Dogs like to eat different foods in addition to the usual croquettes, such as homemade dog biscuits and even some human foods, such as pasta or bread. But what about nuts? Can you reward them with nuts or peanuts? Experts explain this in this article and explain why nuts are dangerous for dogs – even toxic macadamia nuts – and how to reward them with peanuts safely.
In addition to daily food: how to reward dogs?
The same food day after day in the bowl can be boring for dogs. Dogs enjoy other foods besides croquettes: among them, these homemade dog dishes and human meals that can be shared with the four-legged friend without danger.
But to reward the dog with food without interrupting its balanced diet, there are some rules that must be known, such that the calories incorporated into the canine diet through premiums never exceed 10% of the dog’s daily calories. This rule should be followed both with commercial canine snacks, homemade dog biscuits, and the fruits that the dog eats.
But how many awards can the dog receive per day? To answer that question, you must first know the calories needed to ingest the can. And how to calculate which portion of food you should eat to be healthy and not be overweight?
A pet dog weighing around 4 kilograms requires between 200 and 275 calories per day. A dog weighing 9 kilograms will need between 300 and 400 calories per day. A dog weighing 22 kilograms will require between 700 and 900.
So How many edible prizes can be offered to the dog? If your dog weighs about 4 kilos, you will need to allocate a maximum of about 25 calories per day in prizes, about 35 calories.
Nutritional composition of chestnuts
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of raw nuts they have:
- Water: 43.95 g
- Energy: 224 kcal
- Proteins: 4.20 g
- Carbohydrates: 49.07 g
- Calcium: 18 mg
- Iron: 1.41 mg
- Magnesium: 84 mg
- Phosphorus: 96 mg
- Potassium: 447 mg
- Sodium: 3 mg
- Zinc: 0.87 mg
- Vitamin C: 36 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.41 mg
- Vitamin A: 10 μg
- Saturated fatty acids: 0.164 g
- Monounsaturated fatty acids: 0.581 g
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids: 0.288 g
Although, at first glance, the number of certain elements is high, it must be remembered that we are talking about 100 grams of chestnuts, an amount in which we must not hit the animal at once, and then we will see why.
Can dogs eat nuts?
Nuts are known for their high caloric capacity: Only 100 grams of nuts contain about 650 calories. But it turns out that, in addition, nuts are dangerous for dogs, as they cause digestive problems. They can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a thickening that, besides being very painful, can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Walnut is a dangerous food for dogs . And the same goes for chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic or avocado, among others: while humans can safely eat them, they are dangerous for dogs.
And among nuts, especially dangerous for dogs, is the so-called macadamia nut, a common ingredient in cookies and other sweets. The effects of macadamia nuts on dogs are not minor. This fruit can cause severe vomiting and generalized weakness, in addition to a dangerous drop in body temperature (hypothermia), which can compromise the functioning of a dog’s vital organs for days.
Benefits of chestnuts for dogs
Now that we know that dogs can eat nuts in a controlled and moderate way, what benefits do they bring?
They promote bone and dental health
Due to the amount of calcium they have, nuts are good for improving the condition of your dog’s teeth and bones. For this, it is essential to follow proper dental hygiene and perform adequate exercises, as the performance of physical activities not recommended for the animal can harm the health of bones and joints, despite consuming calcium in their diet.
Improve intestinal transit
Properly offered, they favor the dog’s intestinal flora, thanks to its amount of fiber. However, in excess, it can have the opposite effect, causing intestinal problems instead of improving traffic. That is why respecting the dose of consumption is essential.
How to give chestnuts to a dog
As we noted in the previous sections, dogs can eat chestnuts from time to time and in small quantities, ideally not offering more than one. In addition, it is not advisable to offer this dried fruit every day, as an excess of its consumption can produce the following health problems:
- Flatulence
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sad
- Stomachache
On the other hand, if you have never offered this food to your dog before, we recommend that you first try a piece of chestnut and observe its reaction. If the dog has no allergy symptoms, you can continue to provide the fruit as a reward or treatment. Also, if your dog tends not to chew the food, remember that the nuts are very hard in consistency and can get stuck in the throat and even cause choking.