Cashew nuts are a great snack. You can munch on them while watching TV, reading, hanging out, drinking, and in plenty of other situations too.

However, when your dog starts to give you those puppy dog eyes and starts pleading for some, what do you do? Can dogs eat cashews?

That’s the question we answer in this article.

Can Dogs Eat Cashews?

Generally, cashews are safe for dogs to eat. They are not toxic to dogs like some other nuts (such as Macadamia nuts). However, just because they’re not toxic, it doesn’t mean there are some potential health risks associated with dogs eating cashew nuts.

The Downsides of Feeding Dogs Cashews

Feeding your dogs an abundant amount of cashews can lead to some health repercussions. For starters, cashews are high in fat and high in protein. This means that eating a lot of cashews can lead to obesity, or worse, pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention by your vet.

Portion Control is Key!

Be sure that if you are feeding your dogs cashews, it is just a snack and not part of their regular diet. Otherwise, it can lead to obesity and other health problems in relation to weight gains such as diabetes or joint issues.

If you are buying your nuts in bulk or packaged with other nuts, be sure you are only giving your dogs cashews. As previously mentioned, other nuts like macadamia are very toxic.

Pass On The Salt

You only need to make sure that the cashews are not salted, or not heavily salted. Excess consumption of salt can lead to vomiting, seizures, diarrhea and muscle tremors which are all not good for your dogs.

Furthermore, it is best to consult with your veterinarian before giving your dogs cashews. This is to ensure that there are no allergies and other pre-existing medical conditions that can be triggered.  It is also good to introduce cashews to your dog slowly and gradually to make sure that there are no negative reactions.

So to recap, so long as you don’t feed your dog’s cashews mixed with other nuts, and they are not heavily salted, it should be okay.

Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs

This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”

Please check out other articles in the series including Can Dogs Eat Celery?


Leave a Reply