You’re on a hike with your beloved best friend, and you’re sitting down to take a break. You brought a bag of pecans with you, and you only now realize you forgot to pack a snack for your pooch. Is it safe to share your pecans with your dog, or are you better off waiting until you get back home to indulge his appetite?
Are Pecans Safe for Dogs to Eat?
As a dog owner, you want to make the best choices for your furry friends. You don’t want to make a mistake that could harm your dog’s health and result in both pain and suffering as well as hefty veterinarian bills. Therefore, you want to think carefully before sharing pecans or any other nuts with your dog.
If your gut instinct told you to hold off on giving pecans to your dog, you made the right choice. Pecans are very toxic to dogs, and it’s important that they be avoided.
What Are the Dangers of a Dog Eating Pecans?
A pecan is the seed of the hickory tree. They look like longer, slimmer, darker walnuts, and much like walnuts, they come in a hard shell. They contain many nutrients that are important for humans, such as omega-6 fatty acids and fiber, but they unfortunately also contain juglone, a substance that is poisonous to dogs.
If you drop a pecan on the floor and your dog devours it before you get the chance to intervene, don’t panic. A single seed or even a small handful of pecans isn’t likely to harm your dog. In most cases, even a large amount won’t kill a dog, but it could cause serious illness. However, there is an exception. Sometimes, pecans can become infested with mold due to being improperly stored or transported through humid environments. The mold that develops can sometimes cause a fatal reaction in dogs. Therefore, you should always strictly avoid allowing your dog access to pecans even in tiny amounts.
If you have a hickory tree in the yard, you most likely have nothing to worry about. Since pecans come in a protective outer shell that must be cracked apart to get to the edible seed inside, your dog most likely won’t have any exposure to them. However, if your dog tends to eat random things or chew on anything he can find, you might want to keep an eye on the situation.
