---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts?"
description: "Almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts and pets: risky — depends on amount or preparation. What it does, and how dogs, cats and other pets differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/nuts/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts?

**Almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts: Risky — depends on amount or preparation**

Dogs: Risky · Cats: Risky

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | Risky | Mostly not toxic, but high in fat, easy to choke on, and often salted. |
| Cats | Risky | Same, and of no dietary interest. |

## What it actually does

Almonds, cashews and peanuts are not poisonous to dogs, but they are dense in fat, frequently salted, and shaped to lodge in a windpipe or an intestine. Walnuts are a separate case: black walnuts and mouldy walnuts of any kind can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause seizures, and fallen nuts under a tree are the usual source. Macadamias have their own entry because they cause a specific and well-documented syndrome.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Store cupboard

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Peanut butter | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Macadamia nuts | Toxic | Toxic | Risky |
| Salt, salt dough and sea water | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Raw bread dough | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Bread | Not safe | In moderation | In moderation |
| Popcorn | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Mostly not toxic, but high in fat, easy to choke on, and often salted.

### Can cats eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Same, and of no dietary interest.

### What does almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts actually do?

Almonds, cashews and peanuts are not poisonous to dogs, but they are dense in fat, frequently salted, and shaped to lodge in a windpipe or an intestine. Walnuts are a separate case: black walnuts and mouldy walnuts of any kind can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause seizures, and fallen nuts under a tree are the usual source. Macadamias have their own entry because they cause a specific and well-documented syndrome.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat peanut butter?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/peanut-butter/)
- [Can pets eat macadamia nuts?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/macadamia-nuts/)
- [Can pets eat salt, salt dough and sea water?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/salt/)
- [Can pets eat raw bread dough?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/bread-dough/)
- [Can pets eat bread?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/bread/)
- [Can pets eat popcorn?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/popcorn/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- Animal Poison Control Center — toxic and non-toxic lists — ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)