Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter in moderation as long as it doesn’t contain xylitol. As a treat once in a while is ok. Nothing is funnier than watching a dog eating peanut butter.
Peanut butter is a common type of food in most homes. It can be used as a spread or an ingredient for cooking. For others, they merely enjoy eating peanut butter spoon after spoon. Are you one of them? Whatever you eat, it is more likely that your furry friend beside you must be looking at you with imploring eyes.
Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter in moderation, occasionally.
Peanut butter actually contains certain essential nutrients such as protein, antioxidants and other vitamins. All natural peanut butter made from 100% peanuts is best for your dog. Most dogs prefer smooth over crunchy peanut butter.
As if his eyes say, “Can I have some of that delicious treat, please?” And you as a loving pet parent cannot resist those kind puppy eyes.
In a snap, your dog gets his share of the delicious peanut butter you are feasting on. Then you felt nervous. Won’t your pooch get sick after eating peanut butter?
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Is Peanut Butter Healthy for Dogs?
Peanut butter is a healthy food for hounds, in fact. This is true especially when this kind of food is given to your dogs in moderation and does not contain any artificial ingredients such as xylitol.
In case you are not aware, xylitol is a type of sugar alcohol which is commonly used as a sweetener in many common foods that are being processed. And since it is artificial, it is actually awful for dogs.
As of the present days, many brands of peanut butter contain xylitol and they should be avoided once and for all especially when you intend to give it to your pooch.
Peanut butter actually contains certain essential nutrients such as protein, antioxidants and other vitamins and these are all appropriate and desirable for your pet dog too.
By eating the right kind of peanut butter, your furry friend may also get his energy boosted as well. Here is a big deal about dogs and peanut butter: it is but okay to give it to your dog as long as you do not overdo it.
And also, you need to be extra choosy when buying peanut butter that you want to eat and share with your beloved pet.
Giving Plain and Natural Peanut Butter to Your Dog
There are so many pitfalls that need to be considered when choosing and buying peanut butter. These pitfalls are commonly overlooked by many buyers and consumers, and maybe you could be one of these people too.
Take a look at these pitfalls below:
- Many brands of peanut butter today contain extra sodium and sugar
- They also provide a lot of additives and other artificial ingredients such as flavors and sweeteners
- There are peanut butter brands that also come with artificial food coloring
- Many peanut butter brands have other unnecessary additives and preservatives
So, it is highly advisable to spare some of your time reading the labels of every jar of peanut butter before buying it and sharing it with your dog.
The Best and Worst Brands of Peanut Butter for Your Dog
The most important concern that needs to be considered when buying and sharing peanut butter with your dog is the incorporation of sugar substitute in the product itself.
According to Veterinary Centers of America (VCA), any processed food that contains xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Some of the dangerous conditions which are being brought about by eating xylitol-containing foods include liver failure and hypoglycemia.
Thus, it is but proper to reveal the names or brands of peanut butter that contain xylitol so that it will be easier for you to get rid of them especially when you want to have this creamy spread shared with your dog. These brands include:
- Go Nuts
- P28
- No Cow
- Nuts N More
- Krush Nutrition
In fact, this is just a partial list of the ones that you need to avoid when planning to buy peanut butter for you and your dog. Now that you have known what you need to get rid of, what they are the ones that you should buy instead? Here they are:
- Brad’s Naturals
- Peanut Butter and CO (Old Fashioned Smooth)
- Jif Natural
- Once Again
- Hank’s
- Smucker’s
- Justin’s
Fortunately, many companies that manufacture and distribute peanut butter products have steered clear of xylitol, but you still need to be very cautious all the time. Take note that recipes change and go unnoticed. On this account, reading and understanding what the label says is indeed a must for a responsible buyer like you.
What about Crunchy Peanut Butter?
You will find that most dogs don’t like crunchy peanut butter and prefer smooth version. Puppies should only be given smooth peanut butter as it could cause some discomfort in digesting. I’d recommend only giving your dogs & puppies all natural peanut butter made from 100% peanuts.
You might also like this:Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
Here’s a tip: always look for a jar of peanut butter that is as close to natural and homemade as possible. And if you happen to find a long list of ingredients on the label of the product, put it down and look for a better brand. The Skippy brand comes with a long list of ingredients on it, so it is then tagged as a ‘red flag’ for dogs.
How Much Should You Give to Your Dog?
If you want to share the delight of eating peanut butter with your pet dog, a small amount can go a long way. If you own a small breed of dog, a teaspoon of peanut butter is good enough.
For the larger breed of dogs, a tablespoon can make your dog satisfied. Consider this spread as a special treat, and when we say ‘special,’ it is not given frequently and quite often.
Many people make use of this super spread as a way to conceal the taste of medications. It is a common and smart tactic indeed, and it is commonly applied to children who don’t like the taste of medicines.
Giving the excessive amount of peanut butter to your dog can make him or her stout and obese, continuing to gain weight over time.
Peanut Butter for Puppies: Is it Good?
If you want to give peanut butter to your puppy, make sure that the amount that you provide is small. You also need to choose a variety that has a smooth texture.
Basing from the texture of regular peanut butter, they are of quite crunchy and a little bit rough and this means that they can be more robust for puppies to digest.
How Can Your Dog Benefit from Eating Peanut Butter
If peanut butter is shared smartly and intelligently to a dog, it will give your pooch the opportunity to enjoy the right balance of low carbs and protein.
Giving an acceptable amount of peanut butter can make a lot of sense especially when you are feeding a dog that’s physically active. With all the vitamins and minerals that peanut butter contains your dog can surely get a handful of benefits from it.
Omega-3 is just one of the beneficial fatty acids that genuinely stand out. Just go easy sharing this spread with your dog and everything is going to be alright.
Giving Peanut Butter in Moderation is a Must
When it comes to peanut butter, it is not just the good that you need to know but the bad as thoroughly. If this spread is given to your dog in large amounts and on a regular basis, too much Omega-6 will be absorbed by the body from it.
What is the possible effect? Apparently, too much Omega-6 fatty acids can cause inflammation. Excessive eating of peanut butter can also cause oily and loose stools. It can also create your pooch to be gassy.
Also, pure type of this spread can be very high concerning calorie content. Be mindful about obesity and diabetes in dogs. Furthermore, giving too much of this spread to your dog can eventually make your dog too sluggish.
Dogs and Peanut Butter: Conclusion
If you want to give your dog his fair share of peanut butter, be sure to give his rightful share by way of making appropriately portioned peanut butter. If you do this, you can have the assurance that your dog will never have to suffer from any condition that will only make you worry.
Appropriately portioned peanut butter is actually healthy and safe for your dog. This special spread can serve as a terrific treat for your dog especially when you have purchased a wholesome and favorite brand.
Related Topic: Can dogs eat peanuts?
When choosing a brand of peanut butter for you and your pooch, always make sure to find those that are natural and contain a few ingredients and additives.
If you are not sure about the general content of the peanut butter product, always find the time to read its label and there you can find a handful of information about all the ingredients contained in the jar. And as far as additives are concerned, you need to be extra cautious on those that contain xylitol.
Veterinarians and health experts tag this artificial sweetener as something toxic, so it is best avoided especially when peanut butter is shared with your precious pooch. One thing more, it is essential that you should not overdo the act of sharing peanut butter with your pet dog.
Overdoing means merely going beyond the reasonable or required amount that should be given to dogs about their breed. Overall, eating peanut butter with your dog is not a bad idea as long as you follow all the specifications above.
I hope I was able to answer your question, “can dogs eat peanut butter”. Yes dogs can eat peanut butter in moderation as long as it doesn’t contain xylitol or any artificial sweeteners.
Please leave a comment or question below. I look forward to responding to your comments. Don’t forget to share the article with your friends and loved ones too.