Black and English walnuts both contain substances that are poisonous to dogs, as well as being a choking danger and potentially harmful to your dog’s health.
Find out why it’s best to keep your dog away from walnuts.
Can dogs eat walnuts? Which kind and why?
Black walnuts and English walnuts are the two varieties of walnuts that are often seen in grocery shops. Both contain juglone, a poisonous substance for dogs.
Tremorgenic mycotoxins, toxic substances produced by mold and fungus, may also be found in walnuts.
Your dog may get serious negative consequences from eating moldy walnuts that contain mycotoxins, such as tremors or convulsions.
In addition to these toxic substances, walnuts can impair a dog’s health in additional ways.
They may cause significant weight gain, obesity, or pancreatitis due to their high-fat content (inflammation of the pancreas).
Whole walnuts can suffocate people and obstruct the intestines.
Your dog’s digestive system might be harmed by an intestinal blockage in addition to causing an upset stomach.
Additionally, processed walnut goods could have flavorings or coatings made of hazardous to dogs xylitol, or other artificial sweeteners.
Can dogs eat walnuts: Health Benefits
Walnuts are rich in antioxidants and good fats, which provide many health advantages for people.
However, when it comes to giving your dog walnuts, the danger is not worth the benefit. Walnuts in moderation are unlikely to hurt your dog.
However, you should refrain from giving your dog a lot of walnuts.
Take extra precautions to prevent your dog from devouring any tree parts, including the roots, leaves, and walnuts, if you have a walnut tree in your yard.
What Signs Indicate Dog Walnut Poisoning?
Dogs may be poisoned by substances found in walnuts, such as juglone and tremorgenic mycotoxins.
The intensity of the adverse effects might vary.
Consult a vet right away if your dog experiences any of the following symptoms after eating walnuts: upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive panting, heart rate rise, fever, tremors, seizures, weakness, and disorientation.
Are walnuts harmful to dogs?
It depends on the kind of walnut if mold is present, and how much is ingested.
The English walnuts are the ones you usually find in the produce section of the supermarket.
Even while these walnuts aren’t inherently poisonous to dogs, it’s best not to give them to your pet.
White Walnuts
Can dogs eat walnuts? The white ones?
The black walnut, or Juglans nigra, is another kind and is a species that is indigenous to North America.
Black walnuts are particularly dangerous to dogs even though people don’t typically consume this kind of walnut; they could also contain a deadly substance called juglone, like pecans.
Juglone can make dogs (and horses) experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If untreated, GI problems in your dog may persist a few hours or go worse, depending on how much they consume.
Because a dog’s health might quickly worsen and because juglone ingestion can sometimes be deadly, it is crucial to seek veterinarian assistance right once.
Harmful mold
Like other tree nuts, walnuts are prone to mold because of moisture exposure and high temperatures during harvest and storage.
On the shell or kernel, mold may develop. The fact that walnuts can grow a mold called Aspergillus flavus is a specific issue when it comes to serving walnuts to dogs.
As a result, aflatoxin is produced, a natural toxin that can also harm peanuts, maize, and rice.
Aflatoxin poisoning in dogs can result in vomiting, reduced appetite, and even death.
Additionally, mycotoxin penitrem A, which can cause muscular tremors, convulsions, and vomiting, may be present in moldy walnuts.
In the event that your dog accidentally consumes a black walnut or a moldy walnut, be sure to call your veterinarian right away.
Dogs’ Pancreatitis and Other Health Issues
Walnuts contain a lot of oil and fat, so if your dog eats more than a handful, he might get pancreatitis.
Before the meal enters the small intestine, digestion enzymes might be triggered after ingesting fatty foods.
The pancreas and other organs may become inflamed and damaged as a result of this.
If this occurs, it’s critical to keep an eye out for signs in your dog, such as weakness, dehydration, diarrhea, and stomach pain, and to get them to the vet right away for a quick diagnosis and course of action.
Additionally, walnuts can induce intestinal obstructions or pose a choking risk, particularly for tiny dog breeds or while the walnut is still in its shell.
Dogs may be poisoned by salted walnuts or nuts that have spices made with components like onion or garlic. In any event, your dog can eat a variety of things besides walnuts.
Prior to sharing with your dog
Consult your veterinarian before introducing any human foods to your dog’s diet to ensure they won’t have any negative effects.
Conclusion
This article is not intended to replace professional medical or nutritional advice; rather, it is meant to be instructive and informative to know Can dogs eat walnuts or not?
Hence, proper food habits for dogs are mandatory for all pet parents!
Feed well, keep well!
Leave a Reply