Call us: 555-555-5555

Can Pom Eat Peanuts

PetPom
The 
Pomeranian
Information
Center

Can a Pomeranian Eat Peanuts?

You are here: Pomeranian Information - Feeding - Can a Pomeranian Puppy or Dog Safely Eat Peanuts?
Poms need to regularly eat a healthy, well balanced diet for optimal health. So whether you have chosen a quality, top rated manufactured dog food or if you make homemade food for your little ball of fluff, it's always a good idea to be knowledgeable about possible healthy additions that can be added to meals or given as snacks.
pile of peanuts
We read each and every email that our Members send to us and we work hard to answer them here on the site. When you sign up to become a free PetPom Member, you can suggest a topic for us to write about, but also feel free to email us any time with questions, as we continually expand the PetPom site.

To this end, we have received a lot of emails from owners asking about certain foods and if it is okay for a Pom to eat them.
Overview

We gathered up the top 8 and are going to discuss them; this section is going to answer the common question of: Can a Pomeranian eat peanuts?

We think this is an interesting question since it is not a food that most people add to their own meals and when you think about a puppy or dog receiving a snack or a treat, peanuts is not a food that comes to mind. But since so many people snack on a variety of nuts, we're not too surprised to see this question pop up so much.

While we answer this query about Pomeranians eating peanuts, we will also discuss other nuts such as cashews, almonds and more so that you will have a good understanding about what a Pom can safely eat and what he cannot.

Peanuts are actually in the bean family and it is though that people began to cultivate them in Paraguay. Specimens of peanuts have been dated back to roughly 8000 years ago. The peanut plant itself grows to 1 to 1.5 feet tall and yellow flowers bloom on it. While most Americans refer to this nut as the peanut, it has many other names including: ground nut, pig nut, goober peas and pygmy nut.
bowl of peanuts
In the U.S., surprisingly, up until the 1930's, it was not usual for humans to eat them and they were mostly used as animal feed. 

A plan to develop peanut recipes was put into play by the United States government and only then did this nut become popular as a snack and as an ingredient in dishes.

Many owners wonder if Pomeranians can eat peanuts because it is such a healthy food. They are packed with nutrients and are considered to be a great source of protein, fiber, magnesium, niacin (aids in brain health and blood flow), folate, phosphorus and Vitamin E. 
In addition, there is no trans-fat in peanuts and no sodium (although moderate to heavy amounts are often added during processing). In addition, recent studies have shown that this nut contains antioxidants that can have great health benefits.
There are 2 noticeable 'negatives' in regard to this food.

The first is the calories. One cup of peanuts is a whopping 828 calories, and we must remember that maintaining proper intake of calories is important for dogs as well as humans.

The other element is the risk of allergies. Since a peanut allergy can be fatal, many people assume that it is much more common than it actually is - one reason being that if someone has a strong reaction it is often broadcast on the news.

Statistics show that .6 percent of Americans have an allergy (ranging from mild to serve) and for children that are allergic, 23 percent will outgrow the allergy.
Now that we know some basic facts about peanuts, let's go into details about whether or not it is healthy and safe for a Pomeranian to eat peanuts.

Not only is the answer YES, but it is also healthy and safe for Pomeranians to eat peanut butter.

Let's look at this in more detail and we will also talk about other popular nuts.

1- Just like the .6 percent of humans that are allergic to peanuts, canines can be allergic as well. While this is just a very small amount of dogs, owners who feed peanuts to their Pomeranians should keep an eye out for any adverse reactions (and this should be done when introducing any new food). 

Signs to look out for are: hives, swelling (typically around the eyes and on the face) and itching. Do seek immediate help if your puppy or dog shows a reaction.

But remember, in general and for most dogs, it is safe to eat peanuts.

2- Pomeranians that have kidney or gall bladder problems should not eat peanuts. 

3- Raw peanuts can have a fungus on them called Aspergillus flavus, which causes a type of poisoning. If you buy raw peanuts, they must be stored in a dry cool area. Obtaining roasted peanuts is the best option as there will be no risk of this. 

4- As will all foods, feeding peanuts to a Pomeranian must be done in moderation and this is especially important because they do contain a high level of fat. Fat is actually a needed component of a healthy diet, however for Poms that are overweight, it is suggested to refrain from giving peanuts as a regular snack. 

On the other hand, Poms that are in need of a bit of weight gain can benefit from having a few peanuts each day (along with healthy meat proteins, healthy carbs and veggies). 

5- Don't forget about peanut butter! Many Pomeranians simply love this and it can be amusing to watch a Pom eat it! It can be given off of a spoon or smeared onto a healthy biscuit or dog treat. You may find that your Pom likes peanuts so much that it is the "go to" treat for using as rewards when training.
Remember that when you are rewarding 'good efforts' and 'successes' when training for anything from heeling to socialization to commands, choosing a food that your Pomeranian truly loves will give him or her the incentive to work hard! 

For Pomeranians that need to keep busy - usually those that are home alone during the day and may suffer from separation anxiety - offering a treat dispensing toy like the Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat filled with a mixture of kibble and 100% all-natural smooth peanut butter can be a great way to keep a Pom occupied for quite a while. 
Now, let's look at some other nuts:

1- Macadamia nuts are VERY toxic to dogs! Just one can be fatal to a small Pomeranian. They are extremely toxic and can cause very severe neurological problems. Signs of this are weakness, tremors, vomiting, walking in a daze, limpness in the legs and sometimes complete inability to walk. While this is not always fatal, if a Pom puppy or dog ingests even one Macadamia nut, it is considered a poisoning and an owner should seek help immediately which often includes pain management and IV fluids. In many cases, this terrible reaction lessens after 48 hours. 

2- Almonds are not officially toxic to dogs, but unlike peanuts they can be hard to digest by dogs, especially the Pomeranian breed that already is prone to having a sensitive stomach. This particular nut can cause a Pom to have an upset stomach and/or gastric intestinal distress.

3- Black Walnuts are toxic to canines. They contain a toxin called juglone. This can cause gastric intestinal distress as with the almonds (above).  

4- Hickory nuts, pecans can also cause gastric intestinal distress.
5- Be careful with pistachios. While they are not officially toxic to dogs, they are very high in fat. More importantly, the shells (which can easily be ingested by accident) can severely damage a Pomeranian's intestines. Additionally, some studies have shown that for canines, regularly eating pistachios can cause pancreatitis. 

6- Since there are a lot of nuts that dogs cannot eat, do not fish peanuts out of a can of mixed nuts and then give those to your Pom, since the oils from the other nuts will have mixed with the peanuts. Stick with a can of peanuts or the above mentioned peanut butter.
bags of mixed nuts
Points to Remember

While a Pomeranian can eat peanuts, always remember that moderation is the key. This should be considered a special treat or as a reward; being high in fat, it is not recommended to sprinkle peanuts on top of meals on a regular basis (unless your Pom is underweight and the veterinarian has recommended a weight gain). 

While it may seem fun to share a snack with your Pomeranian, do remember to keep food separate. If you are munching on peanuts and want to give a few to your Pom, do place them in a separate bowl. If you give any of 'your' food to your Pom, this can be the foundation for begging behavior and once that starts, it is hard work to reverse it. 
What is your Pom's animal sign? And what does that mean?

Have fun in our newest section, Pomeranian Chinese Zodiacs.
See how your Pom's year of birth can give you insight into his/her core personality & traits.
We also have customized zodiacs (if you feel like spoiling your Pom a bit).
You may also be interested in:

Can a Pomeranian eat cheese - While you may love cheese on a bunch of your foods, and some dog snacks have cheese flavor, what about giving deli and other types of cheese to a Pom? 
Can a Pomeranian eat eggs - This is a great source of protein and is found in some kibbles; read if you can give fresh eggs to your puppy or dog. 
Can a Pomeranian eat popcorn - Can dogs have one of America's top snacking foods? See if it's okay to share this with your Pom. 
Can a Pomeranian eat pork - This is a rare meat for most dogs to eat; find out why and if it's okay to give this to your Pom once in a while. 
Can a Pomeranian eat shrimp - Your Pom probably loves fish, but what about shrimp? 
Join the PetPom Family: This allows you to know when new pages of information is added to the site. You'll also receive a fun and helpful Welcome Booklet. Become a free Member.
Share by: