Are Dogs Allergic To Peanut Butter? 

We know that dogs love peanut butter, but recently, people have been claiming that this sticky treat is toxic to dogs. Could this be true? Should you feed peanut butter to your dog? Let’s set the record straight.

The toxic ingredient isn’t the peanut butter itself, but rather the artificial sweetener xylitol. Even a small amount of xylitol can poison your furry friend. Unfortunately, many “sugar-free” brands of peanut butter contain this ingredient. Here’s how you can keep your dog safe.

Xylitol will always be listed in a product’s ingredient list. Peanut butter often contains additives to make it taste better, last longer, and so on. According to veterinary nutritionist Susan Wynn, dogs have different nutritional needs than people do. Never assume that human-grade food is safe for dogs.

In addition to xylitol, ingredients such as sugar, salt, palm oil, and corn syrup can cause health problems in dogs (and these ingredients aren’t too healthy for you, either!). That’s why it’s a good idea to find natural peanut butters that don’t have these extra ingredients. (Be sure to read the ingredient list carefully.) Better yet, purchase a peanut butter that’s made especially for dogs.

Peanut butter for dogs isn’t just pure peanut butter. Often, it has extra nutrients that benefit your dog — and absolutely no xylitol or other toxic ingredients. Veterinary nutritionists formulate these special peanut butters with healthy alternatives to the sugary, processed ingredients in many human-grade peanut butters.

Just be sure to give this sticky treat in moderation. Never feed your dog more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories in treats. Peanut butter is chock-full of protein and vitamins, but it’s also high in fact. Giving too many high-fat goodies to your pup can lead to pancreatitis, which is painful and difficult to treat.