Can dogs eat pistachios? Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering if you could share some with your pup while cracking open a few pistachio shells and enjoying the nuts as a snack. If humans can eat pistachios, can dogs safely eat them too?
There is no short yes or no answer to whether dogs can eat pistachios safely. Technically, pistachios are not toxic for dogs, but their high fat content outweighs their positive nutritional benefits.
Additionally, pistachio nut shells can be a choking hazard for dogs, so you might want to consider more suitable nut-based canine snack options out there, such as cashews.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your canine pal, including nuts and snacks. Here’s what you need to know about pistachios and dogs.
When Are Pistachios Okay For Dogs To Eat?
Thankfully, pistachios are not considered to be toxic to dogs. When it comes to the nutritional benefits of pistachios, they provide protein, fiber and antioxidants.
Pistachios are also a good source of potassium, which can help out with your canine’s heart health.
When Are Pistachios Bad For Dogs?
The main downside with serving pistachios to your dog is the high fat content. Eating too many could put your dog on a path towards canine obesity, along with also increasing their chances of developing pancreatitis.
Pistachio shells are also another potential issue that comes with serving pistachios to your dog. The shells could easily become a choking hazard. It’s vital that you make sure you only feed pistachios with the shells removed to your canine.
A further issue with pistachios is that, many times, they are sold with salt added to them. You’ll need to find raw, unsalted, shelled pistachios if you want to consider serving them to your dog.
So while you don’t need to panic if you notice that your dog has scarfed down a few pistachios, when all things are considered, it might be worth considering letting your dog snack on other nuts instead, such as cashews.
Has your dog ever tried pistachios? Are there any other safer nuts that your dog prefers? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
