Does your dog come running to you when you open a jar of peanut butter? And then innocently sit on the floor with those sparkling eyes stuck on you until you give him a bite? The answer of most dog parents must be a ‘yes’. All dogs love being given the best dog treats like the dog vitamins and supplements, and no dog will ever deny it when their treat is sweet, like peanut butter. It is a good thing to give your dog treats as a reward. Many dog owners follow this routine. But have you ever wondered is peanut butter good for dogs? Is eating peanut butter harmful to the dog’s health? Besides, can dogs eat peanuts butter? These are the questions a dog parent should consider before giving peanut butter to his dogs. Let’s read on further to find the answers to the above questions.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter
Most dogs love eating peanut butter. They can empty the jar of peanut butter in minutes. Generally, peanut butter is safe for dogs. And when asked is peanut butter good for dogs, the answer is yes. Dogs can eat peanut butter as long as it does not contain any content which is harmful to their health. When you are feeding foods meant for a human to your dog, check the constituents of the food. Do check the label of the products before giving them to your dog.
What kind of peanut butter can dogs eat? Typically, peanut butter is a healthy edible. It is rich in dietary fibre, proteins, fats, vitamins such as B6 and E, and niacin. It also added them with sodium at the time of manufacturing. Though unsalted peanut butter is a better option for dogs. A high amount of sodium (salt) can be harmful to dogs.
There are some facts that state peanut butter is not safe for dogs. They cannot consider these facts a myth. Some people consider peanut butter toxic for dogs because of its constituent XYLITOL.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute used by many food manufacturers as a sweetener. It has become an increasingly used component in peanut butter. Xylitol is safe for humans but toxic for animals like dogs and cats. And if you are wondering why, let’s browse the next heading to know more.
Is Xylitol Toxic to Dogs?
The answer is yes, Xylitol consumption is dangerous for dogs. Even a small amount of xylitol consumed can be deadly for dogs. But, why Xylitol is dangerous to dogs? Experts believe this natural sugar substitute to be highly toxic to dogs. If swallowed, it is necessary to get the medication done as soon as possible. Generally, the early signs of hyperglycemia show up within an hour of consumption.
Unlike humans, blood sugar levels are regulated by releasing a hormone called insulin. When dogs consume xylitol, it results in the influential release of insulin in dogs. This instant insulin release in dogs causes the blood sugar level to drop to an extreme point. This condition is known as dog hypoglycemia. Liver failure and death can be the consequences of xylitol consumption in dogs.
To avoid such unwanted situations, ensure that it kept all the products containing xylitol out of reach of the dogs. It is universally acknowledged that dogs love sweets. But whenever you are feeding your dogs something sweet, check the product’s label. If it contains xylitol, then do not feed them that product ever! If your dog loves peanut butter, buy a brand that does not add xylitol as a sugar substitute. A handful of brands do not contain xylitol in peanut butter. Please look at them to keep your dog safe from xylitol consumption.
The most popular brands, including Jif, Poochi butter, Skippy, Smucker, Teddie, all-natural peanut butter, and Peter Pan, are the brands that are free of xylitol. And can be given to your dog without any doubt.
Xylitol Alternative
Is xylitol bad for dogs? Yes, several brands do not use xylitol in their manufacturing of peanut butter. Alternatively, they tend to use any other substance to replace xylitol. It gave some of them below:
- Stevia is considered a safe sugar substitute for dogs. Peanut butter or any food item having stevia is safe for dogs.
- Monk fruit is a recent sweetener that is safe for dogs.
- Erythritol is another substitute for xylitol used by various manufacturers. It also considered this substance a safe consumption option for dogs.
- Saccharin is also safe for dogs if given in specified amounts.
These replacements for xylitol are considered safe for dogs. But remember that additional, unnecessary, and high product consumption can harm health. These substances can be given to your dog, but when consumed in large amounts, can cause harm to the dog’s health.
For a better and safest option, you can give your dog homemade peanut butter containing no artificial additives.
How Much Peanut Butter Can a Dog Have?
As discussed earlier, peanut butter is rich in many nutrients. It contains fibre, proteins, fats, vitamins, and many more. Though, it is just food for dogs. But excess consumption of anything good can be harmful too. Ask the veterinarian how much they should give peanut butter to your dog. Your dogs vet can provide you with a piece of trustworthy advice on the pet’s nutrition.
If you give peanut butter to the dog as a treat, make sure that his treats only make up to 10% of his one-day diet. Do not feed your dog unhealthy treats. Instead, replace those with nutritious fruits or easy homemade dog treats made of healthy food items.
However, the correct amount of peanut butter to be given differs from dog to dog, as their diet and sizes are different. The dogs should be given ½ to 1 spoonful of peanut butter daily. More than this amount of peanut butter can cause obesity in dogs. So, ensure only a specified and safe amount of peanut butter for your dog(s).
Conclusion
Your dog can happily enjoy peanut butter as long as they give it in a required amount and do not contain any xylitol. By reading the above portions, you might have figured out is xylitol toxic to dogs and also how much peanut butter can a dog have. And it is necessary to avoid its consumption at any cost. They should not give any product containing xylitol to dogs. Be constantly alert to what goes inside your dog’s mouth.
Many dog parents are already aware of xylitol toxicity in dogs. But some are yet to discover this. Reaching out to as many people as possible to make them aware of xylitol consumption for dogs is recommended. It can save many dogs from getting caught by xylitol toxicity. Also, with your pet dog, do not feed xylitol to any stray dog or animals who are toxic to this substance.