Is Peanut Butter Good for Dogs?
Peanut butter, a staple in many a dog owner's pantry, is a popular choice for masking the taste of a medicine, filling or flavoring a dog toy or simply as a little extra treat for a dog's diet.
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Nutrition
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Peanut butter is fairly high in protein and also contains vitamins E, K and B3, also known as niacin. Peanut butter also contains the beneficial minerals iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and calcium as well as modest amounts of dietary fiber.
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Uses
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Because most dogs seem to like the taste of peanut butter, the favorite sandwich spread is a popular filling for chew-style rubber dog toys. Peanut butter is also an ingredient and flavor additive to dog biscuits and dog treats and many veterinarians recommend smearing peanut butter on a prescription medicine or vitamin pill as an easy way to get a pet to accept and swallow the pill or tablet.
Allergies
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Because some dogs, like some humans, can have an allergy to peanuts, not all dogs can digest or process nut products. A dog with an allergic reaction to peanut butter will often manifest their allergy symptoms as skin irritation, ear infections or loss of hair. A veterinarian can diagnose the allergy and pet owners giving their pets peanut butter as a treat should notify their vet of the dietary addition and ask for advice.
Benefits
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Peanut butter's high protein content makes it a preferred treat for owners whose dog is not on a restricted calorie diet and the oil and fat content can add luster to the dog's coat.
Concerns
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Pet owners whose dogs begin exhibiting signs of a possible allergic reaction to the addition of peanut butter to the diet should immediately stop giving the animal the peanut butter and ask their veterinarian for allergy testing and advice.
Dog owners should also give dogs the least processed peanut butter available since some brands add sugar, corn syrup or flavorings to a product also known as peanut butter "spread." A product that's no salt-added is also a better choice than a heavily processed food product.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Staffie on Hampstead Heath" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: markhillary (Mark Kobayashi-Hillary) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
