Can Dogs Eat Nuts? (They Are Allowed / Forbidden)

It depends on the type. Some nuts are harmless, others are seriously toxic. Macadamia nuts and walnuts are on the list of foods dogs must not eat. All nuts should be fed unsalted, unseasoned and without shell.

Nuts at a Glance

Allowed in small amounts:

• Peanuts (unsalted, shelled): technically legumes, well tolerated
• Cashews (unsalted, unroasted): high in fat, ok in moderation
• Hazelnuts (shelled): rarely as a snack

Not recommended:

• Almonds: hard to digest, can cause stomach problems
• Brazil nuts: extremely high in selenium, regular feeding is risky
• Pistachios: usually salted, hard to digest

Toxic: absolute ban:

• Macadamia nuts: toxic mechanism unknown, causes weakness, tremors, hyperthermia, vomiting
• Walnuts: contain juglone and mold easily; mold toxins are life-threatening for dogs

What to Watch Out For

Peanut butter is popular with dogs: but caution: some peanut butter contains xylitol as a sugar substitute. Xylitol is highly toxic for dogs. Always check the ingredient list before feeding peanut butter.

All nuts are high in fat: too many at once can trigger pancreatitis. Contact the vet if your dog vomits after eating nuts.

How to Feed Nuts

Unsalted, unroasted, shelled. Only a few pieces as a rare treat. Never whole nuts that could pose a choking hazard: chop them for small dogs.

Nutritional Values and Safety Limits

Nuts are extremely calorie-dense: cashews provide approx. 553 kcal per 100 g (44 g fat), peanuts approx. 567 kcal (49 g fat), macadamia approx. 718 kcal (76 g fat). The high fat content is the main problem for dogs.

Guidelines for safe nuts (cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts):

• Small dog (up to 10 kg): max. 1 to 2 pieces per day
• Medium dog (10 to 25 kg): max. 3 to 4 pieces per day
• Large dog (over 25 kg): max. 5 to 6 pieces per day

For macadamia nuts there is no safe dose: as little as 2.4 g per kg body weight can trigger poisoning symptoms. For a 10 kg dog that is fewer than 4 nuts.

Everything about dog care at Hundeo Pro. From training to nutrition to health: structured courses with video guides, training tracking, and personal help from real trainers when you need it.