Can Dogs Eat Cashews?

There’s plenty to be smitten about in the world of cashews. These protein-rich, creamy nuts are rich in fiber, healthy monounsaturated fats, and vital nutrients for the immune system, such as magnesium and zinc. They’re also rich in copper that’s great for our joints as well as our bones. It’s not a secret that getting more cashews into your diet can be a good idea, but can this also apply to dogs?

As with a variety of other human-friendly foods that are safe for your pet, they’re certainly not an essential part of giving them a healthy diet. What you should know concerning feeding your pup cashews and what to watch out for to ensure that you’re doing no the dog more harm than benefit.

Cashews are just one of the nut varieties which are generally considered suitable for our pets (others such as macadamia nuts and walnuts, could cause harm). However, like all delicious things, it is important to be careful. The protein, fiber, and healthy fats in cashews may be problematic when eaten in large quantities. This is the case for us and our pets, however, dogs have a smaller threshold of excessive amounts of food. well, excessive.

As a general rule of thumb avoids salted cashews. The stomachs of dogs don’t have the capacity to handle a lot of sodium, and too much salt intake could cause dehydration and stomach discomfort. 1 So keep cashews plain when you’re planning to feed them. And absolutely don’t feed cashews with flavors that aren’t present in them.

Another key rule to follow is to feed cashews sparingly to your dog. All that fat, while healthy, could be a problem for overweight dogs. In certain instances, excessive fat in the diet of your dog can result in the pancreas–a serious disease that requires prompt treatment by vet.

Finally, take your time when you introduce any new food item, including cashews. There’s a chance that your dog suffers from certain food allergies that you aren’t aware of since they’ve never been exposed to food. Some human food items may cause problems for dogs’ stomachs even though they’re safe to consume. As the kind, compassionate person in their lives you have the responsibility to keep an eye on their diet and to avoid placing them in a position that could cause problems. Signs associated with an allergic reaction are swelling, itching, and skin problems like hives and redness. Keep an eye out for any other indications of stomach pain and also for more severe ones such as vomiting and diarrhea.

How to Feed Cashews to Dogs

Do you want to find out whether your dog loves cashews? Follow the tips above and only select the raw, unsalted, packaged, or roasted variety. Because some nuts are extremely harmful to our canine pets, it is essential to not offer your dog cashews out of a variety box. We have seen evidence that allergic reactions to nuts in humans are just an extremely small amount of exposure to trigger problems.

For cashew butter, most of the varieties you will purchase in the market contain additional ingredients such as salt and/or excess oils, sugars, or other ingredients which should be avoided. It is possible to make your own cashew butter that is safe for dogs for your pet by mixing 1 cup of cashews unsalted along with honey into a food processor before blending until it is smooth. However, it is important to be careful when serving it.

Overall, treats should not comprise more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories. Cashews are rich in calories (nearly 10 calories per nugget) it is best to have less. This is especially true in the case of a dog who is overweight or less active. If your dog has any stomach problems as well as food allergy issues, you might prefer pet-friendly food items that aren’t as affluent.

Nuts That Are Dangerous to Dogs

Cashews can be a good choice for your pet in moderation, however, some nuts must be avoided completely at all times due to their poisonous effects on dogs. 3 If you’re planning to test how your dog’s appetite is for nuts, ensure that you’re not eating the following types of nuts: