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, which is excellent for our joints and 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 various 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 more harm than benefit to the dog.

Cashews are just one of the nut varieties generally considered suitable for our pets (others, such as macadamia nuts and walnuts, could cause harm). However, like all delicious things, it is essential 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 food. Well, excessive.

As a general rule of thumb, avoids salted cashews. The stomachs of dogs can’t 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 don’t feed cashews with flavors that aren’t present in them.

Another critical 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 your dog’s diet can result in the pancreas–a severe disease requiring prompt vet treatment.

Finally, take your time when you introduce any new food item, including cashews. There’s a chance that your dog suffers from specific 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. Monitor for other indications of stomach pain and 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 select only raw, unsalted, packaged, or roasted variety. Because some nuts are incredibly harmful to our canine pets, it is essential not to offer your dog cashews out of a variety box. We have seen evidence that allergic reactions to nuts in humans are just minimal exposure to trigger problems.

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

Treats should be at most 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories. It is best to have less because cashews are rich in calories (nearly 10 calories per nugget). This is especially true for a dog who is overweight or less active. If your dog has any stomach problems or 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 entirely avoided 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: