Many dog owners ask can dogs eat Brazil nuts? So, can they? Yes, Brazil nuts are not toxic to dogs, but are high in fat and not easily digested. A dog that eats Brazil nuts may experience upset stomach. Because Brazil nuts are among the fattiest of all nuts, and contain a particularly high amount of saturated fat compared to other nuts. Even eating a small quantity of these nuts can equal too much fat for your dog (depending on how big is your dog), which can cause gastrointestinal upset or other digestive issues. That’s why they should be given in moderation!
But, in the other hand, Brazil nuts are good for your dog’s health, they contain selenium, an essential trace mineral for both human and canine health. Adequate selenium is necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system and thyroid gland.
There are 2 organic forms of selenium: selenomethionine (A naturally occurring amino acid, which can be found in plants) and selenocysteine (an unusual amino acid of proteins, which can be found in organ meats). There’s another type of selenium, an inorganic one that is considered toxic, called sodium selenite or sodium selenate, and which can be found in most dry and canned dog food today.
Whether you’re feeding dry, canned, or the best raw diets, you can easily ensure that your dog is getting enough natural forms of selenium by adding Brazil nuts. Also adding a Brazil nut to your dog’s diet can help prevent cancer, which is very common in dogs, and can help your dog live longer!
Good diets are just as important for dogs. The selenium in other food such as spinach, lentils and bananas vary according to the amount of selenium in the soils. Brazil nuts, are considered the best reliable source of selenium. And of course, the fresher the nut, the better.
How many Brazil nuts should my dog eat?
We recommend that people add one-half of a crushed Brazil nut per day for a 50 pounds dog (Labrador, Bulldog, German Shepherd..). And For toy dogs, 10 pounds or less (Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pug..), one crushed Brazil nut per week is great!
This was “Can dogs eat Brazil nuts?”, see also: Can dogs drink goat milk?