Dogs have different digestive systems and metabolisms than humans do, which means that they can’t eat the same foods that humans eat. While it might be tempting for dog owners to share their meals and snacks with their dogs, they should be aware of the foods and ingredients that can be harmful to their dogs’ health. Since peanut butter is a beloved food by people of all ages, dog owners may wonder: is peanut butter good for dogs? Here, our Atlanta pet sitting company Critter Sitters explains why only some types of peanut butter are good for dogs, and discusses other foods that are safe for your dog to eat.
Feeding Peanut Butter to Your Dog
Peanut butter is good for dogs, but only if it lacks certain harmful ingredients. Make sure you use caution when feeding peanut butter to your dog, otherwise you can snack together happily.
The Type of Peanut Butter You Should Feed Your Dog
If you want to feed peanut butter to your dog, you have to make sure that it doesn’t contain ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. One of those ingredients is xylitol, which is added to some brands of peanut butter. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be used to make peanut butter sweeter; it’s also commonly used in baked goods, candies, chewing gum, toothpaste, breath mints. It’s safe for humans but when dogs eat it, it causes a rapid insulin releases, which can affect their blood sugar levels. Make sure you read the ingredient list before you feed peanut butter to your dog—if it says it contains xylitol, avoid it.
When choosing a peanut butter to give to your dog, you should make sure that you choose a peanut butter brand this is low in sugar and free of salt. It’s important to choose a peanut butter that doesn’t have salt because dogs are sensitive to sodium. Make sure your dog’s peanut butter is low in sugar because too much sugar can be troublesome for diabetic dogs and can make dogs prone to obesity, especially if they are a senior dog.
As a rule of thumb, you should feed your dog peanut butter that has as few ingredients as possible; ideally, peanuts will be the only ingredient. It doesn’t matter if the peanut butter you feed them in chunky or smooth.
The Health Benefits of Peanut Butter for Dogs
Dog owners as encouraged to feed peanut butter to their dogs (as long as it doesn’t have xylitol, salt, or sugar) because there are multiple health benefits to eating peanut butter. Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein for dogs, which is important if you take them to dog parks often for exercise. Peanut butter also has a good amount of healthy fats, niacin, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E. It’s important to note that peanut butter should be fed to dogs in moderation—no more than a few tablespoons per day is recommended. Treats should never exceed 10 percent of your dog’s diet.
Making Your Own Peanut Butter For Your Dog
One way to make sure that the peanut butter you’re feeding to your dog doesn’t have anything dangerous is to make your own. You can make your own peanut butter to feed your dog by roasting some peanuts, putting them in food processor, and blending until smooth.
Be Aware of Food Allergies
Like humans, some dogs can have peanut allergies. They’re more rare in dogs than they are in humans but they’re still something to be aware of. If you have never fed peanut butter to your dog before, feed them a tiny amount and then watch them to make sure that they don’t exhibit any signs of an allergic reaction. If they seem to be fine after you feed them peanut butter, you can feed them some more.
Tips for Feeding Peanut Butter to Your Dog
Your dog will probably enjoy peanut butter if you feed it to them alone on a spoon. But there are other ways you can use peanut butter with your dog. One way you can use peanut butter is to make it easier to feed them medication—hide pills inside of a serving of peanut butter so you can be sure that the pill gets swallowed. You can also fill a special toy with peanut butter, which they’ll enjoy spending time licking.
Safe Foods to Feed Your Dog
Peanut butter isn’t the only snack that is safe to feed your dog. The following are foods that are generally safe to feed to your dog.
Cooked Chicken
Adding cooked chicken to your dog’s regular dog food is a way to add extra protein to their diet. Just make sure that it wasn’t cooked with too much salt or seasoning.
Yogurt
The calcium and probiotics found in togurt can be beneficial to your dog’s overall health. Avoid choosing yogurts that have a high sugar content or that have added flavorings.
Eggs
Eggs are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. They’re a good source of protein, fatty acids, and amino acids, and they’re easy to prepare. Just don’t salt them and make sure they’re fully cooked before feeding them to your dog.
Atlanta Pet Sitters for Dog Walking
As long as you choose the right types of peanut butter, this snacks is perfectly safe for your dog to eat. You know how important your dog’s nutrition is. If you leave home, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not your dog is being properly fed. When you can’t be home to feed your dog, use the services of the Atlanta dog sitters from Critter Sitters to take care of your pet. Call us (404) 793-6178 to talk about how we can take care of your dog for you.
