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Tailwise

Nuts & seeds

Can dogs eat hazelnuts?

A little In moderation

Hazelnuts aren’t toxic, but their size and shape make them a choking and blockage risk for dogs, and they are high in fat. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are dangerous.

Why Fat; mould on old nuts; chocolate in spreads

By Maya HartReviewed by Tailwise Editors ·

If your dog ate some

  1. A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
  2. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
  3. If your dog ate chocolate spread or a large amount, call your vet.

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Choking or blockage
  • Pancreatitis after a lot of nuts

How much, how often

Best avoided; at most a chopped nut.

Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories

Serving it safely

  • Avoid whole nuts for small dogs
  • Keep chocolate hazelnut spread well away
  • Mixed nuts may contain macadamias, which are toxic

Dogs and cats, side by side

Dogs In moderation

Hazelnuts aren’t toxic, but their size and shape make them a choking and blockage risk for dogs, and they are high in fat. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are dangerous.

How much: Best avoided; at most a chopped nut.

Cats In moderation

Not toxic, but fatty, hard to digest and a choking risk.

How much: Avoid.

Can cats eat hazelnuts?

The details

The main danger with hazelnuts is mechanical: small dogs can choke, and whole nuts can block the intestine. Chocolate hazelnut spread is a much bigger worry, because it contains cocoa and is very fatty. Hazelnuts picked up in autumn from under trees can also be mouldy.

Safer treats your dog can have instead

Questions owners ask

Can dogs eat hazelnuts?

Hazelnuts aren’t toxic, but their size and shape make them a choking and blockage risk for dogs, and they are high in fat. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are dangerous.

How much hazelnuts can a dog have?

Best avoided; at most a chopped nut.

What makes hazelnuts risky for dogs?

Fat; mould on old nuts; chocolate in spreads.

What are the signs to watch for in dogs?

vomiting and diarrhoea, choking or blockage, pancreatitis after a lot of nuts.

What should I do if my dog ate hazelnuts?

A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. If your dog ate chocolate spread or a large amount, call your vet.

Is hazelnuts safe for cats too?

Not toxic, but fatty, hard to digest and a choking risk.

Sources

  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: people foods to avoid
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: food hazards
  3. WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines

Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts

More foods for dogs

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