If you’re a fan of trail mix or just like snacking on a few peanuts between meals, you may have wondered if your Frenchie can indulge in this nutty snack with you. The truth is, French Bulldogs can eat some nuts safely, but not all. To be safe, I would avoid nuts in their diet completely… it’s not worth the risk (I will explain why later).
However, if you are worried about your Frenchie eating nuts and peanuts, or just want some reassurance if your dog has ingested some nuts, read on to for everything I’ve found out.
Why Frenchies should not eat nuts
Although most dogs can eat peanuts and peanut butter in moderation, nuts are generally not the best option for French Bulldogs. Even the nuts that are safe to eat, (such as unsalted peanuts and cashews), are high in fat and can cause digestive issues if fed to your dog in high quantities.
Then there are nuts which your Frenchie should not eat all.
Macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are highly toxic for dogs and should be avoided altogether.
Other nuts, such as hazelnuts, cashews, and almonds are technically safe if fed to your Frenchie in the right way. However, these nuts can still cause health complications. French Bulldogs with sensitive tummies or a history of pancreatitis should avoid nuts altogether, as it can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
It’s also important to know that if your Frenchie has a habit of gobbling down food without chewing, that nuts can cause intestinal blockages and could prove a fatal risk.
Based on what I’ve told you, if still want to let your Frenchie eat nuts for the first time, or if your pup has managed to steal one, it’s best to proceed with caution.
Watch them for any signs of an upset tummy and any disruptions to their usual toilet habits. If you notice any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation in your Frenchie, it would be best to take them to a vet straight away to have them examined.
Can French Bulldogs eat peanuts?
Although in theory French Bulldogs can eat peanuts, I would avoid them completely. If you do let your Frenchie eat peanuts it should only be offered as an occasional treat. Peanuts can cause a choking hazard and are high in fat, which dogs struggle to digest.
Not only could this lead to your Frenchie becoming overweight, but if they eat high concentrations of fat, it can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Consuming too much fat can also lead to pancreatitis, a condition where the dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed. Although pancreatitis can be treated, it is painful for your pup and can be fatal in some instances.
What about peanut butter?
Peanut butter that has been sweetened with Xylitol and Aspartame should be avoided as these sweeteners are both highly toxic for dogs. Foods with these artificial sweeteners can lead to hypoglycemia, seizures, liver failure, and can sometimes prove fatal.
If you have any indication that your Frenchie has eaten something with either Xylitol or Aspartame, they will need to see a vet immediately. You can read more about the dangers of this common ingredient in my guide to Frenchies and peanut butter.
Can Frenchies eat dried and roasted chestnuts?
Yes, Frenchies can eat chestnuts, but as with any nut, I don’t recommend that you do. If you do decide to let your dog eat chestnuts, they could benefit from this but being rich in fiber, omega fats, and vitamin C.
Owing to the high starch content of this particular nut, you will still need to feed this to your Frenchie in small doses.
Why?
Dogs are incapable of digesting starch properly, and high doses could lead to abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. If left untreated, this could even lead to pancreatitis. In light of this, chestnuts should only be given to your Frenchie as a supplement or a treat.
However, in spite of this, chestnuts also have a plethora of health benefits. The high fiber content helps lower cholesterol and is a filling snack that could help your Frenchie to feel more energized.
The omega fatty acids are an excellent supplement to promote a healthy heart and blood vessels. It also helps with improving memory and can be a mood booster. In addition to this, Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant. It can help to slow cognitive ageing in dogs, as well as reducing inflammation.
All in all, this could be a fantastic option for your Frenchie, but only in small doses. If your Frenchie tends to scarf down food without chewing, it might be best to grind up the chestnut into smaller pieces before adding it to one of his regular meals.
Can French Bulldogs eat cashew nuts?
Cashews can be beneficial to French Bulldogs, but only in small amounts. As with all nuts, I don’t recommend you let your Frenchie eat them due to the possibility of choking. But if you do decide to let your French Bulldog eat cashews, here’s what I found out…
Like chestnuts, cashews contain antioxidants and omega fatty acids, which promote a healthy heart and blood circulation. This nut can also promote healthy skin and a healthy coat.
In addition to this, cashews also have calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, folate, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B-6.
However, although cashews have plenty of excellent nutrients, they are also high in fat and calories. High quantities of fat can lead to weight gain, as well as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and pancreatitis.
Cashews that are salted should also be avoided as too much sodium can be detrimental to your Frenchie.
If your Frenchie has a sensitive stomach or is prone to digestive issues, it might be best to avoid cashews altogether. However, if your Frenchie doesn’t have stomach problems and you are interested in introducing cashews, its best to do so slowly.
Start with small doses and keep an eye out for any signs of a sore tummy. If your Frenchie likes to wolf down his food, it might also be best to grind up the cashew to avoid any risks of choking or intestinal blockage.
Can French Bulldogs eat hazelnuts?
Although hazelnuts are not toxic to dogs, many people still recommend against them.
Larger dogs will likely not have any issue, but owners of smaller dogs warn that hazelnuts can be a choking hazard. Like other nuts, they can also cause intestinal blockages if eaten whole.
Nuts to avoid at all costs!
Although there are a few nuts that your Frenchie may be able to enjoy without any complications, most varieties are better avoided. Here are some of the worst offenders:
1. Macadamia Nuts
Often listed as one of the worst foods you can give your dog, macadamia nuts are very poisonous for your pup. Just eating a few can result in macadamia nut poisoning. Symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- High temperature
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Inability to walk
- Lethargy
- Hyperthermia
- Depression
Macadamia nuts can also impact your Frenchie’s nervous system.
Although some dogs may recover on their own in milder cases, more severe cases will need to be treated by a vet. If you think that your Frenchie has eaten even a few macadamia nuts, you must arrange an appoint with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.
2. Walnuts
Black walnuts, English walnuts and Japanese walnuts should all be avoided. These nuts can cause digestive problems, intestinal upset, and intestinal blockages.
However, the real threat with walnuts is that if they are mouldy, they can contain tremorgenic mycotoxins. These are incredibly toxic for dogs and can cause seizures and other neurological complications.
3. Pistachio nuts
As popular as these nuts are with people, they are better avoided with dogs. You might be able to get away with feeding your Frenchie one or two of these nuts, but too many can lead to pistachio poisoning. The symptoms of this include:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Liver failure
- Orange-tinted urine
- Jaundice
Pistachio poisoning is caused by aspergillus mold, which is sometimes found in pistachios. This type of mold causes aflatoxins which are known to impact liver function in dogs and can prove fatal in some instances.
In addition to this, pistachios are high in fat and are prone to causing upset tummies, vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Pistachio shells are also a choking hazard and can result in intestinal obstruction if ingested.
Pistachios also contain phosphorous and urushiol. Ingesting too much phosphorus can cause bladder stones in dogs. Urushiol, which is the same chemical found in poison ivy, can result in an allergic reaction around the face and mouth.
4. Pecan nuts
Pecans contain juglone, which is mildly toxic to dogs. If eaten, this can result in an upset tummy and gastric intestinal distress5. .
5. Hickory nuts
If eaten often or in large quantities, hickory nuts can cause gastric intestinal distress, pancreatitis, seizures and other neurological complications. In addition to this, the shell contains juglone, which is mildly toxic for dogs.
6. Almonds
Although almonds are not toxic to dogs, they are difficult to digest. They are known to cause digestive issues, including an upset stomach and gastric intestinal distress.
7. Brazil Nuts
Similar to almonds, Brazil nuts are not poisonous but can cause digestive problems in dogs. Brazil nuts are high in fat and are not easily digested. As a result, your pup may experience vomiting, diarrhea, gastric intestinal distress, and pancreatitis. They may also cause intestinal blockages in smaller Frenchies.
Conclusion
I don’t let Claude eat any type of nut. As far as I am concerned, there’s better and safer ways of him getting goodness in his diet. Whilst some nuts are safe for French Bulldogs, the one common denominator that all nuts have is their “choke-ability”… which isn’t a risk I am prepared to take.
Handy Hint: Talking of risks, please take the time to read this blog post I wrote which contains 25 foods that are poisonous to French Bulldogs.
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