Can Dogs eat Peanut Butter? If so, which Type?

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It’s common knowledge that dogs LOVE to eat creamy and crunchy peanut butter. It’s also a popular treat for our four-legged friends in many countries.

Giving your dog peanut butter is a common way to hide medications, feed it as a treat, and even use peanut butter to fill an interactive feeder.

But there are some risks associated with feeding peanut butter to dogs.

In this article, we will discuss what peanut butter is, what the risks are associated with peanut butter dog treats, and how much peanut butter can you give your dog.

If you have questions or comments, we would love to hear from you at the bottom of the page.

What actually is Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter is a spread or food paste that is made from dried, roasted peanuts.

Sweeteners, salts, and emulsifiers are usually added to increase the flavour and texture of peanut butter.

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

A tablespoon of peanut butter can be a nice treat for your pup, but there are some problems related to feeding your pet peanut butter.

One of them is xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener that replaces sugar, and its use is increasing day by day in hundreds of products.

Basically, xylitol is an all-natural sugar substitute. It causes no problems for humans, however it is very poisonous for our dogs.

Veterinarians are raising awareness of xylitol because it is found in peanut butter and other dog products.

Why is Xylitol Dangerous to Dogs?

The growing popularity of xylitol is due to its dental benefits for humans and its suitability as a sugar substitute. But in dogs, it acts as a poison and kills thousands of dogs every year.

Xylitol is toxic for our four-legged friend. It’s toxic dose is more than that of chocolate.

For example, a dose of 1.37 grams can cause toxicity and staggering, a drop in blood sugar level, collapse, and seizures in dogs.

If a 30-pound dog ingested 6.8 grams of xylitol, it would cause devastating and deadly destruction of the dog’s liver cells. On the other hand, 150 grams of chocolate is required almost 22 times more than xylitol for the same level of severe toxicity.

pug-peanut-butter

Peanut Butter Contains Harmful Fats

Trans fats make foods more sustainable and have a longer shelf life. It is also another toxic ingredient found in peanut butter.

The process that makes foods more stable and allows them to stay on the shelves longer is known as hydrogenation.

Basically, hydrogenation is a process where you take vegetable oil, add a nickel catalyst, and then remove the catalyst. As a result, toxic fat is formed and causes diseases such as:

  • Heart disease.
  • Diabetes.

When buying peanut butter for the dog, always check the label, and if you see any lines like partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list, we recommend not to buy it for your pet.

Lectins Protein

Lectin is a protein produced by plants and act as a defence mechanism against predators.

Lectin generally creates an inflammatory response in dogs that eat them and make them sick. It can also bind with sugars and carbohydrates in the body and, as a result, disrupt messaging between cells.

Lectin can also interfere with the absorption of essential minerals, vitamins and proteins, which is why it is also known as anti-nutrients.

It can cause inflammation and irritation of the gut in the lining of the digestive tract, which can result in leaky gut.

When a leaky gut occurs in dogs, food particles and lectins escape into the bloodstream and cause systemic inflammation and inflammatory response. If mild inflammation persists for a long time, it can cause chronic ailments such as kidney disease, heart disease, allergies, arthritis, and cancer.

Peanut butter has the highest lectin level of any food group.

What Kind of Peanut Butter Can Dogs Eat?

Peanut butter is only good for dogs if it does not contain xylitol. Also, we recommend to avoid peanut butters that contain extra sugars and preservatives.

Is there any Benefits of Peanut Butter for Dogs?

It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to dogs and peanut butter!

Peanut butter is a good source of protein, and some kinds of peanut butter are good and healthy for our dogs.

The type of peanut butter that is considered best for your dog is one which is absolutely free of additives.

How Much Peanut Butter can you feed your Dog?

You can feed your dog a moderate amount of peanut butter, and that’s also only if it doesn’t contain xylitol. If peanut butter is fed in excess amount, it will result in a painful case of pancreatitis and obesity.

Therefore, it is best to be careful when feeding peanut butter to your dog or with any treat that contains peanut butter. The general rule of thumb is that peanut butter should not exceed 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.

The exact amount of peanut butter that you can feed your dog varies from peanut butter to peanut butter and from dog to dog. Generally, large dogs can eat up to 1 tablespoon, and small dogs can eat up to ½ tablespoon of peanut butter daily.

dog-laying-down

When Peanut Butter is NOT Recommended…

If your dog falls into one of these categories, giving peanut butter is not recommended under any circumstance.

The types of dogs are:

1. Dogs with Kidney Problems

Since peanut butter is high in salt, if your dog suffers from kidney problems, they may not be able to tolerate it.

2. Obese Dogs

If your dog is overweight adding extra fat in the form of peanut butter is not a good option. You can use different protein-rich alternatives, such as chicken, tuna, etc.

3. Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs

If your dog is on a special diet due to it’s sensitive stomach, giving them peanut butter is not advisable.

Uses of Peanut Butter for your Dog

As you know, dogs love peanut butter; so, you can use it for different purposes such as:

  • As a treat during your dog’s training,
  • As a distraction during bathing or grooming.
  • To keep your dog entertained and focused.

Overview – Peanut Butter and Dogs

Dog’s can eat peanut butter! But only in moderation. If you dog is suffering from any illness or allergies, feeding peanut butter is not recommended.

It’s recommended to always look carefully at the label for xylitol and other additives, as they are dangerous for your dog.

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