Introduction
I had heard before that dogs have a crazy love for peanut butter's so I decided to test it out with my team. Dogs aren't usually very picky about what they eat unless I give them medicine. I suspect that as long as they don't wonder why I'm giving them peanut butter dog food, they'll happily savor it.
I often personify dogs. I suspect what I like they like and vice versa. They are surprised when I kick them out after they get on something nasty in the backyard. They assume I will like that smell as much as they do.
Because I love peanut butter, I'm sure my dogs do too. But I still do detailed research every time before I introduce a new food.
In this case, I wanted to investigate peanut butter. Is peanut butter flavored dog food healthy for dogs? Does it have any nutritional benefits? What are the ingredients in most peanut butter?
Next is what I found out ......
Is peanut butter healthy for dogs?
Is Peanut Butter Healthy for Dogs?
I never trust positive reports from any for-profit organization, which includes pharmaceutical companies, vitamin manufacturers, organic food farms, and large grocery chains. So in this case, I don't trust dog food manufacturers and suppliers either. I'll skim their articles and introductory notes, but I'll also search for information through other sources to find out what they say is true.
First, I would look to see if dogs can eat peanut butter flavored dog food. Most information says that it's fine for dogs to eat small amounts of peanut butter, although like anything else, a dog's sensitive stomach may have an adverse reaction.
However, peanut butter dog food is very high in fat. A diet high in fat is one of the causes of pancreatitis, and small dogs are more prone to pancreatitis than large dogs, so even if I were to feed my dog peanut butter, I would only feed a small amount.
There should be a limit on dogs consuming foods high in fat content, whether they are large or small dogs. Not only is pancreatitis caused by a diet high in fat, but too much fat can cause your dog's weight to skyrocket. In the canine world, obesity is as serious a problem as it is for humans. Obesity is detrimental to a dog's health and can eventually even take a dog's life.
So, there is no problem with dogs eating peanut butter flavored dog food in moderation.
Just for reference, I have found many articles explaining that peanuts are not among the nuts that are harmful to dogs. This opinion has always made me wonder if these articles have done their research. Peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes, and most legumes are good for dogs. They are low in fat and high in protein.
This doesn't necessarily mean you have to feed your dog peanuts all the time. Most peanuts sold on the market are salted, and too salty is not good for dogs. Often the surface is also covered with some sort of oil that raises the fat content. Be sure to read the outer packaging of the peanut and any other food you feed your dog.
The Ingredients in Peanut Butter Dog Food
So, what about the other ingredients in peanut butter dog food?
The peanut butter flavored dog food I buy, a store private label, contains “sugar, less than 2% molasses, hydrogenated vegetable oil and salt”. The peanuts themselves are healthy for dogs, but we still have to look at the other ingredients.
Sugar
It may be okay for dogs to eat a little bit of sugar (remember, a little bit is based on their size, not ours), but dogs that eat too much can experience the same things we do: obesity, diabetes, tooth decay. It's probably best to avoid feeding your dog sugary treats.
Imagine what happens when you give lots of sugar to small children. In the short term, they are very happy, but then they suffer a “sugar attack”. As the sugar is processed through the body, the person's energy level slowly decreases and they eventually become tired and lethargic. The same thing happens to dogs.
As time progresses, dogs can develop diseases like diabetes because it is very difficult for the body to process too much sugar. Even though there isn't much sugar in peanut butter, it's best to feed it just a little bit at a time.
Molasses
Molasses, as far as I know, cures all diseases and is excellent for both humans and dogs. Certain kinds are much better than others, and black molasses extracts all (or at least most) of the sugar from the sugar cane, through a process that leaves the vitamins in the molasses instead of in the sugar. My peanut butter flavored dog food label says, “Molasses, not blackstrap molasses, 2% or less.” This molasses is not the best variety for dogs, and too low a content is not good for dogs, and certainly not bad.
Vegetable oils
Whether or not vegetable oils and their constituent products (hydrogenated oils, etc.) are healthy pet food additives is debated in the articles I referenced. I think I would err on the side of caution, too much fat or oil is not a good choice to feed your pet.
Salt
Almost all of the articles I referenced state the same thing: salt is a must for dogs. However, a little too much can cause your dog to drink a lot of water for a short period of time, leading to sodium ion toxicity.
Salt absorbs water in the body, which is why a dog can become very thirsty after eating too much salt. He then needs to drink more water than usual to quench his thirst, and then urination becomes more frequent and his body continues to process the salt quickly.
Because your dog's circulatory system and kidneys are busy processing the excess salt ingested, they become labored and their body begins to swell. Vomiting, diarrhea, and in more serious cases that is a symptom of sodium ion poisoning. If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms, then he needs to see a doctor immediately.
In my opinion, even the food labels on human foods aren't too specific to give us much help. They will show that salt is an ingredient, but often won't show how much. And I'm not sure it includes the salt content of the food itself.
I've come to the conclusion that the dogs are already getting a sodium supplement in their dog food and a salt supplement in the fries we accidentally drop. I don't think they need any more, either from peanut butter or anything else.
Some Skepticism about Peanut Butter Dog Food
Since peanut butter for humans doesn't seem healthy for dogs, I looked for peanut butter made just for dogs.
Dog food labeling rules are even less strict than those for humans, to the point that I couldn't find out exactly what was in my dog's peanut butter flavored dog food. This made me wonder.
Peanut butter for dogs is a new product, so there isn't much information available to pet owners yet. Personally, I'm skeptical about feeding this type of peanut butter to my dog, and I'm skeptical about whether or not I'd feed it in small amounts with the lack of information.
The Dangers and Responsibilities of Feeding Dogs Peanut Butter
Like I said, I personify dogs, and I know what it's like to have peanut butter stuck in my throat.
I've seen a couple videos of dogs trying to swallow peanut butter flavored dog food making people bend over in laughter as the dog licks the peanut butter while trying to spit it out. To me, that's like cruel teasing, and it's not funny.
As we know, just because something tastes good but doesn't mean it's good for us doesn't just mean it's good for us, not just on a nutritional level, but also in terms of the hazards it can bring, such as vomiting, choking, or other physiological reactions. If peanut butter tastes good to a dog, he remembers the flavor of the peanut butter, not the physiological reaction it causes. As a competent pet owner, it is my job to keep dogs away from things that they may like but pose a threat.
That being said, I would give my dog a little taste of peanut butter dog food to see if he liked it and how he would react. I don't think I would laugh and would only let them have a little to make sure it didn't stick in their throat.
How Do You Choose A Safe Peanut Butter?
As with the peanut selection guide, unflavored is the best choice, and the simpler the ingredients, the better, or you can just choose peanut butter flavored dog food If parents want to choose directly from the market, they should pay attention to whether there is any added salt, or too many unintelligible chemical ingredients, viscosifiers, etc., so as to avoid the dog eating too many additives, which will lead to the burden on the body.
Another important thing to note is whether xylitol is added! Xylitol is a common food additive used to increase sweetness, but only 60% of the calories of sucrose, which is harmless to the human body, but to the fur kids at home, it is a deadly killer, more toxic than chocolate! Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called on feeders to pay special attention to the ingredient list and not to let their furry children accidentally eat it.
If a dog accidentally eats ice cream, peanut butter flavored dog food and other snacks containing xylitol, it will accelerate the release of insulin, and the high concentration of insulin will lead to a sudden drop in blood glucose, which is commonly known as hypoglycemia, and will result in conditions such as vomiting, difficulty in walking or standing, epilepsy, and coma, which, if not treated in a timely manner, may become life-threatening within 10-60 minutes of the accidental ingestion! Parents, be sure to read the ingredient list carefully before purchasing!
How Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
If you just put it in a feed bowl or on a spoon and let your dog lick it, it's not much fun, is it? I'd like to share with you a few of the ways we do it at home:
A Good Feeder
We all know how picky Shiba Inu's mouth is, and as office workers, we don't have enough time to coax them to eat. If you put a few layers of peanut butter on the dog's food, it will make sure that the dog eats the food immediately!
A Great Way to Practice Being Alone
In modern life, dogs need to spend a lot of time alone, in order not to let them chew their feet and furniture, parents can buy licking mats, hollow licking toys, squeeze peanut butter into them, and then add some snacks for children to enjoy.
If it's summer, it's also recommended to put it in the freezer the day before. Take it out earlier the next day before you go to work and bring it to the kids when it warms up a bit. It's a toy that consumes time, saves furniture, and gives you the satisfaction of food feedback! (Food that is too cold is not suitable to be eaten directly! Especially for kids with sensitive stomachs!)
A Good Way to Calm Down and Relieve Stress
If you have a dog, you must have a licking pad or a licking bowl at home, just squeeze the peanut butter and wipe it, you can give your dog a pleasant dessert time! There are various shapes of licking utensils on the market, in fact, the purpose is one: to let the dog lick in the process of releasing happy hormones, so as to calm the emotions of the high, relieve the pressure of the whole day, because licking doesn't require too much action, and moving the tongue can be a feedback, for the dog is a necessity of life.
Make Peanut Butter Cookies Together
Nowadays, hdmade biscuits and snacks are becoming more and more popular, and peanut butter is a good ingredient for baking. You can add some fruits such as pumpkin and banana, or some oats and flaxseed nuts, etc., and put them all into the mixer for a while, and then press some of your favorite shapes, and then send them into the oven to be a fragrant afternoon tea snack~There are a lot of professional recipes on the internet, so you can search for them!
