Almonds bring a rich and deep nutty flavor when added to recipes. I am a fan favorite of theirs, and the kids too, but when it comes to our pets we refrain from offering them a bite of our almond treat. Even more so if we are snacking on them whole after they have been roasted and salted – an excellent movie night snack. But the question is can my dog eat almonds? Here we will explore this in more detail.
Although this humble nut is not severely toxic towards pets, dogs, in particular, they do pose some threats, which if not supervised could turn into something more serious, and this is the last thing we want.
Almond threat
The most obvious observation when we look at or think about nuts and almonds more specifically due to their size and shape is that they are a big choking hazard. Small dogs won’t necessarily be able to break the nuts down into smaller pieces to swallow as most nuts are quite hard in their natural forms, and so they opt rather to swallow it whole. Big mistake.
It can get lodged halfway down, most likely width ways due to the tapered ends, and the gag reflux that naturally follows will not be enough to suffice to dislodge it. Thus you are running to the vet’s emergency center and hoping you’re not too late.
Then comes the added note that almonds have a significantly high-fat content which pet stomachs have difficulty digesting or dissolving, causing upset stomachs and diarrhea, and long-term negative side effects.
While I am speaking from experience I am not alone in my understanding, read some comments and other people’s opinions here https://www.quora.com/Is-it-safe-for-dogs-to-eat-almonds to see how they dealt with the ‘should I or should I not’ give almonds to my pet, and conclude from there.
Most nuts we see in the supermarkets these days are also highly seasoned with all sorts of additives, flavorings, and preservatives, none of which would be lethal for your pet but more along the lines of not advised to try out.
Stick to natural pet foods and treats and you can have peace of mind knowing your dog is safe when you are not around. There are plenty of options online to try out new recipes and spoil your furball with more natural, organic ingredients.
Trial and error
Many people claim to have given their pet almonds with no side-effects or harm and in some ‘rare’ cases this may be true, but as a pet owner who has taken on the responsibility of owning and looking after a pet, I highly advise against it. As resilient as some dogs and digestive systems may be, your pet is not your guinea pig, rather leave it at all costs.
If like me you are a stickler for research and getting to know as much of the facts as possible then you should take a moment to read this interesting article on almonds and learn some things you may have not heard of or considered before. Daily learning also allows you to be more aware of the symptoms should your pet have eaten almonds by accident while out and about.
A conclusive thought
At the end of the day, we enjoy the unconditional love that leaps into our arms with slob flying everywhere as we open the front door arriving home from work, and we wouldn’t change it for anything.
Pets offer so much more than being another family member, love, companionship, and undoubtedly the most loyal part of your life that will be there for you no matter what. Hence ensuring their diet is filled with nutritious, vitamin, and mineral-rich ingredients, and this way they can live their life to the fullest.
If you want to know more about great, healthy choices of natural foods when planning your pets’ meals (almond-free please), then click here to see some tried and tested recipes by pet owners’ and chef enthusiasts trying to make a difference in the world one doggy treat at a time.
Almonds are great, yes, but let’s leave them for human consumption, shall we? We all know how the old saying goes, ‘It is better to be safe than sorry,’ and it rings true to this day.