Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter in moderation. Peanut butter is safer than Nutella. It is loaded with proteins, vitamin B, E, healthy fats, and niacin. In addition, unsalted peanut butter or homemade peanut butter can be the most beneficial choice since they do not contain high sodium levels nor added sugar or additives, which are toxic to dogs.
Table of Contents
What is Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is a spread well known across the world. It is made by roasting the peanuts, blending them into a thick paste. This protein-packed food contains some good nutritional values for your dog’s health. However, the store-bought peanut butter may have added sugar, salt, trans fat, and vegetable oil, which are toxic for dogs. Instead, you can prepare dog-friendly peanut butter at home by blending peanuts in a blender.
Nutrition Content: 2 tablespoons of peanut butter serving contains
Calories – 207 Kcal
Protein – 9 g
Fat – 18 g
Carbohydrates- 6 g
Fiber – 3 g
Sugar – 1 g
Is Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs?
Peanut butter can be hazardous for dogs since some ingredients in peanut butter like xylitol and salt can be toxic to a dog’s health. While Xylitol can affect their liver and cause hypoglycemia, salt may contain high sodium, which can cause high blood pressure. Some dogs may also suffer from nut allergies. So, it is better to reduce feeding peanut butter to dogs as occasional treats. However, you can serve homemade peanut butter to your dogs which is safe and offers nutritional benefits.
Why Is Peanut Butter Good for Dogs?
Homemade peanut butter is an excellent source of niacin(B3), manganese, vitamin B6, magnesium, and copper.
Antioxidants like manganese, some vitamins E and B have anti-cancer properties and prevent cell damage.
Oleic Acid, a fat in peanut butter, can maintain your dog’s cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels.
Peanut butter is a good source of copper, a mineral that strengthens a dog’s bone health and immunity. This also reduces the risk of osteoporosis and heart diseases.
Why Is Peanut Butter Bad for Dogs?
Peanut butter may contain xylitol, artificial sweeteners, artificial food colors, preservatives, chocolate, and ingredients toxic to dogs. This makes peanut butter bad for dogs.
Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is an ingredient in chewing gums and sugar-free snacks, is used in some store-bought peanut butter. However, xylitol can be hazardous for dogs. They may cause hypoglycemia. In addition, xylitol can also cause severe liver damage. Therefore, ensure the brand which you buy doesn’t contain xylitol. Some similar names of xylitol that you can find on the labels include 4-Anhydro-D-xylitol, xylite, anhydroxylitol, D-xylitol, and xylitylglucoside.
Nuts of any kind can cause nut allergies in some dogs. They can be cashews, almonds, pistachios, macadamia nuts, or peanuts.
High-calorie and Fat: Peanut butter has too many calories, like 180-200 calories per two-tablespoon serving. This can add to your dog’s daily calorie intake and fat. Thus, the fat content can cause obesity in dogs.
Fungus: If you think of making some homemade peanut butter, you must take care that the peanuts you have bought don’t contain fungi like Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. This fungus produces aflatoxins, which are carcinogens.
How Much Peanut Butter to Feed Your Dog?
It is best to limit peanut butter to occasional treats considering the harmful effects of peanut butter. The pet owners should follow the 10% rule. The quantity can be half a teaspoon for small dogs, twice a day and one tsp for medium and large dogs, twice per day. It is best to consult your pet’s vet if your dog has issues like obesity, stomach sensitivity, diabetes, pancreatitis, and is on a special diet.
How to Serve Peanut Butter to Your Dog?
If you are feeding peanut butter to your canine for the first time, it is better to provide them in small amounts to ensure that your dog doesn’t suffer from severe health hazards.
Peanut butter can be treated as an occasional treat. Your dog can be fed peanut butter during some of the situations mentioned below:
Medicine-time
Taking medicines can be a bitter experience to dogs as it is to human beings. Most dogs would not eat plain medications like capsules or pills. It can be a challenging task. Peanut
butter can help you, and your dog makes this task a peaceful one without having to mess with it. This makes it rewarding while they listen and obey your commands. While you feed the medication, you can first feed a dollop of peanut butter just as it is to your dog. Then, for the second time, you can coat the pill with peanut butter, and your dog wouldn’t know that it has medicine. This way, your job is done.
Bath-time
The most challenging task is to convince your dog to go for a bath. Pet owners would have to pull these adorable creatures literally. However, proper training with some rewards can make this session smoother. For example, you can smear some peanut butter on surfaces like the bathtub or showers to make them feel overwhelmed. Then, while they are licking the peanut butter, you can go ahead with bathing them.
Play-time
Peanut butter can be used as a reward to engage them in some game sessions or train them with new skills. As a feeder toy, you can fill kibbles in a kong and seal it with peanut butter, letting it cool in the freezer. You can give away this as a puzzle to your dogs and ask them to spill the kibble out. This way, your dog is engaged with the toy, and you can monitor them from a distance.
If your dog accidentally eats peanut butter, try checking out the time gap and the quantity of peanut butter your dog has had.
You must be cautious if the peanut butter that your dog had contained xylitol. Keep monitoring your dog for symptoms like weakness, collapse, staggering, seizures, and lack of coordination.
Suppose you happen to feed your dog peanut butter while your dogs have nut allergies. In that case, you may have to note signs of allergies like diarrhea and vomiting, itching, hair loss, excessive greasy hair coat, hives, chewing or licking of the paws, and swelling around the eyes or mouth.
In addition, some dog breeds predisposed to pancreatitis, like Mini Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, should never be fed with peanut butter. For dogs like these, even a tiny amount can worsen pancreatitis. If you happen to find any of these symptoms in your dog after being fed peanut butter, stop offering and contact your pet’s veterinarian immediately.
Alternatives to Peanut Butter
Some dog-safe foods like some vegetables, fruits, or meat contain the same nutritional components as peanut butter, and those can be fed as an alternative to peanut butter.
No, peanut butter cannot help skinny dogs put on weight, as they do not contain a balanced source of nutrients. Though high in calories, it can not be a healthy alternative to help your dog put on weight. You can consult your dog’s vet if you are concerned about your dog’s weight.
Can Dogs Eat Crunchy Peanut Butter?
Yes, dogs can eat crunchy peanut butter. Only taste differs. The nutrition or fat content remains the same. In addition, the nuts are comparatively smaller for it to pose a choking hazard.
No, dogs should not eat jelly or jam as it is high in sugar. In addition to that, peanut butter and jelly can increase the risk of diabetes in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter – Jelly Sandwiches?
Yes, a bite of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a safe treat for your dogs. However, remember to limit treats to 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter Fudge?
No, your dogs cannot have peanut butter fudge as they may contain toxic ingredients for dogs.
Can Dogs with Kidney Disease Eat Peanut Butter?
No, dogs with kidney disease should not be fed peanut butter as it may be high in sodium and dogs with kidney disease will already be advised to be on a low sodium diet.
Can Dogs with Liver Disease Eat Peanut Butter?
Yes, in moderation. It is always better to consult your vet before serving any new food or human food to your dogs.
Can Dogs with Pancreatitis Eat Peanut Butter?
No, dogs with pancreatitis should not eat peanut butter as it contains high-fat content, worsening a dog’s health.
No, honey peanut butter and other flavored peanut butter are generally unsafe for dogs since they contain extra sugar and added flavors.
Why Do Dogs Like Peanut Butter?
Dogs enjoy the taste of proteins and fats of peanuts and peanut butter. So they love peanut butter.
Final Thoughts
So while you grab a bite of mouthwatering peanut butter voluptuously spread on your bread, remember there is an adorable little being watching you who would also like to share your plate. Then, a small amount should not bother you to feed your canine to fill his appetite.
