Nuts are not such a great idea for your Morkie. Many can make your little dog very sick, and almost all nuts pose a serious choking hazard for a small dog like a Morkie, Yorkie or Maltese.
Another common danger with nuts is mould. Mould often infects tree nuts including pistachios, walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans. Mouldy nuts contain aflatoxins, which can lead to lifelong health troubles for your dog, including liver failure.
Deadly: macadamia nuts
These delicious buttery nuts from Hawaii and Australia are THE worst thing for a dog. Why? They contain an unknown toxin that causes severe neurological problems – meaning they attack the nervous system.
So your dog may appear drunk, staggering all over; or he may lose his ability to walk (temporarily or permanently!) Severe vomiting and weakness can also be symptoms. If you suspect your Morkie has eaten macadamia nuts, see the vet at once.
More Nuts to Avoid
Almonds aren’t as dangerous or deadly but they can cause a lot of digestive upset for your Morkie, along with the choking possibility.
Pistachios are “OK” except if they are mouldy and this type of nut is susceptible to mould. Not enough for us to notice, let along affect us but for a small dog, they can mean trouble.
Cashews don’t contain anything particularly poisonous to dogs but they ARE high in fact which can lead to obesity and even kick start pancreatitis in your small dog.
Brazil nuts are THE fattiest of all nuts, so again, should be avoided because of the risk of pancreatitis.
Walnuts are not only responsible for severe digestive illness in dogs, they can obstruct the bowel, leading to very serious problems. Plus, they’re one of “the mouldies.” (Black Walnuts are just as bad for dogs.)
Pecans are bad for dogs because, according to to the www.mom.me website they can cause aflatoxin poisoning — whose symptoms include “loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, coloured urine and jaundice, liver failure, blood-tinged vomit and bloody or blackened stools.”
What about peanuts and peanut butter?
Peanuts are NOT toxic to dogs – because they’re not nuts. But don’t feed your Morkie too many, because of their higher fat content, and avoid salted or seasoned peanuts. Peanut butter is another treat dogs seem to love, and it can be an occasional treat, or used in making dog biscuits.
PEANUTS AREN’T NUTS
While “nut” is in their name, peanuts are in fact legumes. Peanuts actually grow underground, as opposed to nuts like walnuts, almonds, etc. that grow on trees (and are sometimes referred to as “tree nuts”).
Smarter Snacks for your Morkie
Instead of nuts, try your Morkie with a small piece of your favourite fruit – apple, banana, peach. (NOT grapes). Or try some veggies including a bit of carrot, celery or a green bean.
No matter how healthy a snack might be, remember the 10% rule – only 10% of your Morkie’s total calories per day should be made up of snacks. The rest should be a balanced dry or wet food or a combination.
To learn more about feeding your Morkie, check out my e-book here.
This e-book is Just $7.00 for peace of mind that you’re feeding your Morkie the best possible choices. You’ll read about all the foods available today – from the RAW diet, to holistic foods, homemade and commercial dog foods. Then, you’ll have the knowledge and tools you need to make the best choice for your Morkie.