Can Dogs Eat Almonds?
It's not recommended. Sweet almonds aren't toxic like macadamia nuts, but they're hard, difficult to digest and very fatty: they can get stuck in the intestine or cause diarrhea and pancreatitis.
Why it's dangerous
An almond is 2-3 cm (about 1 in) long and hard, and dogs tend to swallow it without chewing, so in small dogs it can cause choking or get stuck in the esophagus or intestine. Almonds have about 50 g of fat per 100 g, and eating a lot at once can cause vomiting, diarrhea and, in dogs prone to it, pancreatitis. Salted, fried, candied or chocolate-covered almonds are even worse.
The sweet almonds we buy to eat contain almost no amygdalin. Bitter almonds do contain a lot and can release cyanide, but they aren't sold for eating as they are. In the US and UK, dogs most often get almonds through flavored snack almonds, trail mix, marzipan, almond bark and holiday candy like Jordan almonds, with sugar, honey and sometimes chocolate.
Is any amount safe?
There's no recommended amount. A single plain almond in a large dog doesn't usually cause anything, but it offers nothing their food doesn't, and the blockage risk isn't worth it.
Risks
- Blockage of the esophagus or intestine
- High fat: diarrhea and pancreatitis
- Salted, fried, candied or chocolate-covered almonds
- Bitter almonds with amygdalin
- Marzipan, nougat and candy-coated almonds
Frequently asked questions
Are almonds toxic to dogs?
Sweet almonds aren't toxic like macadamia nuts or grapes. The problem is that they're hard and fatty: they can cause blockages, vomiting, diarrhea and, in dogs prone to it, pancreatitis. That's why we don't recommend them. Bitter almonds do contain amygdalin and are more dangerous, but they're rarely eaten as they are.
What happens if my dog eats an almond?
If your dog is medium or large and it was a single plain almond, most likely nothing will happen. For a couple of days, check that they eat, poop and don't vomit. If your dog is small, ate a lot, or the almonds were salted, chocolate-covered or from a candy, call your vet.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.