic for your dog. But if you want to feed pistachio to your dog, you should whether it contains health benefits or not? Pistachios contain many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are beneficial for your dog. Let’s take a look at the benefits of pistachios about dogs:
- Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine maintains the proper functioning of the brain and growth of your dog.
- Vitamin B6 helps your dog in absorbing the fats, calories, and also synthesize proteins.
- Plus Vitamin K helps in the blood clotting of your dog.
- Manganese helps your dog in digesting the pistachios and proper functioning of the stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Health Risks Related to Pistachios
You are now aware of few benefits that pistachios contain, but they are dangerous for your dog to consume. It can affect your dog’s stomach and digestive system. The most harmful damage that pistachios can do to your dog is aspergillus mold.
We are going to discuss below the risks and dangers related to dogs eating pistachios.
2.1. High Amount of Fats:
Pistachios contain a high amount of fat and calories. Even though fat isn’t always a bad thing, but too much of it can lead to obesity and pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis symptoms include:
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Loss of weight
- Fever
If you observe any of these symptoms in your dog, take him to the vet for a proper checkup and expert advice.
2.2. Excessive Salt:
Pistachios are usually seasoned with salt or other seasonings. Excessive salt consumption in your dog can result in diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, excessive thirst, and tremors.
It can also cause fluid retention in your pet and harm their kidneys. This is especially dangerous for puppies who have heart diseases.
2.3. Choking Hazards:
Dogs rarely chew their food, instead, they like to swallow it whole. Because of the shape and size of the pistachios, as well as their hardness, they are a choking hazard.
Pistachios are frequently sold in their shell, which can easily break into sharp or jagged pieces that can puncture the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract of your dog. So, you should be very careful when feeding pistachios to your dog.
2.4. Aflatoxin:
Aflatoxin is a type of bacteria produced by the Aspergillus mold. It is the most dangerous bacteria found in pistachios. Canines are mostly helpless to the toxins produced by fungi found on pistachios.
Aflatoxin-induced pistachio poisoning in dogs’ exhibits as follows:
- Appetite loss
- Orange-colored urine
- Lethargy
- Jaundice
- Failure of the liver
2.5. Urushiol:
Urushiol is a chemical found in poison ivy and is also found in pistachios. It causes allergic reactions in dogs, particularly near their mouths and on their faces.
What to Do If Your Dog Ate Pistachios?
If your dog has eaten pistachios, you should assess the situation. How many did your dog consume, and what is the size of pistachios that he ate? For example, if your dog ate entire pistachio, you should lookout for a bowel obstruction.
If your dog ate a few pistachios from the ground, you should not get worried a lot because it might not result in any reactions. But still, keep an eye on your pet.
On the other hand, if your dog ate an entire bag of shelled pistachios that you left behind the couch, you should look out for symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Agitation
- Dehydration
Can Dogs Eat Pistachio Ice Cream?
According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Dogs’ guts cannot process milk after halting. They are unable to process the lactose in milk. Furthermore, the sugar levels put dogs at risk of obesity.
For these reasons, vet experts strongly advise dog owners against giving their dogs any kind of pistachio ice cream. As a result, the answer to the question “can dog eat pistachio ice cream?” is definitely NO.
Can Dogs Eat Salted Pistachio?
Pistachio nuts are frequently salted. While this makes them more delicious, it also makes them unhealthier for dogs.
Too much salt is bad for dogs, just as it is bad for people. Feeding salted treats to your dog, including salted pistachios, is not recommended.
Can Dogs Eat Pistachio Shells?
The pistachio nut is safe for dogs, but what about the shell? Can dogs consume pistachios in their shell? As previously stated, nutshells are generally harmful to dogs. This includes the shells of pistachios.
The shells can cause intestinal obstructions and other digestive tract damage. Because some nutshells are poisonous, you should never give them to your dog. Before feeding pistachio to your dog, de-shell it properly.
Can Dogs Eat Pistachios? Conclusion:
So, we’ve addressed the question of whether can dogs eat pistachios? And the answer is yes, but with caution. Still, it is not recommended by vet experts.
Pistachios should be avoided if your dog is overweight or has pancreatitis. Also, if your dog has any other medical issues, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Pistachios are safe for dogs as long as you remember these precautions and feed them in moderation to your dog.
