Can Dogs Eat Walnuts?

No, dogs can’t eat walnuts. These nuts contain juglone, a very toxic substance that can cause convulsions and seizures in dogs. This substance is secreted by the roots of a walnut tree and attaches to the shells of walnuts if they fall from the tree.

Besides juglone, walnuts are prone to a specific type of black mold due to their high moisture content. This mold is highly toxic to dogs as it produces mycotoxins which are either tremorgenic or carcinogenic. When ingested, these mycotoxins can cause cancer, seizures, or convulsions in dogs.

While some English walnuts are considered safer for dogs due to their low amounts of juglone, just like black walnuts, they are very high in fats and calories, which can lead to gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, and obesity when consumed in large amounts. Walnuts also pose choking or severe intestinal blockage and perforation, especially to small dogs.

It’s hence best to keep walnuts out of your dog’s way, as their harms override their benefits.  

Can Dogs Eat Candied Walnuts Safely? 

No, dogs can’t eat candied walnuts. Besides walnuts being highly toxic by themselves, candy coating doubles the risk for dogs.

Are candied walnuts healthy for dogs?

Not. While walnuts on their own are extremely fatty, candies, on the other hand, are very sugary. The high sugar content is problematic to dogs as it can lead to many health problems, including unhealthy weight gain, diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. Too many fats can lead to stomach upset, pancreatitis, and obesity in dogs.

The sugar-free candied walnuts are equally harmful as they contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol which is toxic to dogs.

Can candied walnuts affect my dog’s mood?

Yes, feeding candied walnuts to your dog can affect its mood. While plain walnuts contain tryptophan which aids in the production of serotonin, a hormone linked with improved mood, candied walnuts are very sugary, which can cause blood sugar spikes destabilizing a dog’s hormones and resulting in irritation and anxiety in dogs. This impacts negatively on the mood of the dog.

Can Dogs Eat Roasted Walnuts Safely? 

No, dogs can’t eat roasted walnuts safely. Roasting does not remove the toxicity in these nuts.

However, if your dog steals one or two roasted walnuts, they will be fine. It’s thus recommended to keep any walnuts, including roasted walnuts, away from your dog.

Are roasted walnuts healthy for dogs?

No, roasted walnuts are still toxic and unhealthy for dogs. Walnuts, roasted or not, are prone to a black mold that produces carcinogenic or tremorgenic mycotoxins. These can cause vomiting, seizures, or convulsions in dogs. Roasted walnuts are also high in fats, which can lead to pancreatitis and obesity in dogs if consumed in large amounts.

Can my Pug dog puppy eat roasted walnuts?

No, besides being extremely fatty, which does no good to dogs, feeding roasted walnuts to a pug puppy can put them at a severe choking risk or fatal intestinal blockage and perforation.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Walnuts? 

No, dogs should not eat raw walnuts. The dangers of feeding any walnuts outweigh any benefits that they may have. The presence of mycotoxins and high-fat content renders raw walnuts unhealthy for dogs.

Are raw walnuts unhealthy for dogs?

Yes, raw walnuts are unhealthy for dogs. The mold that grows on walnuts produces tremorgenic or carcinogenic mycotoxins that can cause seizures and other neurological complications. Walnuts are also high in fats that can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs. In extreme cases, consuming many raw walnuts can cause more severe health conditions like pancreatitis or gastroenteritis.

Can dogs with diarrhea or other diseases eat raw walnuts?

No, dogs with diarrhea or other diseases can’t eat raw walnuts, as they already have fragile and sensitive stomachs. Feeding these dogs raw walnuts can aggravate their condition due to the high-fat amounts in these nuts. 

Can Dogs Eat Ground Walnuts? 

No, ground walnuts are not safe for dogs. Grinding walnuts only reduces choking and obstruction risks for dogs but does not rid them of their toxicity.

Are ground walnuts healthy for dogs?

No, ground walnuts are unhealthy for dogs. Although dogs are unlikely to get choked and suffer from intestinal blockage, ground walnuts are still highly fatty. They can cause gastrointestinal issues and other severe ailments like pancreatitis and obesity.

Can old and young dogs eat ground walnuts?

No, old and young dogs can’t eat ground walnuts. This is because these dogs have very sensitive stomachs, and feeding them high-fat foods like ground walnuts can cause stomach upsets. Besides, ground walnuts are high in calories and can pack extra unwanted pounds that old and young dogs don’t need.

What Else Can Dogs Eat together with Walnuts? 

Rather than walnuts, some other nuts and foods can make healthier treats for dogs. These include;

Peanut butter: Plain, natural unsweetened peanut butter is safe for dogs to consume. This nutritious food is packed with many nutrients that are beneficial to dogs. It’s an excellent source of proteins that can supply energy, improve immunity, and help dogs build and maintain healthy muscles. Peanut butter is rich in healthy fats that are important in maintaining healthy and well-balanced skin in dogs. Niacin, a B-vitamin that aids in breaking down fats and sugars into usable energy, is also abundant in peanut butter.

Adding peanut butter to your dog’s diet can help improve its digestive system health due to its high fiber content. This delicious treat contains other vitamins and minerals like vitamins B, and E, potassium, folic acid, magnesium, and phosphorus, among others. These nutrients support the overall health of dogs.

However, peanut butter is high in fats and calories, which can cause pancreatitis and obesity in dogs if consumed in large amounts. Moderation is thus key when feeding this food to your dog.

Beans: Dogs can eat certain beans safely as long as they are given in moderation as occasional treats. Beans are an excellent source of nutrition as it’s packed with several beneficial nutrients. Beans are rich in proteins and minerals, including magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamins like A, C, and K. These nutrients can contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of dogs.  Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, lima beans, and garbanzo beans are some of the safe beans that can be fed to dogs. 

Feeding beans to dogs can have the following benefits:

• Lower cholesterol levels
• Improved eye and heart health
• Enhanced metabolism
• Reduced inflammations
• Better immune health
• Healthy blood clotting and production 

Beans should, however, be fed in moderation, as they can lead to extreme gassiness and flatulence if consumed in large amounts. 

Eggs: Cooked eggs can make a healthy addition to a dog’s diet. They are loaded with fatty acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins which play essential roles in dogs’ health. Eggs contain folate, niacin, riboflavin, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganese, and vitamins A, D, E, K, B1, B6, and B12. These help to:

• Support strong bones
• Enhance metabolism
• Keep the skin, coat, and organs in perfect conditions
• Improve immunity
• Build, repair, and maintain healthy muscles, cells, and tissues

Raw eggs are, however, harmful to dogs as they put them at the risk of contracting salmonella infection. Therefore, only cooked eggs should be fed to dogs. Eggs should also be fed in moderation, as excessive amounts can lead to an unhealthy weight gain in dogs.

Carrots: These vegetables are tasty and bursting with health benefits. They are low in calories but have high in antioxidants and other nutrients. Given their crunchy texture, chewing carrots can help clean a dog’s teeth and improve its oral health.

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C and K, plus minerals like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese. These play an essential role in supporting the overall health of dogs.

Ensure you chop carrots into small parts before feeding dogs to avoid the risk of choking, especially for small dogs. Carrots are very in natural sugar and fiber, leading to obesity, tooth decay, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.

What are the health advantages of feeding Walnuts to your dog? 

Just like other nuts, walnuts are not only tasty but also packed with healthy nutrients that can be beneficial to dogs. The following are some potential benefits that walnuts can offer your dog:

• They are rich in plant proteins which can help boost immunity, supply energy, and build and maintain healthy tissues and muscles.
• Walnuts are high in fats that are important for the skin, coat, and cognitive health of dogs. These fats are also helpful in reducing inflammations and supporting heart health.
• These nuts are also loaded with fiber which improves digestion, and antioxidants that can help boost immune health, fight free radicals that cause oxidative damage to body cells, and aid in fighting some diseases like cancer.
• Walnuts can help weight management in dogs, as the fiber in these nuts keeps dogs feeling fuller for longer. This reduces the dog’s appetite, which is helpful for dogs trying to lose some pounds. 
• Walnuts contain phytonutrients that are important in lowering blood pressure and managing diabetes.

Walnuts also contain minerals like copper, manganese, folic acid, phosphorus, and vitamins E and B6. These are important in;

• Promoting heart health
• Boosting bone, nerve, and immune system functioning
• Enhancing bone strength
• Improving blood health

Should you feed your dog Walnuts?

No, you should not feed your dog walnuts. While these nuts are loaded with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients that can help support the overall health of dogs, the dangers of feeding walnuts to dogs override the benefits. 

Are Walnuts toxic to dogs?

Yes, walnuts, especially black walnuts, are toxic to dogs. They are prone to a mold that produces tremorgenic and carcinogenic mycotoxins. When ingested, these mycotoxins can cause serious health problems in dogs. Additionally, walnuts contain a toxic compound called juglone. This substance is produced by the plant’s roots but attaches itself to the shells of the nuts when they fall from the tree. If ingested, these nuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or convulsions.

Symptoms of walnut poisoning include:

• Seizures
• Loss of appetite
• Tremors
• Incoordination
• Dehydration
• Liver damage
• Weakness
• Hyperthermia

As such, it’s best to avoid feeding walnuts to dogs for their safety.

Are There Any Other Nuts That Dogs Can Eat? 

While walnuts are not safe for dogs, there are other dog-safe nuts that dogs can consume. These include,

Cashews: Dogs can eat roasted cashews safely as long as they are given in moderation and don’t include additives that can harm dogs. These nuts are not only delicious but highly nutritious as well. Cashews are rich in omega 6 fatty acids, which, when well-balanced with omega 3 fats, can help reduce inflammations in dogs. 

Cashews are also loaded with fiber, proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, flavonols, and zinc which support a dog’s overall health.

Despite these benefits, cashews are high in fats that dogs cannot cope with. These can cause obesity, pancreatitis, and stomach upsets in dogs. The high phosphorus content in cashews can lead to kidney stones.

Chestnuts: In small amounts, chestnuts are okay for dogs to consume. They are loaded with fiber, which is beneficial for dogs’ digestive systems. These nuts are rich in fatty acids, which can provide energy and keep dogs’ coats and skin in an ideal condition. These nuts are also abundant in potassium, which is essential for nerve impulse and muscle activity regulation, and heart and brain function.

Raw chestnuts contain tannic acid, which is toxic to dogs and can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested. Chestnuts are also highly fibrous and fatty, which can cause issues like pancreatitis, obesity, and stomach upsets. If swallowed as a whole, chestnuts can cause choking or intestinal blockage in dogs.

Peanuts: Plain, unsalted, and shelled peanuts are safe for dogs to eat. Peanuts are packed with protein and healthy fats. These are essential for building strong bones and keeping the skin and coat of dogs healthy. The fats are also important for reducing inflammations and promoting brain health in dogs.

Peanuts also contain other nutrients, including vitamin B6 and E, niacin, potassium, and phosphorus which support overall health. However, like other nuts, peanuts are high in fiber, putting dogs at risk of obesity and pancreatitis. Too many fats can also cause gastric upset, including diarrhea and vomiting.

What are the best dog foods with Walnuts? 

Walnuts are harmful to dogs due to the mycotoxins they contain. It’s not advisable to feed these nuts to dogs, as they are prone to a certain black mold that produces mycotoxins that are either carcinogenic or tremorgenic. These mycotoxins can lead to seizures, convulsions, or even death in dogs. Besides the moldy risk, walnuts contain juglone, a highly toxic compound for dogs.

Walnuts are also very high in fats and calories. These can cause gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea in high amounts. In severe cases, feeding many walnuts to dogs can lead to gastroenteritis and pancreatitis. Too many fats can also lead to canine obesity and other heart and joint problems.

In recognition of the dangers of feeding walnuts to dogs, many dog food brands have avoided including these nuts in their foods.