Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
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We love keeping peanut butter around the house, because it’s a great snack for us humans when we need a tasty, protein-filled pick-me-up. But can our dogs have peanut butter? And how should we give our dogs peanut butter to eat? Read on to find out!
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is not bad for dogs in small amounts, but it should be avoided in large quantities.
Peanut butter is high in calories and fat, so it’s best to avoid giving your dog too much of it.
Peanut butter should be avoided for puppies under a year old because they don’t have strong enough stomachs to digest the fats that peanut butter contains easily.
Any time you introduce new foods to your dog, it could cause a bit of an upset somach. Especially with puppies, they can’t break down the fats and proteins in the same way as humans. This can create a stomach ache and possibly diarrhea for your pup, so make sure to just stick to dog food until they are at least 6 months old. This is why it’s recommended to change your dog’s food slowly, to avoid this stomach upset.
What Type of Peanut Butter Should I Feed My Dog?
If you want to feed your dog peanut butter, you should try using a low-calorie version of it or a 100% pure peanut butter.
The main issue with peanut butter is that it can contain things like Xylitol, which can be fatal to dogs.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many human food products such as candy, gum, and toothpaste. When ingested by a dog, Xylitol can cause the insulin levels to drop and make them very sick, and can quickly turn deadly.
The Best Peanut Butter For Dogs
Wondering what the best, safest, and most delicious peanut butter for dogs is? Our favorite peanut butter to give our dogs is Adams Peanut Butter. It contains peanuts, oil, and a bit of salt and that’s it! No extra preservatives, additives, or anything.
Another great option for dog-safe peanut butter is Jif Naturals Peanut Butter. This one does contain sugar, so we do prefer Adams, but Jif works well in smaller amounts.
Is It Safe For Dogs to Eat Peanut Butter?
Yes, it is safe for dogs to eat peanut butter. There are no reported cases of dogs getting sick or allergic reactions from eating peanut butter. In fact, it’s a great way for dogs to get protein and healthy fats that they need as part of their diet.
If you’re looking for a healthier treat for your dog, you should put peanut butter on the list to try out. Dogs love peanut butter and it’s a great way to keep them happy at home!
How Much Peanut Butter Can Dogs Eat?
Peanut butter is not toxic to dogs and usually a small amount of it will cause little to no issue for them. On average, a dog should only have 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter at a time for the first few times they are introduced to it.
Once your dog has gotten used to eating peanut butter and hasn’t had any tummy issues from the new addition, you can give them more. It’s recommended not to give more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet in treats due to the increase in calories.
How Do I Feed My Dog Peanut Butter?
This section will help dog owners with practical advice on how to feed their dog peanut butter. One way is by mixing the peanut butter into their food. This helps your dog get all the nutrients they need from a balanced diet. It can also entice slow, picky eaters to eat their meals.
Our favorite way to give peanut butter to our dogs is inside their KONG dog treat toys. It gives them a fun, interactive treat and works their brain trying to get all the peanut butter out. The KONG is also great when frozen with peanut butter inside, especially on hot summer days. It can cool them off and keep them busy for hours! Here’s a whole list of awesome ways to fill a KONG!
Can I Use Peanut Butter With My Dog’s Medicine?
Some people think the peanut butter will mask the taste of the medicine. However, this doesn’t always work because dogs have much stronger sense of taste than humans do and they can easily smell and taste the medication when it is mixed in with the peanut butter. If you have a fast, non-picky eater like our Roxy, it may work fine. Picky eaters can be more discerning, though, and it won’t fool them!
You also need to make sure their medicine is one that can be given with food, or if it’s one that needs to be given on an empty stomach. Roxy’s thyroid medication can’t be given with any food since it could affect the absorption. Luckily, she would eat anything we give her, so we hyped it up as a treat and now she takes it perfectly without food!
Can Peanut Butter Calm Anxious Dogs?
Distractions can be a great way to calm your anxious dog, and peanut butter makes an awesome distraction! Giving a dog a KONG packed full of enticing yummies can help soothe them during fireworks or thunder. If you notice your dog acting out and showing signs of distress, give him some peanut butter and see if it helps.
You can also try this Busy Butter, a dog-friendly peanut butter packed with calming ingredients such as Lemon Balm, L-Tryptophan and L-Theanine.
Can I Make Peanut Butter For My Dog?
Yes, you can absolutely make peanut butter for your dog! It’s a great way to control the amount of additives in there, especially if you have a difficult time finding a healthy peanut butter brand near you.
Making peanut butter is super easy if you have a sturdy food processor. Here’s a recipe that tells you exactly how to make homemade peanut butter!
Is your dog a fan of peanut butter? If you’re on Instagram, tag me @OmShantiPups in the cutest pics of your dog snacking on peanut butter!
