Almost every time I walk to the refrigerator my dog, Milo, jumps to his feet and leaps across the room, rushing to sit next to me and give me those oh-so-cute puppy dog eyes. Of course, this is probably because – like any good doggie mama – I give him a scoop of peanut butter whenever I’m at the fridge. Which left me wondering – how often can my dog have peanut butter?
And thankfully, the basic answer is that yes, it’s okay for pups to have about a tablespoon of peanut butter on the daily, depending on the dog’s weight, health conditions and the actual ingredients in the jar of peanut butter. Apparently not all peanut butters are created equal. About a tablespoon seems to be safe for most dogs according to my research, with smaller dogs getting less and my horse-sized dog getting a bit more!
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Peanut butter and Xylitol
The first and main concern about giving your dog peanut butter is that some brands contain a chemical called xylitol.
This is a sugar substitute which is safe for people, but toxic to dogs, even in small quantities. Even only a bit of this chemical in their system can lead to weakness, collapse, and seizures – yikes!
And, according to the American Kennel Club website, the harmful effects of xylitol can show up within 10-60 mins of ingestion. So if you notice anything off about your dog’s behavior shortly after giving them a lick of peanut butter, be sure to call your vet immediately.
Of course, you can check the labels on the back of the jars to prevent picking up any of this toxic peanut butter for your dog, or you can make some of your own!
Here’s a simple recipe that your dog will love and it’s so much easier to make than you think! In fact, it only contains two ingredients!
Simple Homemade peanut butter
- 2 cups unsalted roasted peanuts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or other cooking oil for consistency
Simply add these two ingredients together in the food processor and blend until creamy, adding in more oil as needed to get the desired consistency.
Slice up an apple or a banana for an added doggie treat! Plus, you can easily use this to make a whole bunch of other dog treats that use peanut butter as the main ingredient!
Using peanut butter for medications
Whenever I go to give Milo is monthly flea meds, he runs for the other room!
I even tried crushing up the pill and adding it to his food – which leads to him either not eating that night or him avoiding all the food pieces that smell like the might be contaminated with medicine – this dog, ugh!
I even got smart one time and put some peanut butter on the pill. For sure, I thought the struggle was over. But nope, he just grabbed the whole thing, ate the peanut butter, and spit the pill right out!
Then one day I was chasing Milo around the house in our monthly “pill time” routine, when the boyfriend comes in and looks at me like I was full-on nuts.
So of course I start telling him all about how Milo refuses to eat this huge pill and every month is a struggle to keep him flea-free.
And without saying a word he goes over to the refrigerator, pulls out the jar of peanut butter, and starts wrapping the pill in a ball of peanut butter.
I tried to tell him it wouldn’t work, that I’d already tried, but he didn’t listen to me.
And without skipping a beat, Milo swallowed the entire thing, even coming back for more peanut butter!
I was somewhere in between shocked and impressed when I realized my mistake – Milo thought he was getting a whole ball of peanut butter this time because he couldn’t see or smell the pill – it was completely covered in a thick layer of peanut butter!
And from then on that’s how I’ve always given him his flea meds – and any other pills he’s had to take! Goodbye monthly pill routine!
Peanut Butter Dog treat ideas
Here are some fun dog treat ideas using peanut butter as one of the main ingredients!
- Fruit slices with a side of peanut butter (apples, bananas, and strawberries work perfectly!)
- Berry cup mixed with peanut butter
- Frozen peanut butter cups on a hot summer day
- Plain Greek yogurt mixed with peanut butter (as long as your pup isn’t lactose intolerant)
- Homemade peanut butter dog treats using only four ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! Plus you can use a cookie cutter for some fun shapes!
peanut butter amounts
All my research points to dogs being able to have between 1/2 a tablespoon to 1 and a 1/2 tablespoons per day, depending on the size of the dog and their weight.
My dog weighs about 110 lbs and enjoys about 2 tablespoons regularly without any side effects – and sometimes more when he steals the entire jar off the countertop!
In fact, I think he secretly waits for my back to be turned just so he can take a shot at running off with the spoon! And sometimes when this happens he gets way more than his fair share of peanut butter, especially when he somehow manages to get the whole jar!
So far there haven’t been any negative side effects from his shenanigans, but if you have any concerns on the exact amount, it’s best to ask your vet.
Generally speaking, however, I follow the 10% treat rule – which is the idea that doggie treats should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s diet, which in Milo’s case adds up to a whole lot of peanut butter!
Is my dog allergic to peanut butter?
The second concern with any new treats for your dog is an allergic reaction.
And while I couldn’t find anything on dogs potentially being allergic to peanut butter, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
So if you’ve been giving him or her peanut butter without any negative reactions, then you’re probably safe to keep the treats coming.
But if you’re not sure what the signs of an allergic reaction could be – or if you’ve never caved in and given them a lick of the stuff – then here are some signs to look for, just in case:
- Hives
- Swelling of the face
- Diarrhea
- Trouble breathing
- Collapse
If you notice your dog has any of these signs or begins acting unlike normal then contact your vet immediately!
At what age can a puppy have peanut butter?
The basic rule of thumb is that if a puppy can eat solid food, then he is old enough to have some peanut butter!
Just remember that puppies are constantly growing and the amount they can have today is probably much less than what they can have a few months from now. So always be sure to keep the peanut butter intake at less than that 10% of his or her diet, just like mentioned above.
Also, as puppies grow, different things can give them an upset tummy or diarrhea, especially when trying things for the first time, so always be sure to ease into any new foods!
Peanut butter also makes for a great puppy training treat, and a way to keep them entertained for hours!
Milo was obsessed with it from the time he could chew, which made him very trainable! Use it sparingly for potty time, as a reward for learning new commands, or even as a recall treat in case of emergencies!
Of course, even stuffing a tiny bit of peanut butter inside a dog toy would keep Milo out of trouble for hours at a time – and thankfully, he never outgrew the love for peanut butter!
Is peanut butter healthy for dogs?
Yes, basic peanut butter is healthy for dogs!
In fact, peanut butter contains lots of protein, healthy fats, and even some vitamins that would make it beneficial to your dog’s diet – just like with people!
But of course, like with most “healthy” foods, most of the peanut butter brands on the market today are loaded with extra sugars and preservatives to keep it fresh on the shelf for much, much longer!
So always be sure to check that the brand you buy has only peanuts and oil (and a bit of salt seems to be okay too.)
Any “extra” ingredients – or ingredients you can’t readily pronounce unless you’re a chemistry major – shouldn’t be part of that list, as they could potentially make him or her sick.
So overall, peanut butter is a perfectly safe daily treat for your pooch – as long as they’re only getting between 1/2 a tablespoon to a tablespoon and a half, depending on their body weight.
And of course, if you don’t want to worry about checking the ingredients list on the back of the jar, you can always whip up a batch of your own for you and the pup to share using the recipe above! Enjoy!
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