Yes, dogs can eat plain cashews in moderation. Salted and seasoned cashews are not safe for dogs to eat. However, it is also essential to check with your vet to introduce cashew to your dog.
Table of Contents
What Are Cashews?
Cashew tree is a tropical tree that yields cashew seeds and red cashew fruit, known as cashew apple. The tree may reach a height of 14 meters. However, dwarf cultivars with the height of up to 6 meters are more economical because of their earlier maturity and higher yields.
Caju, sometimes known as acaju, is the Portuguese term for the cashew tree’s fruit, derived from the Tupian word acaj, which means “nut that generates itself.”
Are Cashews Safe for Dogs?
Cashews are safe for dogs in moderation. Though cashews aren’t toxic for dogs, it is essential to avoid a few types of cashews, as they can harm your dog.
Salted cashews: Your dog should never be given salted cashews as they get their daily sodium requirement from their dog food. Excessive salt can also cause severe health issues in dogs.
Seasoned cashews: Seasoned cashews contain various spices like paprika, red chili powder, onion, garlic powder et cetera. These ingredients can cause tremendous harm to your dog. Henceforth, it is best to avoid such kinds of cashews.
Whole cashews: Cashews are small in size. The whole cashew can cause a choking hazard, which can be fatal for your dog.
Shelled cashews: Shelled cashews can be dangerous to your dogs, as they might rupture the esophagus, throat, intestine and can cause organ damage.
Decayed cashews: Check the cashew nuts for mold before providing them to your dog. Some types of mold contain aflatoxin, which disrupts your pet’s stomach, causing bowel obstruction or even liver failure.
Avoid feeding other nuts to your pets, such as walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, black walnuts, and pecans.
Why Are Cashews Good for Dogs?
Cashews are packed with nutrients and can be highly beneficial to your dog if the 10% rule is maintained. If your dog is malnourished and underweight, cashews can be of great help. However, your veterinarian will be the best to provide you with the number of cashews that can aid your underweight dog. Cashews must be an occasional treat to keep your dog healthy with the nutrients it provides.
Dietary fiber: Fiber is an excellent source of nutrients for a dog’s digestive system. The healthy bacteria usually found in your dog’s colon digest fiber into fatty acids. This fatty acid then aids in the recovery of the colon by preventing the expansion of any harmful bacteria.
Unsaturated fat: They aid in absorbing specific vitamins known as fat-soluble vitamins. Oils and fats in your dog’s food make his coat lustrous and healthy. Unsaturated fats are also necessary for reproduction.
Vitamin E: One of your dog’s defenses against oxidative damage is vitamin E. Cell function and fat metabolism are also dependent on this fat-soluble vitamin. Deficiencies can cause vision and muscle deterioration, as well as reproductive issues.
Vitamin K: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble substance required to create coagulation proteins necessary for clotting blood. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), which is generated in plants and maybe ingested through food or supplements, is the most common dietary source of Vitamin K.
Zinc: Zinc is necessary for thyroid and immune system function. Zinc deficiency in dogs can cause various issues, including infection prevention.
Protein: Protein aids in the formation of new skin cells, hair growth, and the development of organs, enzymes, antibodies, hormones, and other biological functions.
Omega 3: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid component, helps puppies develop their brains and eyes properly. DHA may also help dogs with canine cognitive impairment and enhance their cognitive function. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have been proven in studies to aid in the treatment of canine arthritis and chronic renal disease.
Omega 6: Reproduction, growth, immunological responses, and skin and coat health necessitate omega-6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid, is also required in the diet of dogs, making it an essential fatty acid for them.
Antioxidants: Chronic inflammation, a collective accumulation of complicated health conditions in dogs, are neutralized by antioxidants. Antioxidant therapy may help with any chronic autoimmune illness.
Flavonoids: Cancer is a common diagnosis in dogs over the age of ten, and due to a lack of effective treatments, it is a significant cause of mortality. Flavonoids have been explored as chemopreventive drugs because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic characteristics.
Calcium: Calcium is an essential dietary component for your dog’s health. It is required for bone and tooth development, nerve impulse transmission, cell communication, muscle contraction, and blood coagulation. Therefore, it’s critical for your dog’s general health that he gets adequate calcium.
Magnesium: At the cellular level, magnesium is involved in energy generation. Magnesium is required to allow the passage of energy whenever your pet moves a muscle, has a heartbeat, or has thought.
Copper: Copper is necessary for developing bones, connective tissue, collagen, and myelin in dogs (the protective covering of nerves). Copper also aids iron absorption in the body, making it a key component of red blood cell function.
Iron: Iron is a mineral that your dog’s body needs to accomplish critical processes, including transporting oxygen throughout the body in the hemoglobin of red blood cells so that her cells can make energy. Iron is also required to function various enzymes in the body properly.
Manganese: Manganese is required to produce energy, metabolize protein and carbs, and form fatty acids in dogs. Manganese is a component of many enzymes and aids in the health and preservation of bone and cartilage in joints.
Phosphorus: In dogs, phosphorus is necessary for maintaining healthy kidney function. Your puppy’s kidneys must be beneficial to drain toxins from his body through pee efficiently. As a result, he can stay in the most significant physical form possible. In addition, phosphorus aids motor function by assisting muscle contractions. This allows your dog to conduct typical duties such as walking, chewing, and following you on your morning runs. Phosphorus also aids your dog in maintaining a regular heart rate, which is especially important during activity.
Why Are Cashews Bad for Dogs?
Even though cashews guarantee health benefits to your dog, it also has its downsides. Feeding cashews regularly can affect an active or overweight dog. The consequences your dog might face due to cashew intake are:
Allergy: Localized or widespread skin itching is the most frequent symptom linked with allergies. Coughing, sneezing, and wheezing are symptoms that affect the respiratory system. There may be a flowing discharge from the eyes or nose occasionally. Allergic reactions in your pet include:
Hives
Swelling
Itching
Redness of skin
Fiber: High fiber levels induce digestive issues and prevent normal nutritional absorption. Dogs, unlike humans, are carnivores, meaning they prefer meat to plant-based foods to meet their dietary demands. Over consumption of fiber affects your pet in the following ways:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Gastrointestinal issues
Gas
Dehydration
Acidity
Fat: High-fat diet can induce too many health issues in dogs. Almost all dogs are prone to fat-related problems due to poor and unsupervised diets. The symptoms of consuming high-fat food are:
Obesity
Weight gain
Lethargy
Diabetes
Heart issues
Joint issues
Liver issues
Pancreatitis
Kidney problems
Bladder stone
Cashew shell: Cashew shells contain anacardic acid, which is toxic for dogs. Consuming the shell can trigger:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hypoglycemia
Cardiac arrest
Weakness
Lethargy
How Many Cashews to Feed your Dog?
Moderation is the key! 3 – 4 raw or roasted cashews for a 20-pound dog per day is perfectly fine. However, it is necessary to consult with your vet before offering cashew to your dog. The vet should first diagnose whether your dog has any health condition. In addition, it is essential to follow the 10% rule while treating your dog with cashews.
How to Serve Cashews to Your Dog?
Here is a dog-friendly recipe that will help you add cashews to your dog’s diet!
Slice bananas and rest them in the freezer for 4 hours.
Add cashew, butter, yogurt, sliced banana in a blender and blend them smooth.
Serve it with some shredded fresh fruit or a dog treat.
What If My Dog Ate Cashews?
If your dog accidentally ate salted, seasoned, shelled, and whole cashews, take him to the veterinarian immediately to rule out the issues.
Excessive addition of salt and seasonings can show the following symptoms in your dog:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Disorientation
Convulsions
Dehydration
Consuming shelled cashews will show the symptoms mentioned below in your dog:
Weakness
Panting
Chest pain
Vomiting
Choking
Coughing
Consuming the whole cashew will affect your dog in the following ways:
Coughing
Choking
Whining
Panting
Restlessness
Elevated heart rate
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat macadamia nuts?
No, dogs cannot eat macadamia nuts as they induce vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, ataxia, hyperthermia.
Can dogs eat peanuts?
Yes, dogs can eat raw, roasted, and dry peanuts in moderation.
Can dogs eat cashew butter?
Yes, dogs can eat cashew butter if it is homemade! However, if the cashew butter is store-bought, make sure to check the ingredients.
Can dogs eat cashew milk?
Yes, dogs can eat cashew milk in moderation as it is made with dry, unsalted cashews and water.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Cashews?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw cashews in moderation. However, ensure that the raw cashews are fresh, free from molds, and unsalted without seasonings or spices when bought from the store.
Final Thoughts
Winding up the reading, we can rightly state that unsalted cashew in moderation is beneficial for dogs! They provide enormous healthy nutritions which aids in the overall dog gut. After consulting with the vet, it is best to introduce cashew to your dog. Ensure a healthy and happy life for your dog!
