Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Yes. Most Peanut butter brands are all right for dogs to eat as a treat. However, not all types of peanut butter are safe for dogs. Brands with artificial sweeteners, specifically xylitol, are harmful to dogs.

Xylitol is a sweetener widely used as a sugar substitute in “sugar-free” chewing gums, mints, peanut butter, and other candies.

When ingested, Xylitol results in a rapid drop in blood sugar in dogs, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure, and even death.

Make sure to always review the peanut butter label to make sure it doesn’t contain any xylitol.

Peanut butter should only be fed to dogs as a treat, i.e., in moderation.

Like other dog treat, they should not be more than 10% of the daily dog’s calories to avoid upsetting their nutritional balance.

Another safe option is choosing unsalted or homemade peanut butter that does not have extra sugar or other additives.

Keep reading until the end of the article for a quick and easy way to make homemade peanut butter.

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

What are the Health Benefits of Peanut Butter to a Dog?

Dogs love peanut butter. It can be used as a bit of incentive to get the medicine to go down and keep your dog busy while bathing them or trimming their nails.

Peanut butter as a dog treat is nutritious. It has proteins, vitamins B, Vitamin E, heart-healthy fats, and niacin.

Besides the healthy fats and proteins, it provides fiber, folic acid essential for cell growth, and magnesium for improved metabolism.

When Should I Start Feeding My Dog Peanut Butter?

It is advisable to avoid feeding your dog peanut butter before they are six weeks. It is even better to wait longer until they can digest solid foods. Introduce any treat (peanut butter) during the last weeks of the weaning process, at about seven to eight weeks of age.

After weaning, puppies can eat high-quality puppy food, including peanut butter, with the right kind of nutrition and in moderation. To start feeding your small dog, you should get no more than about 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter per day.

Related: Can Dogs Eat Honey Roasted Peanuts?

Are there Health Risks of Feeding my Dog Excess Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter has high levels of fats and proteins, and feeding your dog too much of these can lead to weight gain, gastrointestinal distress, and other health complications such as pancreatitis.

For example, two tablespoons of peanut butter contain 180-200 calories, meaning that the calories in peanut butter add up quickly.

If your dogs have health complications such as obesity, diabetes, kidney problems, pancreatitis, or are on a special diet then you should not feed them peanut butter.

You can, however, call your veterinarian for advice before feeding your dog peanut butter.

Therefore, it is advisable to limit your dog to an occasional peanut butter treat only when you are giving medication, bathing, distracting, or rewarding them.

For older dogs, 1 tablespoon a couple of times per week is enough. It is also advisable to alternate between peanut butter treats and other healthy dog treats to avoid the risk of high fats and calories.

While most kinds of peanut butter that are Xyliton free appear okay for dogs, it does not mean they are entirely safe.

Peanut butter whether natural or organic contains other added ingredients such as Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils, Mono and Diglycerides, and sugar which might cause obesity and heart disease.

To be on the safe side, there are two options:

Number 1. Make your own peanut butter. All you need is a food processor and peanuts. And you will not use any unwanted ingredients that might be harmful to your dog. You are therefore assured that your homemade peanut butter is safe.

Here is a quick and easy recipe.

Grab a cup of peanuts and place them in a food processor. Begin to pulse for about 10 seconds. Then place the processor on the continuous process mode. Pause every so often and scrape the sides of the bowl. It may not look like it but eventually, the peanuts will become a healthy creamy peanut butter that you can use to treat your doggy.

Trust me. Your dog will love it.

Number 2. Choose a peanut butter brand that is free from all these additional ingredients. The best peanut butter for your dog should only contain peanuts and low amounts of salt!

Here are some of our recommendations.

I really hope I answered the question Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Here Are Some Peanut Butter For Dogs Recommendations