Opening a jar of peanut butter is enough to summon just about any dog, and even the pickiest of pups can’t resist its creamy deliciousness. Irresistibly tasty and relatively healthy, peanut butter is a popular ingredient for dog treats, and just as wonderful licked right off the spoon.
Of course, even when it comes to PB for pups, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. In celebration of National Peanut Butter Day, learn how much peanut butter your dog can have today, and what you should know before letting your pup indulge.
Is Peanut Butter Healthy for Dogs?
Peanut butter comes in dozens of varieties, and not all are safe for dogs, even in small amounts.
Chocolate peanut butter varieties should never be fed to dogs. Though chocolate peanut butter typically only contains small amounts of cocoa powder, the source of stimulants theobromine and caffeine that cause toxicity in dogs, it’s best to steer clear.
Keto, diabetic-friendly, and other special diet peanut butters are often sweetened with xylitol, an artificial sweetener extracted from a natural sugar alcohol found in plants. Xylitol, also known as birch sugar, is extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.
Chunky peanut butter contains chunks of peanuts that could pose a choking risk to small dogs, but are unlikely to cause issue with most.
Sugar is naturally occurring in peanuts, and most brands of peanut butter use small amounts of added sugar for additional sweetness. Regular sugar is not toxic to dogs, but too much can cause dental disease and obesity over time. If you can, look for “no sugar added” peanut butter that does not use artificial sweeteners. If unavailable, though, regular peanut butter is okay in moderation.
Fats naturally found in peanuts are unsaturated fats, which are the “healthy kind” that help nutrient absorption, aid brain function, and protect heart health. Regular peanut butter usually has a small amount of hydrogenated vegetable oils for preserve taste, freshness, and texture.
However, some dogs are more sensitive to fat than others. Just one fatty meal or treat can cause an episode of acute pancreatitis. In dogs that have had one or more occurrences of pancreatitis in the past, it’s best to skip the peanut butter in favor of low fat treats.
Should Dogs Eat Natural Peanut Butter?
All-natural peanut butter is made with peanuts, and that’s it. They may contain salt, but will not use any oils, sugars, or artificial sweeteners. You can spring for natural peanut butter for your dog if you’d like. However, the small amounts of added sugar and oils in regular peanut butter is unlikely to cause your dog harm in moderate amounts.
How Much Peanut Butter Can My Dog Have Each Day?
Peanut butter is best used when smeared over a lickable puzzle toy, rather than given by the spoonful. The recommended (human) serving size is two tablespoons, which contains nearly 200 calories and around 16 grams of fat.
A 10-pound dog should consume around 300 calories and 3 grams of fat per day. A larger dog that weighs 50 pounds needs about 1000 calories and 10 grams of fat per day. So, it’s easy to see how even a small serving could quickly bring your dog over their recommended daily fat and calorie intake, and can contribute to excess weight gain if given on a regular basis.
For small dogs, give no more than a half-teaspoon of peanut butter per day, and avoid making it a daily habit. Larger dogs can have a half-tablespoon of peanut butter every now and then.
Dogs actually have a rather poor sense of taste, relying mainly on their sense of smell to decide what’s yummy. So, all it takes is a thin coating of peanut butter to turn any pill, veggie, or other “boring” food into a scrumptious snack.
