Why dogs should not have it
Almonds are not poisonous to dogs the way macadamia nuts are, but a dog's digestion is not made for them. Hard almonds are difficult to chew, and a small dog can choke on one or, if it swallows one whole, end up with a blocked gut.
They contain a lot of fat, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some dogs, inflammation of the pancreas. Salted, smoked or flavoured almonds carry a lot of salt, and chocolate-coated ones are dangerous. If your dog vomits more than once after eating almonds, will not eat or has a painful belly, contact a vet.
What to watch out for
- A small dog can choke on an almond.
- A whole almond that is swallowed can block the gut.
- The fat can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and inflammation of the pancreas.
- Salted and flavoured almonds carry a lot of salt, and chocolate-coated ones are dangerous to dogs.
- If your dog chokes, vomits more than once, will not eat or has a painful belly, contact a vet.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Carrots Yes, carrots are fine for dogs: raw or cooked, unseasoned and cut into pieces, they make a crunchy, low-calorie treat. Safe
- Apples Yes, apples are fine for dogs: give small pieces without the core and seeds, as an occasional treat. Safe
- Cucumbers Yes, fresh cucumber is fine for dogs: it is mostly water and low in calories, but do not give pickled cucumbers. Safe