Can dogs eat peanut butter?

Dog’s amazing senses of smell is known to everyone. If you own a dog, you would see him beside you in the kitchen each time you open something to eat.  One of their favorites is the peanut butter; the nutty-butter scent just drags them into the kitchen. So, can dogs eat peanut butter?

The short answer… yes! This is a dog’s favorite treat, from being easily spread inside their bone food or giving them a spoonful of peanut butter to lick. However, from a health perspective, peanut butter has some requirements you need to know.

Peanut butter for dogs?

Canines are generally attracted to human food. They have an incredible smelling sense that drives them to taste whatever their owner eats.

Most dog owners explore different options of human food on their dogs. A lot of these human foods are given as a reward for good behavior or as a way of tricking your dog into eating his medicines; however, some of these can be really harmful to your dog’s health. There are high chances of human food not suiting your dog’s metabolism and likewise can cause different health issues such as food poisoning or choking.

This article talks about whether peanut butter is a dog-friendly food or not. And if it is, what are the preventive measures one must take when feeding peanut butter to their dogs. Keep reading to find out!

Is peanut butter good for dogs?

Dogs are obsessed with human food. One of their top picks is peanut butter. There is a variety of peanut butter flavored treats sold in the market for dogs. If you are a dog owner, you probably do have a peanut butter jar lying around your home. However, make sure you do not feed too much of it as it can be dangerous for your dog. Like anything else, if given in moderation, peanut butter can make a great snack.

Peanut butter nutrition

Peanut butter can be a great source of vitamins B and E, healthy fats, and protein if given in moderation. They also have niacin, which helps treat black tongue disease in dogs. However, just because peanut butter does not harm your dog’s health, doesn’t mean it is always good for them.

If your dog receives sufficient nutrients and protein from a healthy diet, they do not need extra calories. Hence even if you want to feed peanut butter as a trick to give medicine to your dog, keep the calorie count in mind.

Unsalted or homemade peanut butter is the best  option for your dog as compared to the store-bought ones, especially those with added salt or sugar. If it has high levels of sodium, it can be dangerous for your dog’s health. High levels of sugar are also not good for them at all.

How much peanut butter can dogs eat?

Peanut butter is packed in natural fats and protein, but if given in excess, it can lead to obesity and other health-related illnesses. Suppose you feed peanut butter to your dog on a regular basis. In that case, you need to watch out for two things: first and foremost, seek advice from your veterinarian before feeding any human food to your dog, and secondly, implement the 10 percent rule.

Seeking your veterinarian’s advice is essential, especially if your dog has food allergies or diabetes since peanut butter is a high fat, high-calorie food. Moreover, the 10 percent rule implies that your dog’s 90 percent of the diet should consist of healthy, nutritious food, whereas the 10 percent can be the treats.

Always measure what your dog eats and how much he eats to keep a balance of both; a healthy diet and a happy diet.

As mentioned earlier, a good healthy diet must consist of 10 percent or fewer treats of their daily calorie count. Treats aren’t always for a beneficial purpose. Most dogs get their nutritional values from their diet, and treats are just a way of tricking them or rewarding them into doing good, limiting the amount as much as possible.

Depending on a dog’s weight, size, activity level, and health complications, an adult dog can have around 200 to 1400 calories in a day. Peanut butter is a high-calorie food; a tablespoon of peanut butter alone contains nearly 200 calories. This equals to around 15 percent of a healthy adult dog’s calories and almost 90 percent of that of a small pup’s calorie.

According to a dog’s requirement, that is a lot of calories. Unless you want your dog or pup to gain weight or become healthier, a spoonful of peanut butter can be doable. If given to a healthy adult dog too often, it can lead to excessive obesity. Therefore try to remember that although peanut butter is healthy for your dog; it is still high in calories and needs to be given as a treat in moderation.

Health Complication: The Heart

Peanut butter is primarily safe to consume but can sometimes be really dangerous for your dog. It is the high sodium and sugar content that makes them deadly. Recently, many peanut butter manufacturers revealed that they replace sugar with xylitol, a substance often found in sugar-free products such as baked goods, mint, and toothpaste. It is suitable for humans, but again, not every human food is dog-friendly.

Xylitol increases insulin levels in dogs, which likewise results in a profound decrease in blood sugar levels. This is known as hypoglycemia, a problematic situation for a dog as it can be deadly if not treated in good time; and by good time, we mean as soon as possible, as xylitol starts affecting the dog’s body within 10 to 60 minutes of consumption.

So, can dogs eat peanut butter?

Do not restrict peanut butter for your dog; give it as a treat. Remember to stay in moderation and also check the backside of any store-bought peanut butter to keep clear of xylitol. However, always go for the best option, homemade peanut butter.

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Is Watermelon Good For Dogs?

Can Dogs Eat Apples?

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