Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Woody Pet

Can Dogs Eat Pistachios?

Ah, pistachios. We all are familiar with these green nuts with white shells. These are the kinds of snacks that you would often find in bowls placed in the dining rooms of most people, and being such a delicious delicacy to have at arm’s reach, it is quite a handy and convenient snack to have around the house.

But as much as you enjoy snacking on pistachios, is it safe to share some of it to your dog?

In this topic, we are going to discuss the query: “Can dogs eat pistachios?”

Some say that they can eat pistachios because there have been no claims that they are in any way poisonous or dangerous to dogs. Others would counter by stating arguments that cite pistachios containing empty calories and serving no nutritional benefits whatsoever to your pet.

Whichever the case may be, let us discuss in greater detail what the implications and benefits are, as well as all sorts of expectations to have when you decide to incorporate pistachios into your dog’s diet.

Can Dogs Eat Pistachio Ice Cream? Here Are the Pistachio Nutritional Facts You Should Know

Pistachios, if you are not aware, are quite nutritious. They contain approximately two hundred ninety-one milligrams of potassium, one hundred fifty-nine calories, thirty-four milligrams of magnesium, somewhere between five to six grams of protein, an approximate two to three grams of sugar and fructose, between twelve to thirteen grams of fat, three grams of fiber and an estimated eight grams of carbohydrates.

As for vitamins, pistachios contain the following: Vitamin A with eight percent of the Daily Value, Calcium with ten percent of the Daily Value, Vitamin C with nine percent of the Daily Value, Iron with twenty-one percent of the Daily Value, Vitamin B6 with eighty-five percent of the Daily Value and Magnesium with thirty percent of the Daily Value. Pistachios do not contain any Vitamin D or Cobalamin.

On a positive note, pistachios are abundant with Vitamin B6, which is responsible for maintaining and regulating the functions of your dog’s nervous system, as well as the production and release of hormones such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

On a negative note, the numbers above tell us that pistachios contain lots of fat, carbohydrates, protein, and calories. If in the perspective of health and wellness, it is not advisable nor encouraged that you should feed your dog pistachios especially if your pet is suffering from obesity.

The numbers also tell us that pistachios, despite being healthy themselves, do not have as much nutritional value as vegetables or certain types of nuts, and should therefore be skipped as an option if you were to consider what type of snacks to feed your dog but wanting to maintain a healthy lifestyle for it.

Can Dogs Eat Pistachio Nuts Every Day

Trail mix that you often find yourself munching on or the kind of snacks that you toss to dogs often includes an amalgamation of pistachios, cashews, and all sorts of nuts which are often indistinguishable from one another, save their flavors, textures, and overall crunch.

Pistachios by themselves are not toxic nor poisonous to dogs, but it should not deter you from exercising caution when feeding any of it to your pet dog.

Pistachios are quite abundant in fat, despite them comprising of many kinds of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you feed your dog as few pistachios as possible.

If your dog is fed excess food that is rich in fat such as pistachios, the health risks that may come about it would be substantially alarming. 

Upset stomachs, gastrointestinal ulcers, and diarrhea are the early onsets of a dog has eaten too many pistachios. If left unaided and untreated, it can lead to bloody feces and obesity in the long term.

Therefore, pistachios are best handled and given as treats or rewards. A handful of peeled pistachios should be enough for a day’s worth of snacks.

Pistachio Preparations – Is There Something I Need To Keep Note About Pistachios?

For one, pistachios belong to the family Anacardiaceae, with cousins such as poison ivy and cashews. One thing these cousins have in common is that they all contain urushiol, a rather nasty compound that can cause reactions that are usually associated with allergies and irritants. 

Another thing to keep in mind is the pistachio shells. These are quite hard and may pose choking hazards to your dog. It may also pose a source of injury if your dog improperly chews it and wounds its mouth and throat. Therefore, it is imperative that the pistachio shells be discarded properly away from paw reach from your dog.

Pistachios often come pre-packaged and mixed with assorted kinds of nuts. It should be worth mentioning that these mixes might contain high amounts of flavoring and salts, and you as a dog owner should therefore exercise extra precautions when feeding these mixes to your dog.

Salts inhibit thirst and water retention for dogs, and mild symptoms would simply be a dog panting for water. Severe symptoms would be dehydration which if left untreated for long lengths of time might require medical attention in the veterinary clinic.

Pistachios are best given in a few amounts, skinned, unsalted, and unseasoned if possible. A handful would suffice.

After much deliberation and consideration of the query “Can dogs eat pistachios?”, we have arrived at the following conclusions:

Yes, dogs can eat pistachios, but the onus is that they must be fed with as few pistachios as possible. With the rarity to that of treats and rewards. 

Pistachios are rich in fat, and should therefore be limited when being fed to dogs.

The shells pose a choking hazard to some smaller breeds of dogs and should therefore be properly discarded and kept from paw’s reach.

Raw, skinned, unseasoned, and unsalted pistachios are the best sort. The most that a dog can eat pistachios in a day is a handful.

As with any other kind of food, pistachios should only be given to dogs in moderation.