Can Golden Retrievers Eat Almonds? No, Many Risks Involved!

Nutty about your golden retriever?

You’re not alone. Golden retrievers are incredible creatures, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to ensure that they get the best of everything—especially with food.

Lots of pet owners have questions about what dogs can eat and what they should avoid, so we’ve put together a blog post to address some of the most common questions we get: can golden retrievers eat almonds?

The answer is complicated though! In moderation, almonds are a great source of protein, minerals and vitamins for dogs. But don’t start feeding your furry friend handfuls of almonds just yet—there are a few things you should know first.

Are almonds safe for golden retrievers?

The short answer is: no.

While almonds may be a delicious treat for humans, they are not safe for golden retrievers.

Almonds are difficult to digest, and they can cause a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in your dog.

If you notice your dog has eaten almonds or if it shows symptoms of an upset stomach, contact your veterinarian immediately. It may be necessary for your vet to perform surgery on your dog if the almond becomes lodged in their throat or if it causes damage to their digestive system.

Can golden retrievers’ puppies eat almonds?

The short answer is: Not at all.

Almonds are a type of nut that humans can eat. We find them in many foods and are popular as a snack food on their own. Almonds are high in protein, fiber, Vitamin E, and magnesium.

However, dogs cannot eat almonds. They have far too much fat for dogs to handle, even though the consensus for many years was that they were fine for dogs to consume in small amounts.

Besides being bad for puppies’ digestive systems, almonds also pose a severe choking hazard and can cause blockages in the throat or esophagus that require emergency surgery.

So no, golden retrievers’ puppies should not be fed almonds at all.

What happens if my golden retriever eats almonds?

Symptoms include blockages, water retention, upset tummy, bladder and kidney stones, and allergies.

Blockages: The fats in almonds can cause blockages in your dog’s intestines. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, which will present as loose stools or completely liquid stools. A lot of abdominal pain will accompany this and may escalate to an emergency if not treated by a veterinarian quickly.

Water Retention: Almonds contain saturated fats that lead to water retention in the body. If your dog has eaten almonds, you may find that he is bloated or his stomach seems larger than normal. This presents as a very full-looking stomach that feels soft, but easy. Water retention can also cause more frequent urination and thirstiness.

Upset Tummy: Almonds are high in fat, which can cause an upset tummy for your dog. Symptoms of an upset tummy include lack of appetite and lethargy; you may find that your dog does not want to eat his food or play with his toys for several days after eating almonds.

Bladder and Kidney Stones: Although these symptoms aren’t directly related to eating almonds, they’re common in dogs who have eaten almonds. Watch out for frequent urination, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, and/or vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog’s eaten almonds, contact your vet right away.

Obesity: If your golden retriever eats almonds, he could become obese. This is especially true if he already has a weight problem. Obesity can cause a host of health problems.

Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis occurs when a dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed from eating too many foods high in fat like almonds. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and/or abdominal pain.

Allergies: Almonds can cause skin irritation and itching in some dogs. If you notice your dog scratching more than usual after eating almonds, consider talking to your vet about allergy treatments.

What to do if your golden retrievers eat too much almonds?

If you think your golden retrievers have eaten too many almonds, it is important to assess the situation and act accordingly. If you are unsure whether your golden retrievers have eaten too many almonds, contact your vet for clarification.

It is important to remember that both raw and roasted almonds can be toxic for your golden retrievers.

If you know or believe that your golden retrievers have eaten any amount of almonds, follow these steps:

1. Remove any remaining almonds from the vicinity of your golden retrievers. This will prevent them from eating any more almonds than they already have.

2. Try not to panic! Your golden retrievers will sense if you are panicking, and this will make them even more stressed than they already are.

3. Monitor your golden retrievers carefully for the next few hours (or overnight). If they are showing any signs of illness (such as vomiting), take them to an emergency animal hospital immediately.

4. Contact your vet and inform them that your golden retrievers may have ingested too many almonds. They will give you further instructions and advice on what to do next.

How to prevent your golden retriever from eating almonds?

As a golden retriever owner, you know how much joy your dog brings to your life. You also know that you need to protect your golden retriever from anything that might harm them, including almonds.

We know golden retrievers for their eagerness to please humans and their willingness to eat just about anything they can find. This makes them vulnerable to choking on almonds, which can cause them to die if they don’t get medical attention immediately.

To keep your golden retriever safe, it’s important that you educate your family about the potential danger of almonds in golden retrievers so everyone understands why it’s important not to feed even small amounts of almonds or other similar nuts to golden retrievers.

Store almond-containing foods in places where your golden retriever cannot access them, such as high shelves or cabinets with doors that stay shut. Consider using a baby-gate to keep your golden retriever out of the kitchen and eating areas when no one is around – this will ensure there is no chance that they will leave any almonds lying around for them to find.

Teaching your golden retriever the “leave it” command can also help prevent him from eating almonds. The “leave it” command tells your golden retriever that he should leave something alone and stay away from it.

Another way to ensure that he does not eat them is by crate training him. Make his crate a comfortable and safe place for him by offering toys and treats when he goes inside so that he will want to stay in there without being forced inside.

Find out if your golden retrievers can eat other treats

So, can golden retrievers eat almonds?

The answer is no. Almonds are toxic to golden retrievers in any form, and they can cause several problems.

The first reason your dog shouldn’t eat almonds is that they are high in fat, with one ounce containing 14 grams of fat. Dogs already have all the fat they need from their regular diets. If you give your dog too much fat, it can lead to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. In more severe cases, pancreatitis can cause weight loss and liver failure.

The second reason that dogs shouldn’t eat almonds is that they aren’t digestible. Almonds have a hard shell that dogs’ stomachs can’t break down easily. Even if they chew almonds enough to swallow them, the nut can get stuck in their intestines or stomachs and block them off completely. This could require surgery to correct—and it’s dangerous.