is peanut butter ok for dogs
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Peanut butter
Peanut butter is a food paste or spread made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. It commonly contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners, or emulsifiers. Peanut butter is consumed in many countries. The United States is a leading exporter of peanut butter and one of the largest consumers of peanut butter annually per capita. January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day in the United States.
Peanut butter is a nutrient-rich food containing high levels of protein, several vitamins, and dietary minerals. It is typically served as a spread on bread, toast, or crackers, and used to make sandwiches (notably the peanut butter and jelly sandwich). It is also used in a number of breakfast dishes and desserts, such as peanut-flavored granola, smoothies, crepes, cookies, brownies, or croissants. Peanut butter is similar to other nut butters such as cashew butter and almond butter.
History
As the US National Peanut Board confirms, “Contrary to popular belief, George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter.” Carver was given credit in popular folklore for many inventions that did not come out of his lab. By the time Carver published his document about peanuts, entitled “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it For Human Consumption” in 1916, many methods of preparation of peanut butter had already been developed or patented by various pharmacists, doctors, and food scientists working in the US and Canada.
A related dish named pinda-käse (peanut cheese) existed in Suriname by 1783. This more solid than modern peanut butter, and could cut and served in slices like cheese. Pinda bravoe, a soup-like peanut based dish, also existed in Suriname around that time.
pindakaas
Modern peanut butter is still referred to as “pindakaas” (peanut cheese) in Dutch for this reason, Suriname having been a Dutch colony at that time. When peanut butter was brought onto the market in the Netherlands by Calvé in 1948, it was not allowed to do so under the name “peanut butter”. The name “butter” was specifically defined for real butter, to avoid confusion with margarine.
While the earliest example of grinding peanuts into paste has traced to the Aztecs and Incas, the US National Peanut Board credits three modern inventors with the earliest patents related to the production of modern peanut butter.
Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, obtained a patent for a method of producing peanut butter from roasted peanuts using heated surfaces in 1884. Edson’s cooled product had “a consistency like that of butter, lard, or ointment” according to his patent application which described a process of milling roasted peanuts until the peanuts reached “a fluid or semi-fluid state”. He mixed sugar into the paste to harden its consistency.
1898
John Harvey Kellogg, known for his line of prepared breakfast cereals, was an advocate of using plant foods as a healthier dietary choice rather than meat. He was issued a patent for a “Process of Producing Alimentary Products” in 1898, and used peanuts, although he boiled the peanuts rather than roasting them. Kellogg’s Western Health Reform Institute served peanut butter to patients because they needed a food that contained a lot of protein that could be eaten without chewing. At first, peanut butter was a food for wealthy people, as it became popular initially as a product served at expensive health care institutes.
Early peanut-butter-making machines developed by Joseph Lambert, who had worked at John Harvey Kellogg’s Battle Creek Sanatorium, and Dr. Ambrose Straub who obtained a patent for a peanut-butter-making machine in 1903
What Kind of Peanut Butter is Safe for Dogs?
For the most part, peanut butter can be awesome for dogs and most dogs LOVE it! Peanut butter is great as an occasional “high value” treat, it’s useful for hiding pills, and it can even used to distract your dog while giving them a bath or trimming their nails.
While most peanut butter brands are safe for dogs, not all peanut butters are safe and not all amounts are safe, either.
Do Not Give Your Dog This Type of Peanut Butter
It’s no longer easy to say whether it’s safe to give even a small amount of peanut butter to your dog. And there’s a one-word answer as to why… Xylitol!
Xylitol is an increasingly common sugar-replacement sweetener that’s in hundreds of products, including some brands of peanut butter. It’s an “all-natural” sugar substitute that’s fine for people, but it’s extremely poisonous to dogs and poisons thousands of dogs each year. We at Preventive Vet are happy to report that there has been an increase in awareness about xylitol – both in peanut butter and in the more than 700 other products xylitol found in – and we have been able to influence some companies to change their labeling and warning practices.
Why Xylitol Is Dangerous to Dogs
Xylitol is a sweetener that’s gaining in popularity because of its dental benefits for people as well as its suitability as a sugar substitute for people with diabetes. Yet thousands of dogs accidentally poisoned by xylitol every year.
In fact, the toxic dose of xylitol in dogs is even less than chocolate! For example, as little as 1.37 grams of xylitol can cause a rapid drop in a dog’s blood sugar (“hypoglycemia”) and result in staggering, disorientation, collapse, and seizures in a 30-pound dog*. If a dog of the same size ingested 6.8 grams, it could be enough to cause a debilitating and likely deadly destruction of the dog’s liver cells. Now consider that it would take about 22 times more (150 grams) dark chocolate to result in the same level of severe toxicity.
Safe
Dr. Laura Gaylord is a veterinary nutritionist, speaker and consultant for pet parents, pet supplements and the pet food industry. She says “unfortunately there is so much misinformation on the internet when it comes to animal nutrition. You can find information to support really any opinion or bias you have about a subject and it is difficult to know what is truly factual versus opinion. It is a big problem.” There are certainly concerns that are justified when it comes to what is safe to feed your pets.
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“Most people tend to think of dogs and cats as small humans,” says Gaylord. But the fact is while animal nutrition has some similarities to human nutrition, some things are ok for human consumption that are not for animals. For instance, the sugar substitute Xylitol can found in commercial products for human consumption, including some peanut butters. While this sugar-alcohol is safe for humans, it’s poisonous for dogs and cats. According to Gaylord, “there have been plenty of cases of toxicity due to xylitol. We know it’s highly toxic in dogs and cats.”
1. Can dogs have peanut butter?
Yes, if the peanut butter you choose is NOT peanut butter with Xylitol. Read the label to make sure your peanut butter includes just peanuts, salt, and maybe sugar. And the same goes for peanut butter and puppies – as long as it is Xylitol-free peanut butter, it is fine for an occasional treat. Remember always limit treats and snacks to no more than 10% of the daily intake to maintain a healthy, complete and balanced diet.
2. Is peanut butter good for dogs?
Peanut butter without Xylitol is perfect as a treat for your pet, but it is just that, a treat. Remember that peanut butter contains fats and although these are good fats, too much fat can be a problem for fat-sensitive dogs.
3. Can dogs eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Yes. A taste of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be a safe and tasty treat for a dog, however, remember to limit treats to no more than 10% of their daily calories so consider offering a corner or bite of your sandwich instead of the whole thing! It is important to avoid peanut butter with Xylitol.
4. Can dogs eat crunchy peanut butter?
Crunchy or smooth, regular peanut butter is safe to give your dog as a treat, just make sure sure the peanut butter does not have Xylitol.
5. How much peanut butter can I give my dog?
This will depend on the size of your dog. It is a best practice to always consult your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist when it comes to serving sizes or pet nutrition. The general rule is no more than 10% of the pet’s daily calories should come from treats/snacks to avoid unbalancing the total daily diet.
Feeding Peanut Butter for Bath Time
When training your dog to tolerate bath time, try smearing a small amount of peanut butter on the wall of your tub or shower as a distraction. As they busily lick it off, they will less focused on washed, making it more fun for both of you.
Using Peanut Butter for Playtime
If you have a smart, high-energy dog that highly food-motivated, consider using peanut butter with a fun puzzle feeder toy.
You can fill a large Kong with kibble, seal the hole with peanut butter, and put it in the freezer for two to three hours. Offer this puzzle on an easy-to-clean floor and challenge your dog to figure out how to spill the kibble out. This is a great way to keep your dog entertained when you’re home and want to keep an eye on them, but are unable to play.
xylitol-free
Keep your dog safe by using a xylitol-free peanut butter. Keep his or her general health and waistline in mind when offering peanut butter as a treat.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s diet, contact your veterinarian for help and recommendations. Every dog is different, so be mindful of how peanut butter affects them.
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