People often call dogs their best friends. These are four-legged animals that people tame as pets, hunting, or for guarding. There are different breeds of dogs. Due to its close association with humans, dogs usually thrive on a starch-rich diet. The digestive system of humans and dogs are indifferent, which means there are some human foods that dogs cannot feed. However, many foods are also safe for dog consumption and provide significant nutritional benefits. So, here we will find out can dogs eat pecans.
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What are pecans?
Pecans are famous in North America and many parts of Mexico. People often use these in pies, cakes, muffins, and many others.
These are great snacks as they contain significant nutritional value. The pecans contain healthy unsaturated fats and also include a lot of vitamins and minerals.
People use pecans mostly in preparing foods like desserts. The pecans are rich in nutty and buttery flavor and have good fat content as vegetable products.
It also contains fats healthy for hearts and reduces the risk of various heart diseases caused due to high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Pecans also have significant health benefits when it comes to humans. It can keep good heart health, helps in managing diabetes, gives arthritis relief, and causes the prevention of various diseases.
Can dogs eat pecans?
If the dog somehow ingests a pecan or eats a large amount of it, the immediate symptoms can be vomiting and diarrhea.
These symptoms usually last a few hours; however, in more severe cases, the vomiting and diarrhea may become intense and can be fatal to dogs if left untreated.
Thus of severe conditions, it is vital to visit the vet at once. Other symptoms are loss of appetite, weakness, yellowing of eyes and gums, reddish urine, blood in stools, and even difficulty urinating.
Thus, the answer to can dogs eat pecans is that they should not!
How can pecans cause harm to your dogs?
Pecans are of the foods that you should feed dogs in limits. One or two pieces cannot harm your dog; however, eating in larger volumes can pose considerable threats to the dog’s digestive system and also overall health.
Juglone is present in pecans
Despite being a delicious food, pecans contain a toxin named juglone. Juglone poses a significant threat to the dogs.
In addition, naphthoquinone is one of the parent compounds present in many nuts. It becomes hazardous in exposure to oxygen.
The juglone present in the leaves and nuts of pecans is not enough to harm humans but can be very dangerous to dogs.
Eating large amounts of pecans can give signs of poisoning like vomiting, diarrhea, irregular urination, and even fatigue.
If left untreated, too much juglone in the system of dogs can be fatal. Therefore, you should take dogs to a vet if they show these signs.
High calories
For the dogs most likely to be overweight, the nuts like pecans are a big bummer. The high calorie can lead to a higher increase in weight, and it becomes tough for your dogs to move.
The alternative for pecans can be low-calorie green beans or air-popped popcorns free of butter and salt. Sometimes a small amount of peanut butter is also a good treat for dogs.
Mycotoxins in pecans
Although it is not purely visible to the naked eye, the pecans are likely to grow molds. The pecans fall into the family of tremorgenic mycotoxins.
The fungi produce these mycotoxins and cause neurotoxicosis in dogs. It can also lead to cancer in dogs. Since mold and fungal presence are primarily invisible to the naked eye, keeping these foods away from the dogs is best.
Problems in the digestive system
Concerning effects in the digestive system add up to the reasons why dogs can not eat pecans:
Problems in the intestine
Pecans are one of the favorites for people as a snack. It contains protein, fibers, vitamins, and even antioxidants; hence, people like this very much.
However, the pecans are also rich in fat which causes gastrointestinal problems in the dogs like excessive gas and diarrhea. Moreover, regular consumption can lead to gastroenteritis.
Hard to digest
Nuts like pecans are harsh for the dog’s stomach. Some animals like squirrels can easily digest nuts without any issue; dogs are not one of them.
However, the compounds like phytates and tannins present in the pecans pose great difficulty for dogs to digest and cause side effects.
Size can cause choking
Pecans are large and bumpy and often cause choking in dogs. Hence, size is also an important point to consider while giving it to dogs.
Depending on the size and shape of pecans, these are most likely to cause choking and even intestinal blockages, especially in the case of small breeds. Blockages can lead to seizures, and you can also die due to this.
Problems in the pancreas
The high-fat content can also lead to the cause of Pancreatitis. It is a condition that causes irritation in the pancreas and also causes inflammation.
You should visit a vet if your dog has caught such a disease. Symptoms can be loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and even diarrhea. which means you should always have some male dog wraps handy. Some breeds are highly prone to this disease, and high fat protein can lead to irritation.
Coatings
People like to eat nuts like pecans coated with ingredients like cocoa or spices like garlic or pepper, having high salt content. However, these are dangerous to your dogs and can cause gastrointestinal issues.
Some dogs are likely to develop high blood pressure from eating a lot of salt, and some can even develop urinary stones. These coatings can also cause distress in the heart or kidney.
Can dogs eat nuts for benefits?
We have already understood how pecans can harm our dogs. Now let us see if there are any benefits from pecans that may answer the question focusing on “can dogs eat pecans?”
Nuts like pecans are rich in healthy fats and protein. It also contains fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins and tends to lower cholesterol levels.
Pecans are also likely to be rich in antioxidants and have a sweet flavor to them. To have all these nutritional values, the dogs also have to consume a good amount of pecans. However, despite having such dietary value for humans, pecans are not suitable for dogs.
These nuts will likely affect the liver, cause stones in the bladder, and upset the gastro intestine. These toxic threats will most like outweigh any potential benefits the dogs get from pecans.
Treatment for poisoning with pecan
It is best to call a veterinarian or visit a vet immediately if your dogs have eaten a lot of pecans. They may likely examine the dog and will give possible treatments.
The treatments include vomiting with the help of activated charcoal or gastric lavage. In case of severe conditions, the vets will prescribe medications and an IV to treat the liver.
Can dogs eat any recipe with pecans like a pecan pie?
The plain pecans are already harmful to the dogs. Hence, Pecan pie, where we combine pecans with ingredients most likely to harm the dogs, will pose significant threats.
Human food contains a good amount of sugar which is bad for dogs. The sugar in the foods causes stomach upset and will most likely cause weight gain and thus obesity in dogs.
Even though the pecan pies are sugarless, you should not give them to dogs. Human foods contain a lot of artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which are very toxic to the dog.
Thus, it would help if you never gave any recipe for pecans to the dogs as these contain a lot of toxins, posing a threat to the overall health of the dogs.
Can dogs eat any nuts?
A vet will most likely recommend not feeding your dogs with nuts at all. There are still a few nuts like peanuts, almonds, and cashews, which, when provided in moderation, do not pose any danger to the dogs.
However, despite not having toxins like the pecans, these nuts will still cause choking hazards for your dog. These can also cause intestinal blockages and stomach distress.
People offer nut butter like those of peanuts and almonds to administer medications. However, it would be best to keep in mind that, like nuts, nut butter also contains high amounts of fats, calories, and salt.
Sometimes these also contain artificial sweeteners, which also pose a significant threat to the dog’s health.
For feeding your dog with walnuts, you should check on the type of walnuts to provide. People consider English Walnuts as generally a safe option for dogs; however, black walnuts are a big no for dogs.
Macadamia nuts are also a threat to dogs and can also cause symptoms like those of black walnuts. With or without shells, Pistachios can also cause choking hazards for dogs.
Other foods which can harm dogs
There are a lot of other foods that pose a threat to the dog’s health:
- Avocado contains persin, which causes toxicity in dogs resulting in vomiting and diarrhea
- Cherries as Cyanide is present in cherry pits and is poisonous to dogs
- The dogs cannot also eat chocolates, coffee, and caffeine, as they are also highly toxic
- Raisin, grapes, and citrus fruits are also a big no
- Cinnamon, onions, garlic, and chives can also cause vomiting and stomach pain in dogs.
Foods good for dogs
While many foods are safe for dogs, they need to be provided with extreme care:
White rice
White rice is a good source of food for dogs having an upset stomach. The white rice is easy to digest and also helps in binding stools. However, these can also cause a rise in blood sugar levels.
Apples
Apples are rich in Vitamins and contain fibers—this helps to regulate a dog’s digestion. However, rotten apples may cause alcohol poisoning.
Fish
Most of the fish are suitable for dogs and are a good source of protein. Salmon and Tuna are good sources of fatty acids, while shrimp also contain vitamins.
In addition, the fish improve the dog’s immune system and help regulate the digestive system and promote good circulation.
Dairy items
In small quantities, dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are safe for dogs. However, eating many dairy products may cause digestive problems, as the dogs have low lactase levels.
Therefore, dogs with lactose intolerance should completely ignore eating dairy products.
Chicken
Plain, boiled chicken without any seasoning is excellent for the upset belly of dogs.
Peanut butter
Peanut butter which is unsalted with no added sugar, is a safe option for dogs. It also contains a lot of vitamins and has excellent nutritional value. However, it would be best if you fed them in moderation.
Plain popcorn
Plain popcorn without any kinds of salt, butter, or sugar has excellent nutritional value for dogs. Popcorn contains a lot of minerals that can keep your dogs healthy. However, unpopped popcorn can cause them to choke.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a rich source of fiber for dogs which provides various health benefits to dogs.
Green beans
Plain green beans contain proteins, minerals, and vitamins and are a healthy snack for dogs. It would help if you fed dogs with unseasoned green beans.
Bananas
It is best to feed the dogs with bananas in moderation. These contain various minerals and are suitable for bones.
Watermelon
Watermelons are also safe food for dogs. However, it is necessary to remove the seeds as these can block the intestines.
Carrots
Carrots are good and very nutritious for dogs. Chewing these can often remove plaques for them and can also promote excellent dental health for dogs.
In addition, the carrots are rich in Vitamin A, beneficial to the dog’s immune system and skin. However, too many carrots can be toxic, so you should feed them in moderation.
Final thoughts
Thus we have a clear idea about the answer to the question “can dogs eat pecans?” We should try to keep the pecans and other nut-like foods away from dogs as these can cause extreme hazards to their health.
Many foods for humans are safe and nutritious to dogs too. However, it is best to feed the dogs with these foods in moderation. It’s better to take care of the human’s best friend with great caution.
