 The Short Answer is: |
YES – dogs can eat peanuts and they are not toxic. Like most human foods, dogs can have peanuts, but it’s a little more complicated with peanuts. |
In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Peanuts or Are Peanuts Bad for Dogs?“.
American consumers prefer peanuts over any other kind of nut. Is it safe for dogs to consume peanuts as we do and can they eat peanuts just like we do? Are there any risks associated with feeding peanuts to dogs? What are the benefits of feeding peanuts to dogs? Lets examine the topic.
If you are wondering “Can I give my dog peanuts?” the answer is YES – dogs can eat peanuts and they are not toxic. Like most human foods dogs can have peanuts but its a little more complicated with peanuts.
Treats are a favorite of your dog. You can also eat certain nuts as long as you do not overdo it. When you drop a nut on the floor not every dog will show much interest. Even so it is worthwhile to know which peanut products can harm and which are safe.
Peanut Butter
If you give your dog a spoonful of gooey peanut butter he might love it more than anything. All peanut butter recipes however are not safe for dogs. Lets take a closer look at what you should be looking for before you give your dog this tasty treat. Find out what makes peanut butter pets safe.
Peanut butter is a good source of protein vitamins and healthy fats. This food is high in these nutrients and if consumed in excess could lead to obesity. Weighing too much is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans.
You need to know a few things about the ingredients in peanut butter products before making a decision. Learn what to look for when looking at the ingredients and do not be intimidated by their strange names.
5 bad ingredients in peanut butter
Xylitol
Make sure the dog treats you choose do not contain Xylitol which is toxic to them. In spite of being a natural sugar substitute for humans a pooch can become sick if he/she consumes too much of it. Sugar alcohol also goes by the name of sambuca.
Canines are not toxic to other sugar alcohols. If it does not specify which one it is then you should not take the risk.
Hydrogenated fats
It contains some good fats (monounsaturated) but it also contains bad fats (trans fats.) Look at the list of ingredients and if it says Hydrogenated or Even Partially Hydrogenated Fats do not give it to your dog. Its not something you should eat either.
Aflatoxins
The owners of pets may have to worry about this as well. The fungus grows on peanut shells and comes from a natural source. Recent studies indicate that it can cause cancer in the liver. Often healthy peanut butter products contain higher levels of aflatoxins. The peanuts are normally fresh ground and have not been treated in any way.
Salt
Just like humans dogs need salt as well which peanut butter provides. It is only needed in small amounts by dogs and humans alike. On the other hand you should only feed your pet small amounts of peanut butter if you do so. As an extra precaution check if your dogs diet already contains high levels of salt with the other foods you give to him.
It is possible to give your dog small amounts of peanut butter occasionally as a treat.
5 ways to give your dog a peanut butter treat
1. Taken from a spoon. This method has a couple of advantages. Holding the spoon so that pooch can lick it off you are participating. Bonding between you and your dog is always a great thing to do. Even if you hold the spoon tightly they might be so excited they might want to eat it too.
2. It is also useful to disguise the taste of medication by feeding them peanut butter in this way.
3. You can make it even tastier by wrapping it in a thin piece of meat such as ham or beef.
4. Combine peanut butter with something your dog loves to eat such as yogurt or ice cream and freeze it. When hes sweating in the summer heat break out the cooling and flavorsome ice cubes.
5. Place a spoonful of peanut butter in a chewy bar or toy for your dog. If your pooch is having a good chew they can find that yummy peanut butter treat. The way they would do it in the wild would be with bone marrow.
Peanuts 3 Ways
It is possible for dogs to have nut allergies. However this is not as frequent as for humans. If you are introducing nuts as a treat to your pet proceed with caution.
A few signs to look out for are excessive sneezing coughing face rubbing diarrhea skin rashes or vomiting.
- Give your pooch RAW peanuts that are not salted.
- The best peanuts to give your dog are dry roasted peanuts.
- Salty peanuts should never be fed to your pet. There is no need to worry though the occasional one will drop to the ground.
2 Other Nuts considered safe for a dog to eat:
Even roasted cashew nuts are fine as a treat from time to time. Be careful however as too many may upset your stomach. They should not be eaten raw. Toxins are eliminated when they are cooked.
Hazelnuts are not toxic to dogs. Since the round shape makes them difficult to chew they may swallow them whole. Consequently their intestines may become obstructed.
7 Nuts to be AVOIDED for dogs
- Almonds are not digestible.
- Pistachios contain too much fat.
- Walnuts have toxins.
- Pecans have toxins.
- The fat content and toxins in macadamias make them unhealthy.
- The fat content in hickory is very high and it also contains toxins.
Last but not least if you happen to have a black walnut tree in your yard pick up the nuts and shells as they fall or keep the dog away from it. Dogs should never eat nuts that are on the VERY DANGEROUS list.
As an adult your dog may not be interested in nuts unless he eats peanuts since puppyhood. Pooch might only give one a quick sniff and a cursory lick if he falls on the floor. If your dog eats an odd nut even one from the danger list it should be fine unless it has caused an obstruction.
There are many types of canine treats available on the market which they might prefer over nuts. There is no difference in the protein and fat contents of meat treats and nuts. Dogs do not eat nuts as natural food with the exception of peanut butter treats.
Last but not least you should limit treats to no more than 10% of your dogs diet. Give rewards in moderation. Donot give too many rewards in a day.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
