Peanut butter is one of my favorite foods on the planet. Peanut butter on apples, in a smoothie, or with chocolate .. Oh. my. Yum!
It shouldn’t surprise you that your dog probably loves peanut butter as much as you.
Dog-safe peanut butter is versatile and can be a healthy treat for your pet. Use it to hide necessary medication. Or fill Kong toys or other hollow toys to give your dog mental enrichment and fight boredom. Or use natural peanut butter to make dog treats such as birthday cupcakes and ice cream.
Peanut butter is not just a tasty treat, it’s also rich in proteins and healthy fats (particularly oleic acid).
But, not all peanut butter is created equally. Some are unsafe and contain artificial sweeteners, sugar substitutes, or even xylitol (a toxin for dogs).
In this article, you will find our top picks for the best dog-friendly peanut butter brands that are safe for your dog. Learn what dog-safe ingredients to look for when picking the best and healthiest peanut butter for your pooch! You’ll also learn how much peanut butter dog owners should give to their dogs.
We’ll also share our favorite recipes for peanut butter treats that you can make today.
7 Best Peanut Butter Brands For Dogs In 2022 That Are Safe And Healthy
Benefits Of Peanut Butter For Dogs
Peanut butter is a great source of protein for dogs. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats such as oleic acid and omega-6 that can be beneficial to your pup’s health.
The main type of fat in natural peanut butter is oleic acid, which has been shown to maintain good cholesterol and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Peanut butter also contains niacin, copper, manganese, vitamin E, selenium and zinc—all vital nutrients that help support the immune system and promote overall health in dogs.
Which Peanut Butter Is Safe And Healthy For Dogs?
When picking peanut butter, always check the ingredient list on the jar of peanut butter. The best, healthiest and safest peanut butter for dogs and yourself should contain 1 ingredient, peanuts. That’s it!
Even if the label states natural peanut butter or organic peanut butter, read the ingredient list for unwanted extra ingredients that peanut butter manufacturers may hide.
Look for peanut butter that doesn’t have added sugar, artificial sweeteners like Xylitol, preservatives, and hydrogenated vegetable oils.
You should get an unsalted or no-salt-added version of peanut butter for dogs.
Stay clear of Xylitol as even a small amount of xylitol is toxic to dogs.
What Ingredients Make Peanut Butter Unsafe And Unhealthy For Dogs?
These ingredients found in peanut butter should be avoided:
- Xylitol or Birch Sugar: An artificial sweetener used in “sugar-free” food such as sugar-free gum, jello, and yogurt. It is very unsafe for dogs to ingest.
- Sugar: Too much sugar can lead to obesity and other diseases.
- Salt
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils or Trans Fat: Increases your risk of developing heart disease and other health problems.
- Unhealthy Fats: These can raise total cholesterol and blood pressure and increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases.
- Any additional ingredients or additives should be avoided.
Dangers of Xylitol/Birch Sugar In Dogs
Xylitol is a sugar substitute used to give sugar-free food its sweet taste. It can be found in sugar-free chewing gum, baked goods, ice cream, toothpaste, and many other household items.
When dogs eat xylitol, it’s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and may result in a large release of insulin in the pancreas. This leads to a significant decrease in blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia. This can occur within 10 to 60 minutes after your dog eats food containing xylitol.
Read more about the dangers of xylitol in dogs here.
Along with hypoglycemia, your dog may also have decreased activity, weakness, liver failure and seizures. Symptoms may not show for up to 12 to 24 hours.
Take your dog to your vet or emergency animal hospital immediately.
Best And Healthiest Xylitol-free Peanut Butter For Dogs
Trader Joe’s Organic No Salt Creamy Peanut Butter
The good news is you can find the best peanut butter at your local grocery store. Trader Joe’s Organic No Salt Creamy Peanut Butter is the best overall peanut butter as it has only one ingredient on the label, organic peanuts.
I already eat this peanut butter and Teddy loves the taste when I add it to a Kong toy or lick mat. There is a crunchy version, but it does contain salt.
The affordable price, organic label, one ingredient, and great taste make this peanut butter the top pick!
Whole Foods 365 EveryDay Value Creamy Peanut Butter
A close runner-up for best peanut butter is Whole Foods 365 EveryDay Value Creamy Peanut Butter. It is organic and has only one ingredient, peanuts. It is a little bit more expensive than Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Peanut Butter.
It’s also a staple in my pantry. Like many other natural peanut butters, the ingredients separate into layers. You will have to store it in your fridge or simply turn the jar upside down to mix the ingredients together before eating it. Once mixed, it has a thicker consistency. Making it perfect for stuffing a Kong toy.
Teddie Super Chunky Peanut Butter
If you’re a fan of chunky peanut butter, then Teddie Super Chunky Peanut Butter is a great choice for you. Dogs can safely eat chunky peanut butter too as the nuts are crushed small enough which is great for smaller breeds.
The unsalted version is affordable and delicious!
Poochie Butter
Poochie Butter is healthy peanut butter made for dogs. It contains 5 ingredients, dry roasted peanuts, turmeric, parsley, flax seed, and ginger. There’s no added sugar, salt or preservatives.
Spread some Poochie Butter on a lick mat for your dog for enrichment or to distract them while you give them a bath, clip their nails or crate train them.
Although this peanut butter isn’t cheap, it does add more health benefits than other choices.
Hyper Pet IQ Treat Spread Dog Peanut Butter
Hyper Pet IQ Treat Spread Peanut Butter is formulated for dogs and comes in different flavors including bacon, pumpkin, banana, and natural peanut butter. Ingredients include peanuts and honey in their natural peanut butter.
There are no added stabilizers. You will need to stir the peanut butter well because the natural oils separate.
Use the peanut butter to make dog treats or on Hyper Pet’s Slow feeding mat.
I appreciate a peanut butter brand made especially made for dogs but would recommend avoiding any added sugar to your dog’s diet.
Bark Bistro Company Ruff Ruff Raw Buddy Budder
Buddy Budder is all-natural peanut butter made for dogs with two ingredients; peanuts and honey. There is no high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, xylitol, salt, or artificial sugars.
Use Buddy budder on a lick mat, make frozen treats, or drizzle on pancakes or cupcakes for your dog.
Although honey is a natural ingredient, it’s best to avoid giving your dog any added sugar.
Honest Paws Calm Peanut Butter
If you’re looking for peanut butter that also includes CBD, then you need to try Honest Paws Calm Peanut Butter. It’s recommended to help maintain calmness and behavioral problems and promote healthy brain function.
The active ingredient is organic full-spectrum hemp oil. The inactive ingredients include dry roasted peanuts, dextrose, MCT oil, and salt.
Honest Paws recommends 1 tablespoon per day for a dog under 25 pounds and 2 tablespoons per day for a dog 25-50 pounds.
Honest Paws Calm Peanut Butter is made in the USA. But don’t try this peanut butter as it’s for animal use only.
Unhealthy Peanut Butter To Avoid
Some peanut butter may not contain xylitol but you should still avoid it because it has other added ingredients such as sugar, salt, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Here is a list of unhealthy peanut butter you should avoid if possible:
- Amazon Brand Happy Belly
- Jiff
- Kong Real Peanut Butter
- Skippy Creamy/Crunchy Peanut Butter
Is Skippy Peanut butter safe for dogs?
Skippy Peanut Butter is xylitol-free but contains other ingredients such as sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil to prevent separation, and salt. Although Skippy is safe for dogs, it’s not the healthiest option.
Select Skippy peanut butter products were recalled in early 2022 due to possibly containing steel fragments.
Is Jif Peanut Butter Good For Dogs?
Jif Peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol in its ingredients but it does include sugar, molasses, hydrogenated vegetable oils, salt, and mono and diglycerides. You and your dog should avoid these unhealthy ingredients.
Due to a salmonella outbreak, many products using Jif peanut butter have been recalled in 2022.
Is Kong Peanut Butter Safe For Dogs?
Kong peanut butter is made specifically for dogs with human-grade ingredients such as roasted peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean, cottonseed, and rapeseed oil), and salt. Although it is safe for dogs because it doesn’t contain xylitol, it does contain many unhealthy ingredients and should be avoided.
Peanut Butter Brands That Contain Xylitol And Are Unsafe For Dogs
- Go Nuts Co
- Nuts N’ More
- P28
How Much Peanut Butter Can A Dog Have?
The amount of peanut butter your dog gets depends on its weight and size. Smaller dogs should get less peanut butter than larger dogs.
Peanut butter is a great source of healthy fats and protein, making it a popular treat for dogs. However, it’s important for pet parents to give peanut butter in moderation—too much can lead to obesity and other diseases such as pancreatitis, especially in small dogs. Peanut butter and other treats should only be a small portion of a dog’s diet.
While it’s fine to give your dog a little bit of peanut butter every now and then, it’s not something you want to give them all the time.
Homemade Peanut Butter For Dogs
To ensure your furry friend is getting the safest and healthiest peanut butter, it’s a good idea to make your own using natural ingredients. It’s easier than you think! Add peanuts to a food processor and blend until smooth. If desired, you can add healthy oils such as coconut oil.
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