Peanut butter is a staple spread in any pantry.
Many families love and enjoy peanut butter even dogs.
Dogs can eat and most of them love peanut butter.
When given in moderation, peanut butter can be a great treat for your dog.
And while peanut butter is a healthy option for snacks and choice of spreads, it comes with its health risk.
Just like how some people have a peanut allergy, peanut butter can also be toxic to your dog’s health.
That’s why in this article, you’ll learn why peanut butter might not be the best choice for your dog as well as the healthier option.
Dogs That Shouldn’t Eat Peanut Butter
Not many people know this, but some dogs shouldn’t be given peanut butter.
And no, it’s not because they’re not good boys/girls, but because peanut butter is not the best health option for them.
Peanut butter can be very toxic to them with fatal results in some cases.
The following dogs shouldn’t have peanut butter no matter how much they give you puppy eyes:
1. Dogs with kidney issues
Some peanut butter brands have a very high salt content.
This makes it very unsuitable for dogs with kidney problems or kidney diseases.
2. Dogs on a strict diet
It’s not advisable to deviate your dog from a strict meal plan or diet.
So if your dog is already on a specific diet, adding peanut butter into the mix even if it’s just as a treat might upset their stomachs.
3. Overweight dogs
Peanut butter contains fat and it’s not a good item to add to the diet of an overweight dog especially one that should be on a lower-fat diet.
And if your reason for giving your overweight dog is to increase their protein intake, then perhaps you should consider this leaner protein options such as tuna, chicken breast, etc.
Ingredients In Peanut Butter That Can Be Dangerous To Your Dog
Peanut butter is delightful and dogs sure seem to love it. And if your dog doesn’t suffer any health condition that might hinder it from having peanut butter, peanut butter makes for a great treat.
The only problem that should cause you to think twice before serving your dog peanut butter is the ingredient list.
And the one thing on that list to watch out for is xylitol.
Xylitol has become an increasingly popular flavoring agent in many of our favorite foods and snacks and peanut butter is not an exception.
It’s commonly marketed to be an “all-natural” sugar substitute that might be fine for human consumption but extremely deadly if consumed by your canine friend.
Sadly, many dog owners aren’t aware of this side of xylitol and have unintentionally poisoned their pets.
Even in very small amounts, xylitol is capable of significantly dropping the blood glucose level of your dog and they might go into shock as a result.
Common peanut butter brands that use xylitol in their peanut butter are nuts n more, go nuts, co, etc.
Healthier Alternatives To Peanut Butter
With everything being said about peanut butter, you might be worried and probably have lost all hope in what to substitute for this beloved spread.
But there are healthier options for peanut butter.
Whether as a treat you can feed them directly from the jar or something you plan on using in making some tasty dog treats.
Here are some healthier alternatives to peanut butter:
- Almond butter
- Hazelnut butter
- Cream cheese
- Sunflower seed butter
- Pumpkin seed butter
- Chia seed butter
- Cashew nut butter
- Sesame seed
- Quinoa
All the above-listed butters and seeds can be fed directly to your dog, used in making treats or you can use them as delicious fillings for your dog’s snacks or kibble.
Conclusion
There are always healthier options out there for your dog.
And with so many, it’s easy to offer your dog a very rich and diverse palate.
It must be noted that there’s nothing wrong per se with peanut butter were it not for the deadly ingredient xylitol.
Some brands don’t even include this sweetener in their product.
Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
And as always, moderation should be practiced in whatever you choose to feed your dog.
