Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Become a credit card member today!Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!APPLY NOWLearn More About Petco Pay Benefits
Can Dogs Eat Cashews? What Pet Parents Should Know
Published on August 18th, 2022
Updated on June 16th, 2026
Do you have questions about whether or not it is safe to give your dog cashews? Petco has the answers to this & other canine diet questions!
As one of the healthiest nuts for humans, cashews are a staple in many households. If you’ve see your dog eyeing this tasty snack, you may have wondered, “Can dogs eat cashews?” or “Can dogs eat foods made with cashews?” Yes, dogs can eat plain cashews, but there are some important things to keep in mind before tossing a few of them in your pet’s direction. Always consult your veterinarian before adding any new food to your pup’s diet to ensure it’s an appropriate snack for them.
Cashews—like most nuts—are high in fat. While dogs need some fat in their diet for body maintenance, growth and development, too much of it can lead to health problems in dogs, just as it can in humans.
A couple of nuts as an occasional snack are unlikely to cause problems for your dog, but—if eaten regularly or in large quantities—can lead to gastrointestinal distress, obesity and pancreatic inflammation. The small size and curved shape of cashews can also present a choking hazard for your pup since they can easily become lodged in the esophagus. For these reasons, you should avoid feeding your dog cashews. If your dog happens to get to a few cashews, however, there is no immediate risk of toxicity.
Are Cashews Good for Dogs?
Your next question might be, “Are there health benefits for dogs who eat cashews?”
The answer to this is, not really.
Cashews offer no significant health benefits to dogs. While cashews are high in protein, the benefits of this protein are outweighed by their high fat content. Dogs should get all their required protein from a high-quality dog food. Commercially available dog food is nutritionally balanced, nutrient complete and formulated to meet your dog’s specific needs based on their age, breed and any underlying health conditions. If you decide to offer your pup cashews, feed them just a couple of nuts at a time and only on occasion.
Can dogs eat salted cashews? Salt and other flavorings are often added to cashews to make them tastier, but that lowers their value as a dog snack. If your dog consumes a large number of cashews, all the added salt can cause health problems, including dehydration, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney problems, tremors and even seizures. Some spices that are commonly added to nuts can also cause gastrointestinal distress and other health problems such as kidney failure, anemia and death if dogs ingest them in large quantities.
Another risk of feeding cashews to dogs is that packaged nuts are often mixed with other nuts that may be toxic to dogs. Macadamia nuts are particularly problematic. These nuts contain an as-yet-unidentified substance that causes vomiting, weakness (especially of the back legs), fever, imbalance and tremors in dogs who eat them. Dogs can develop these signs after consuming as little as one tenth of an ounce of nuts per two pounds of body weight. Besides macadamia nuts, other nuts that are commonly mixed with cashews that can also pose a choking hazard to dogs who eat them quickly without chewing include peanuts, almonds and pistachios.
How to Feed Cashews to Your Dog
Can dogs eat cashews safely? If you still want to offer your dog a cashew on occasion, here are the most important things to keep in mind:
- Limit your dog’s intake of cashews to only a couple of nuts on infrequent occasions
- Make sure that the cashew nuts you offer your dog contain no salt or other added seasonings
- Ensure that there aren’t any other nuts, especially macadamia nuts, mixed in with the cashews
- Monitor your dog closely after feeding them cashews to ensure they do not have an adverse reaction
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cashews toxic to dogs? Plain, unsalted cashews are not considered toxic to dogs. A couple of cashews eaten occasionally pose no immediate toxicity risk. However, cashews are high in fat and can cause gastrointestinal distress, obesity or pancreatic inflammation if eaten regularly or in large amounts — so they are best treated as a rare, minimal treat rather than a routine snack. If your dog shows any unusual symptoms after eating cashews, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
How many cashews can a dog eat safely? Limit cashews to just one or two plain, unsalted nuts on an infrequent basis. Treats of any kind — including nuts — should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake, with the remaining 90% coming from a complete and balanced dog food formulated to meet your dog's nutritional needs. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/ https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/
What if my dog ate a large amount of cashews? Monitor your dog closely for signs of gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy. If the cashews were salted or seasoned, watch for excessive thirst, excessive urination or tremors, which can signal salt toxicity. If the cashews were mixed with macadamia nuts — which are toxic to dogs even in very small amounts — contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately, as macadamia nut ingestion can cause vomiting, weakness, fever and tremors. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Can dogs eat cashew butter or cashew milk? Cashew butter and cashew milk products are not recommended for dogs. These products are often heavily processed and may contain added salt, sugar, xylitol or other flavorings that can be harmful. Even plain cashew butter carries the same high-fat concerns as whole cashews. Always check the ingredient label carefully and consult your veterinarian before offering any cashew-based product to your dog. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Why can't dogs just eat cashews for protein? While cashews do contain protein, dogs should obtain all required protein and nutrients from a high-quality, nutritionally complete commercial dog food rather than from nuts. Cashews' high fat content outweighs any protein benefit they offer, and relying on cashews as a protein source could disrupt the carefully balanced nutrition your dog needs for healthy body maintenance, growth and development. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/
Are salted or flavored cashews dangerous for dogs? Yes — salted, roasted or spiced cashews are significantly more risky than plain cashews and should never be given to dogs. High sodium intake can cause dehydration, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea and, in serious cases, kidney problems, tremors or seizures. Certain spice blends added to flavored nuts can cause additional harm, including gastrointestinal distress, anemia or kidney failure if ingested in large quantities. Always choose plain, unsalted cashews if you offer any at all, and consult your veterinarian if you have concerns. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Cashew Types at a Glance: Safe vs. Unsafe for Dogs
| Cashew Type | Safe for Dogs? | Key Risks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain, unsalted, roasted cashews | In very small amounts, occasionally | High fat content; choking hazard; GI upset if overconsumed | Limit to 1–2 nuts; no nutritional benefit over balanced dog food https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/ |
| Salted cashews | No | Excess sodium can cause dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures | Even a moderate serving can push sodium intake to harmful levels https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control |
| Flavored or spiced cashews (e.g., garlic, onion, chili) | No | Certain spices — including garlic and onion — are toxic to dogs and can cause anemia, kidney failure or worse | Never assume a seasoning is harmless; check with your veterinarian |
| Roasted mixed nuts containing cashews | No | High risk of macadamia nut contamination; macadamia nuts cause vomiting, hind-limb weakness, fever and tremors even in tiny amounts | As little as 0.1 oz per 2 lbs of body weight can trigger signs https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control |
| Cashew butter | No (for most dogs) | Often contains added salt, sugar or xylitol; xylitol is acutely toxic to dogs | Always read the full ingredient list; if xylitol is present, contact your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control immediately https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control |
| Cashew milk (plain, unsweetened) | Occasionally, in very small amounts | Low nutritional value for dogs; some commercial varieties contain additives or sweeteners | Not a recommended treat; offers no meaningful benefit over a nutritionally complete dog food https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/ |
Bottom line: Plain, unsalted cashews carry the fewest risks, but even they offer no meaningful nutritional advantage for dogs. A nutritionally complete, AAFCO-compliant dog food already delivers the protein, fat and micronutrients your dog needs. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/ When in doubt, skip the nut and reach for a treat formulated specifically for dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat cashews every day? No. Even plain, unsalted cashews are high in fat, and regular consumption can contribute to obesity and pancreatic inflammation over time. Treats of any kind — including nuts — should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake, and cashews should only appear on rare occasions. Consult your veterinarian about the right treat strategy for your dog's size and health status. https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/
What happens if my dog eats a salted cashew? A single salted cashew is unlikely to cause serious harm in a medium or large dog, but a larger quantity can lead to excessive thirst, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, tremors or seizures from sodium toxicity. If your dog has consumed a significant amount of salted nuts, contact your veterinarian promptly. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Are cashews toxic to dogs like macadamia nuts are? Cashews themselves are not considered acutely toxic to dogs. Macadamia nuts, however, contain an unidentified compound that is toxic to dogs even in very small amounts — as little as 0.1 oz per 2 lbs of body weight — causing vomiting, hind-limb weakness, fever and tremors. Because packaged cashews are frequently mixed with macadamia nuts, it is safest to avoid sharing mixed nut blends with your dog entirely. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Can dogs eat cashew butter? Cashew butter is not recommended for dogs. Many commercial cashew butters contain added salt, sugar or the artificial sweetener xylitol, which is acutely toxic to dogs. If your dog has ingested a product containing xylitol, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Do cashews provide any real nutritional benefit to dogs? Not meaningfully. While cashews do contain protein and some micronutrients, dogs should obtain all required nutrients from a nutritionally complete, balanced dog food that meets AAFCO standards. The fat content in cashews outweighs any protein benefit, and no nut is a necessary addition to a well-formulated canine diet. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/ https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
How many cashews can I safely give my dog? If you choose to offer cashews at all, limit the amount to one or two plain, unsalted nuts on an infrequent basis, and only for dogs without a history of pancreatitis, obesity or fat sensitivity. Always monitor your dog closely afterward for signs of GI upset. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian whether cashews are appropriate for your individual dog's health profile. https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/
This article was created with assistance from AI tools and reviewed for accuracy by Petco's content team.
FAQs about cashews and dogs
Cashews can be fed to dogs in small quantities infrequently if they are unsalted and don’t have any added spices. Roasted cashews often contain salt and seasonings that can cause stomach upset if your pup eats them. If fed frequently in larger quantities, salted cashews can cause even more significant illness in your pup by causing neurologic signs (such as tremoring and seizures), pancreatic inflammation and kidney failure. So, can dogs eat raw cashews? The answer is yes, as long as they are plain and offered in small amounts, infrequently.
Even feeding your dog too many raw, unsalted cashews can cause health issues. If your dog fills up on high-fat cashews instead of eating their regular dog food, they’ll miss out on nutrition they need to stay healthy. That’s why snacks, like cashews, which offer little to no nutritional value for your dog, should make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s daily calories. In addition, any dog can become sick after eating cashews or other nuts if they have a food sensitivity or nut allergy.
Just like humans, dogs can experience sensitivities to nuts. While nut allergies in dogs are much less common than they are in humans, dogs’ allergic reactions to nuts can look the same as they do in humans. If your pet develops swelling or hives—or starts scratching more than usual—after consuming nuts, it’s possible that they are having an allergic reaction. In this case, if you’re asking, “Can dogs eat cashew nuts?” the answer for your pet is no.
The answer to the question, “Can dogs eat cashews safely?” often depends on how many and how often your canine eats them. While there’s no specific number of cashews that are safe for a dog to eat, more than a couple on very sparing occasions is likely too many for any dog. Nuts are high in fat and low in nutritional value. If eaten regularly or in large quantities, cashews can cause gastrointestinal distress, obesity and pancreatic inflammation.
While most varieties of nuts are not toxic for dogs to eat, nuts are high in fat and hard to digest. All this fat can also lead to obesity if dogs eat nuts too often. In general, more than a couple of any variety of nut is unhealthy for your dog.
There is one type of nut you especially want to avoid letting your pet get a taste of—macadamia nuts. They are highly toxic for dogs, even in small quantities, and can cause weakness in the back legs, fever, imbalance, tremors, vomiting and diarrhea.
See your veterinarian or an emergency vet right away if you believe your dog has eaten a macadamia nut.