Safety guide
Is Cashews safe for dogs?
A few plain, unsalted cashews are usually OK, but they are high in fat (pancreatitis with excess) and salted ones are a problem. Keep it rare and small.
Cashews are not toxic to dogs, and a few plain, unsalted, roasted cashews as an occasional treat are usually tolerated. The main concerns are fat and salt: cashews are high in fat, so regular or large amounts can cause stomach upset and, over time, contribute to pancreatitis and weight gain. Salted cashews add an unhealthy sodium load. Whole nuts can also be a choking hazard for small dogs. Only ever give a small number of plain, unsalted cashews rarely, and avoid mixed nuts entirely — these often contain macadamia nuts, which are genuinely toxic to dogs.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Lethargy and loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain or a hunched posture (a sign of pancreatitis)
- Excessive thirst if the cashews were salted
What to do immediately
- 1Stop feeding cashews and store nuts out of reach
- 2Provide fresh water, especially if they were salted
- 3Monitor for vomiting, diarrhoea or signs of abdominal pain
- 4If the nuts were from a mixed selection, check whether macadamias were included and call your vet if so
When to call your vet
Your dog ate a large quantity, or shows repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain or a hunched posture — these can signal pancreatitis.
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