Q: Is peanut butter safe for dogs?
A: Yes, peanut butter can be an excellent treat for dogs. It can be a really helpful incentive for dogs in training and can be used on a lick mat at bathtime with great success. One just has to be careful with which peanut butter you choose, but provided you opt for an unprocessed peanut butter, your dog can consume it safely.
Peanut butter is roasted peanuts ground into a thick paste, so it should be relatively unprocessed. Unfortunately, many companies include additives in their peanut butter, like lots of added salt and sugar, which are not good for our canine companions. More concerning still is the addition of xylitol to some brands of peanut butter; xylitol is toxic to dogs, so feeding peanut butter with xylitol is an absolute no-go. Having said this, if you use an unprocessed peanut butter with no added ingredients or a peanut butter made specifically for dogs, you’ll have a great treat for your pooch.
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein, vitamins B3, B6 and E and minerals such as manganese and copper. It also contains antioxidants and reservatrol. The only downsides are that it is very nutrient-dense, high in calories, and contains unbalanced omega oils. This means that it can be given as a treat but only occasionally and never as a meal replacement.
Why do dogs love peanut butter?
It’s difficult to know why dogs love peanut butter so much, but it probably has a lot to do with the high protein content, as well as the natural sodium, sugars and fat. Dogs also tend to ‘eat with their noses’ so perhaps it just smells too good to pass up.
