Yellow: with caution
Best avoided: walnuts are not a dog snack. The ASPCA includes walnuts among the foods you should not give your dog. Their high fat content can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, pancreatitis.
Why walnuts get a yellow rating
The sources do not entirely agree here. In a vet-reviewed article, PetMD considers one or two pieces of English walnut usually harmless, but still advises against feeding it. The ASPCA, however, clearly includes walnuts on its list of foods dogs should avoid. According to the ASPCA’s plant database, black walnut is clearly toxic: mouldy nuts and shells can cause trembling and seizures in dogs. An accidental bite usually has no consequences; a handful is different. That is why walnuts get a yellow rating here.
What to watch out for in autumn
- Nuts in the grass: Nuts lying beneath a tree quickly become mouldy. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, mould on nuts produces toxins that can cause vomiting, trembling, seizures and fever. Pick up fallen nuts promptly.
- Whole nuts: PetMD warns that a whole walnut in its shell can get stuck in the throat or block the intestines.
- Baked goods and nut mixes: Biscuits, cakes and salted nuts add sugar, salt and even more fat.
- Choose something else: There are much lower-fat snacks to use as rewards.
What if your dog has eaten walnuts?
A single piece from muesli is usually no cause for concern, but watch your dog throughout the day. If they have eaten several nuts, picked up nuts from the ground or show vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, trembling or restlessness, call your vet or an emergency service immediately. Explain what was eaten, roughly how much, when and how much your dog weighs.
If you suspect poisoning, go straight to your vet or an emergency veterinary service.
Check whether your dog is getting the right amount of food in just a minute with our feeding calculator. Our book takes a closer look at feeding: “Hundeernährung und Futterplan” (book in German). For those first weeks with a puppy, try our free Puppy Starter Pack, and for a picture of your dog to hang on the wall, explore dog portraits from your own photo or choose a single portrait.
Further reading
- Christmas with your dog: what to arrange in advance
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (Nuts); ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Toxic to Dogs; Pet Poison Helpline, Mycotoxins; PetMD, Can Dogs Eat Walnuts? (reviewed by Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM).
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
