Cashews are kidney-shaped seeds sourced from a cashew tree. It is a dry fruit that is added to most of the desserts. We all love to eat cashews. They are rich in protein and fiber and are very good for our joints and bones. But are they similarly suitable for dogs? Have you ever shared cashews with your pets? If yes, did you find any problem? See, if you gave your pet 1-2 cashews, then it would not have created any problem. Cashews are good for dogs as long as they don’t ingest them in large amounts. If you are concerned for your pet, then you must know what is good for your dog and in what quantity? There is no doubt that cashews provide nutrients to your dogs, but if given in large amounts, it may cause certain problems.
Can Cashews Cause Health Problems?Are Cashews Bad for Pet Dogs?
Having 2-3 cashews once in a while is safe for your dog, but if eaten in large amounts, it can lead to various health problems such as:
1. Obesity: Cashews are creamy and contain fat in large quantities. If they are given in large quantities, then it could lead to obesity. In addition, cashews have a relatively high oxalate content. When eaten in large quantities, this can damage the kidney and can create other chronic health problems. If eating cashews in large amounts can harm humans, how can you expect it won’t harm the canines. You should feed them according to their daily calorie requirement and not more than that.
2. Stomach Upset: Cashews contain fat which causes stomach upset, diarrhea, gas, and vomiting, leading to even dehydration. Therefore, you must ensure that your pets do not eat cashews more than they are required to.
3. Pancreatitis: The high-fat content can also cause pancreatitis. It makes the pancreas inflammable because it is unable to break down the fat. Now, the question comes how you will find out the disease? The signs to watch for are abdominal pain, lethargy, and loss of appetite. If not treated on time, this disease can make life disgusting for your pet. If you are concerned about the severity, it’s better to give everything after consulting your vet.
If you will increase the diet of your pet, then it would pose a severe problem. Moreover, make sure that you do not give cashews to your dog before consulting your vet if your pet is already suffering from other diseases and undergoing medical treatment.
How To Feed Cashews to Dogs?
Some nuts can be dangerous for dogs which may include macadamia nuts. These nuts can be very toxic to your dog and can cause vomiting, cold intolerance, diarrhea, weakness, etc. Black walnuts, almonds, and pecans are nuts that can be harmful to your dogs. Therefore, it’s never recommended to give these nuts to your dog and ensure they are out of your pet’s reach when you are not with him to supervise. If still, you want your pet to eat at least 1-2 cashews, always choose a packaged and unsalted variety. Salted cashews should not be given to the ones with heart disease. Do not give your dogs unshelled cashews because shells contain a toxin called anacardic acid which can cause skin irritation. Ensure that the nuts you are feeding to your dog should not be chocolate-covered and sweetened with xylitol. Both chocolate and xylitol can create problems for your dog.
Conclusion
Let’s sum up everything that we got to know. Cashews are rich in protein and fiber but at the same time rich in fat which makes them unsuitable for the body when eaten in large quantities. It is inflammable and can cause pancreatitis because the pancreas is unable to break the fat. Other problems that can be caused by overeating are obesity, stomach upset, bladder stones, vomiting, etc. Nuts other than cashews such as almonds and pecans can be very harmful to dogs. If your dog is already undergoing medical treatment, you should first consult your vet before giving cashews to your dog. In short, if you want to live long with your pet dog, then avoid giving this type of harmful thing to your pet.
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I am a pet lover who spent her childhood in the company of a friendly Labrador Retriever. I believe that pets make our lives more enjoyable and stress-free. Currently, I have two budgies Kiwi & Koko as pets, and planning to adopt a pup soon. So, here I am, attempting to share my experiences and knowledge to improve the lives of pets and pet owners.