Can Dogs Eat Almonds? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

No, dogs shouldn’t eat almonds. Plain almonds aren’t considered toxic to dogs but can still pose a health threat, especially if a dog was to eat one too many.

Why almonds are bad for dogs

Almonds may pose a number of health problems to dogs. One potential risk is the high amount of fat that almonds contain. Almonds are calorie-dense food. One ounce or a serving of 20 almonds may contain up to 14 grams of fat. Dogs that consume too much fat are at risk of developing health disorders like pancreatitis.

Almonds may also pose an obstruction hazard, especially if a dog was to swallow many of these nuts without chewing them. Almonds are hard to digest due to their rigid texture. They may accumulate somewhere along the dog’s gastrointestinal tract and cause blockage in places like the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines. Obstruction can easily become life-threatening if they aren’t treated quickly.

These days, almonds come in many favors. You have the likes of salted and chocolate-covered almonds, both of which are harmful to dogs. Dogs that eat a lot of salted almonds, for example, are at risk of increasing water retention, which can be dangerous to dogs with certain health disorders like heart disease.

What to do if your dog ate almonds

There are many factors to consider in order to determine whether your dog’s health is at risk after they ate almonds. How many almonds did they eat? Do the almonds contain additives? How much does your dog weigh? How long has it been since your dog ate the almond? A large adult dog that only ate one plain almond, for example, may be totally fine. On the flip side, a puppy that ate 20 almonds could be at major risk of getting sick.

We recommend calling the vet to give you peace of mind. Provide them as much information as possible (highlighting the answers to the above questions) so that the vet can determine whether it is necessary for your pet to be taken to the clinic. In the meantime, keep a close watch of your dog’s behavior and act accordingly if they start to show signs of distress.

What about almond-based products?

While almond is unsafe for dogs, that doesn’t necessarily mean all almond-based foods are dangerous to pets. You may want to read more about whether it is safe for dogs to eat products like almond oil, almond butter, and almond flour. We also offer a guide to human food for dogs if you want to learn more about what is or isn’t safe for dogs to eat.