Can dogs eat almonds, almond butter and almond milk?

Publish Date: November 18th, 2021; Author: Blake Quinn

Home » Can dogs eat almonds, almond butter and almond milk?

Do you know almonds belong to the cherry family?
Intriguing, right?

Well, there is a fact with no doubt why almonds are considered a superfood. They are loaded with protein, antioxidants, vitamin E and are a rich source of fiber. There are about 20 different varieties of almonds. Due to its many health benefits, many vegans also choose almond milk instead of regular cow’s milk.

As we take care of our diet and as pet parents, we also try to feed our dogs the best. From physical activity to proper meals, we want to keep our furry friends as healthy as possible.
Knowing so many benefits of nuts and especially almonds it’s a common question that can come in pet parent’s minds that :
“Can dogs have almonds?”
And if yes, the curiosity rise to know;
“What nuts can dogs eat?”

Readout this blog to get your answers

Can dogs eat almonds?

Long answer short, almonds are not, as such, toxic for dogs. However, almonds for dogs are not advisable.

No matter how healthy almonds are, consider almonds the topmost source of nutritious monounsaturated fats; still, you should not give almonds to your dog.

Although, one or two almonds won’t be poisonous for your dog. However, they can cause serious gut issues if given regularly.

Choking in dogs is common. Eating something hard material like an almond has a high chance of causing choking issues in dogs. It can create an emergency condition and hence can be life-threatening.

Also Read: Can dogs eat jalapenos? What if they ate too much?

Why are almonds bad for dogs?

After knowing so many positive effects of almonds on humans. So;
“Are almonds good for dogs?”

Well, as stated earlier, even silvered almonds are not good for dogs. It is due to the following reasons:

Choking:

Dogs have a basic habit of swallowing their food. They don’t bother to chew their food properly. Hence it is obvious for them to choke on food. That is the reason why vets don’t advise pet parents to give almonds to pets.
Your special skinny dipped almonds can block in the esophagus, intestine, and the worst-case scenario, windpipe. This blockage can even end up your dog getting serious surgery.
Special care is required while feeding a young dog. That is why never give an almond meal to your puppy.

Also Read: Can dogs eat bananas: Safe or not?

Gastric intestinal distress:

If you frequently give dogs almonds to your puppy, or in case your puppy accidentally ends up eating many sliced almonds, all at once. Then your dog can end up showing the following symptoms:

Loss of appetite

Lethargy

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Normal discomfort

It might be a case where your dog even starts developing pancreatitis; in conditions like these, you should always consult your pet’s vet.

Water Retention:

The main reason behind the big no for the query, ” Can dogs have nuts?” is that, like many nuts, roasted almonds are covered with salts and additional flavors. Bitter almonds are high in sodium content, and that’s why they cause water retention in the dog’s body. It is bad for the heart and, in larger quantities, can cause salt toxicity.

Obesity:

Although honey bunches of oats with almonds sound tasty and healthy, nuts like almonds are high in calories and fats. Not only in humans, but an almond-rich diet can induce obesity in dogs too.

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Aflatoxin:

Aspergillus mold is present in mild quantities in nuts like green almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. This mold is the reason for increasing aflatoxin levels, which is, in turn, harmful for dogs.

Also Read: Best Human Foods for Dogs: Things You Haven’t Thought of

Food Allergy:

It can be the rarest case when a dog might be allergic to almonds.
A dog allergic to almonds can show symptoms of anaphylaxis which is further life-threatening. As a responsible pet mother and father, you should know whether your dog is allergic to almonds and is, yes, keeping almonds away from their sight at any cost.

Kidney stones:

As almonds are high in phosphorus, giving your dog almonds for a long time can lead to bladder or kidney stones. Special care is required to avoid almonds in the diet of breeds like Lhasa Apso and Yorkshire Terrier as they are more prone to kidney stones. Similarly, Bichon Frise and Miniature Schnauzer are more likely to have bladder stones.

What if your dog ate too many almonds?

One or two almonds won’t affect your dog much unless they are allergic to almonds or got choked on almonds out of misfortune. Allergy and choking circumstances are considered as an emergency. Hence, without wasting a second, take your puppy to the nearest vet clinic from your home in these circumstances.

However, if your dog binged on a pile of chocolate covered almonds, in that case, you should give your dog IV fluids to neutralize the effect of dehydration and some medications too. Medicines for vomiting, pain killers, and even antibiotics can soothe your dog’s suffering.

Aflatoxin poisoning can damage your puppy’s liver which is why vomiting is induced intentionally. Our main priority is to remove almonds from the system of the dog’s body. Hydrogen peroxide treatment can help in that case. However, these treatments need to be done by specialists. We advise you to contact a vet under these circumstances.

Keep your dog on a light diet of low fat and low protein but of high fiber, for a couple of days after the treatment, just for the fast recovery.

Can dogs eat almond butter?

As such, almonds are not toxic for your puppy. Giving them a spoon of almond butter won’t immediately affect them much unless they are allergic to almonds. In the long run, regular intake of almond butter can cause water retention, obesity, gut issues, kidney stones, and even liver failure in your dog.

Can dogs have almond milk?

There is a new hype of vegan alternatives like almond milk, coconut milk, and other plant-based products among humans. If you desire to give the same almond milk to your dog, then we won’t support that. Other than allergic almonds dogs, as such, almond milk is not deadly for your dog. However, the nutritional benefit of almond milk is negligible to your dog in front of the harm it can cause in the long run, like obesity, gastric intestinal distress, liver damage, and lots more.

Conclusion:

Dogs cannot think about what’s good for them and what is bad. They will eat anything that you will feed them, from jalapenos to almonds. No matter how much these foods are good for you, the same is not probable in their case. Specially care is needed while feeding them food like nuts as some of them can be toxic for them. Walnuts, macadamia nuts need to be avoided in any situation. That’s why we highly recommend you keep human foods, especially nuts like almonds and walnuts, out of their reach in the house.