Can A Dog Eat Pistachio?

Pistachio goes perfect with almonds, and is one of the most nutritious nuts; however, it may not be as beneficial for some animals. If you are an owner of a dog, then you may have wondered whether your dog eats pistachios or any other nuts. They should be as excellent and beneficial to dogs as they are to us. Well, not necessarily, because our diet is entirely different from dogs, and some things that we love, may end up being poison for the dogs. Pistachio is something that hangs on a thread between both. Little quantity can be okay, but too much might cause harm to the digestive system of the dog.

However, it’s still not clear enough to answer if they can eat it or how much can they eat, because it’s a mixed bag and we need to dive deeper to capture the answer. So, without further ado, let’s discuss whether dogs can eat pistachios or not.

Pistachios Shouldn’t Be Given to Dogs.

First of all, they shouldn’t be given pistachios in the first place because the ingestion of such things causes harm or risk of damage to the innocent dog, and we need to be careful. Another food for the dog can replace the nutrients and benefits that pistachios provide, so the dog shouldn’t require it, however, if you have an abundance of them, then perhaps you should give only one or two every other day.

If you are cooking a dessert and one of your pups eats the one or two pistachios lying around, then they should be fair, because most of their content is in the pistachio within the shell itself. They are also filled with high fats content, while on the other hand, dogs need low-fat foods. Their diet is filled with high-protein, low-carb, and low-fats, so feeding them pistachios is intentionally adding bad things to their diet.

Warning!

If the dog shows signs of diarrhea or vomiting even after a few pistachios, then you should head to the vet immediately and have them take a look at your dog. Another problem is the shell itself because they are hard and can’t be broken down by the dog’s teeth, or in their digestive system. Even for us, if we have a pistachio covered whole by a shell, we either find a nutcracker or say goodbye to them. In the same way, they aren’t okay for the dogs either, so if you ever feed them one or two pistachios, make sure they are without shells. If they somehow eat them, there are chances of blockage and discomfort in the digestive tract. In worse cases, the dog’s teeth could crack the shells on their way, which is not a good situation.

Any Other Nuts Which You Shouldn’t Feed to Dogs?

We aren’t saying that pistachios or any nuts are bad, they are just not suitable for the dog’s diet. However, not all dogs fall into this category, but you should still be careful. On the other hand, macadamia nuts are highly toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all times. Other nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, and everything in between should be avoided for their non-suitability to the dog’s diet.

Another thing you need to consider is that there is a type of mold, the aspergillus, which is so common in our fridge that we ignore it completely, it can be found in veggies that aren’t fresh anymore, and sometimes on pistachios. It doesn’t make them bad, but it’s just the harvesting process that gives the aspergillus a suitable environment to grow in. This mold is harmful to dogs and should be avoided if there is any risk of it.

Although the risk is significantly lower in these times as compared to the past, it’s still a risk worth noting when finding the answer to our question.

What’s A Healthy Diet for Dogs?

We need to understand that all dogs are individuals, and their diets can differ from one another. So, you must talk to a vet and ask for professional advice on diet depending on your dog’s behavior.

However, most of the dogs are carnivores and sometimes eat as omnivores. Many doctors express the need that any diet that your dog takes should be balanced with nutrients, and they should be adequately taken care of. Some people feed their pet dogs raw meat, which is perfectly fine and shouldn’t cause problems. However, it doesn’t suit every dog, and you should make sure that the meat is human-grade. Other products contain bones and preservatives, some of which are harmful to your dog’s health.

Try to eat good quality meat, because low-grade meat and products can have a high chance of harmful bacteria that may affect both you and the dog. Also, make sure you visit the vet for a complete diet guide for your dog because certain things can be harmful in the early stages, while others can be good later on.

Another right and beneficial food are cooked meat or boiled egg or lamb, which don’t contain any vegetables and aren’t cooked thoroughly. Tuna and sardines in a can are also a good option, however, make sure there are no fish bones, or they may cause pain to the dog’s throat.

How Much Food Does A Dog Need?

It all heavily depends on the dog’s size, breed, activities, and also age.

  1. The only thing you need to do to avoid is overfeeding and underfeeding.
  2. Make sure their water bowl is always filled because they need to stay hydrated.
  3. If you want your dogs to be lean and fit, and have a well-defined waist, then you can have them on a diet, which also requires specific exercises.
  4. Obesity and other such conditions are the leading cause of osteoarthritis in dogs and can be prevented by keeping them fit and healthy.

Conclusion

So, to answer your question, “can dogs eat pistachio?” yes, they can, but they shouldn’t. The nuts can be highly toxic for them and lead to digestive issues, which can be avoided if only you feed them meat and other suitable foods instead of risky things.

Their diet is straightforward and can be understood by consulting a vet, so it shouldn’t be a problem to keep your dog healthy and happy. They need a lot of love and care as well, so make sure you don’t feed them anything bad, and keep a lookout for them in case they eat something weird.

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