Can My Dog Eat This? - Peanut Butter -

This is our latest post in the series covering foods that your dog can / should eat or avoid completely. We break it down into bitesize articles and will cover everything from artichokes to antelope! These are all extracts from Jo’s upcoming book called “Can My Dog Eat This?”

We’re nuts about our nut(butter)!

Peanuts

Similar to hazelnuts, peanuts should only be given ground or as peanut butter.

Peanuts are a good source of protein, and they also contain arginine, an amino acid that is important in the production of nitric oxide, which helps with blood circulation. Because of this, peanuts can help to reduce your dog’s risk for heart disease and high blood pressure.

Peanut butter contains plenty of healthy fats important for your dog's skin. It can also improve dry coats and irritated skin on your dog. In moderation peanut butter can be an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, vitamins B and E, and niacin.

Peanut butter is okay for dogs, but only if it’s not loaded with artificial preservatives, sodium, and sugar. You also need to check the label to ensure it doesn’t contain Xylitol.

Xylitol is toxic to dogs.

There are many nut butters available these days that are 100% natural. You may also want to avoid butters that contain palm oil as the production of this is very damaging to the environment.

Stay tuned for more "Can My Dog Eat This?" posts.

About these posts...

Well, a sea change is taking place in the world of pet nutrition. More and more owners are moving away from processed dry and tinned foods towards more natural, healthy diets for their pets. With this shift comes considerable confusion and misinformation. Are blackberries poisonous? Is garlic good or bad for dogs? What about avocado?

There is an important distinction between what dogs can eat and what dogs should eat. As with humans, dogs need a balanced diet to thrive. These posts will hopefully give you a steer in the right direction!