Peanut butter is a delicacy for dogs…
You’ll mostly see their nose stuck in a can of Skippy peanut butter.
They’ll be licking it till the last cream is on their tongue.
So, it makes you wonder…
Is your pooch even allowed to do so?
Read on to discover:
- Why a no-xylitol content is best for your pooch.
- A guide on choosing the best peanut butter for your canine.
- 3 ingredients found in Skippy peanut butter that can be harmful to your dog.
- And much, much more…
Table of contents
Can dogs eat Skippy peanut butter?
Dogs can eat Skippy peanut butter in moderation. The limit for eating peanut butter depends on your dog’s size. For small dogs, it’s half a teaspoon. Then, for large dogs, one teaspoon is the limit. It’s also best that your dog’s healthy and active if they’re a frequent eater of peanut butter.
The good: Skippy peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol
Skippy is a famous peanut butter brand. That’s not only for humans but also in the world of doggos. That’s because it’s a safer choice for peanut butter in dogs.
It’s a great option because it doesn’t contain xylitol.
“What’s that?”
It’s a highly watched ingredient by dog parents.
Any food that contains it is a no-no for your pooch.
And since Skippy peanut butter doesn’t have it as their ingredient…
Yum!
Fido can eat it in moderation and enjoy the tasty treat.
Take a look at this Saint Bernard trying to fit their big muzzle on a can of Skippy peanut butter.
Now, let’s discuss xylitol
It’s a widely used substitute for sugar.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol.
Commercially, it’s mostly extracted from birch trees or corn fiber.
Now, xylitol is becoming more prominent in products.
Experts from VCA Hospital say that its calories are 67% lower. Despite that, it still gives off sweetness to whatever product it’s put in.
According to research and vets, here are products that mostly contain it:
- Gels.
- Gums.
- Lotions.
- Candies.
- Deodorants.
- Medications.
- Baked goods.
So, analyze these products before giving them to your pooch.
Make it a habit to read the labels of everything that you offer your dog. Also include the task of scanning nutritional values on the back.
Warning: Don’t be complacent when you see ‘sugar-free’ written on the product’s label.
That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t contain xylitol.
In fact, it means otherwise.
It’s labeled sugar-free because it doesn’t contain any conventional sugars.
What it has is an alternative, and that’s xylitol.
It doesn’t give off the same amount of calories as table sugar (glucose). That’s why it’s widely used.
Why is xylitol toxic for dogs
It’s dangerous for dogs to ingest xylitol.
As quickly as 10 minutes, your pooch might begin to face the consequences.
What exactly am I talking about?
Let’s discuss it slowly but straightforwardly…
Both dogs and humans need to monitor their blood sugar levels.
And changes in that level depend on someone’s sugar intake.
Moreover, it’s maintained by increasing insulin in the pancreas.
Now, xylitol doesn’t cause a release of insulin in humans.
But in dogs, it causes an overflow of the hormone.
Xylitol is absorbed quickly in your dog’s body.
Then, that causes them to release a surge of insulin. And let me remind you, that happens rapidly.
This causes your dog to have a condition called hypoglycemia. It’s a condition where your dog’s blood glucose suddenly drops.
Such a condition can be fatal.
But wait, that’s only if your dog ate a small amount…
When they ingest a lot of xylitol, it can also lead to liver failure.
Then, it can give your dog a seizure.
Most of all, it can lead to death.
Signs of xylitol toxicosis in dogs
As I said, your pup’s body might react 10 minutes after ingesting xylitol.
However, it still depends…
The MSDVM says it can develop from 30 minutes to 18 hours.
So, watch out for the signs of hypoglycemia in dogs:
- Coma.
- Seizures.
- Vomiting.
- Weakness.
- Depression.
- Lack of coordination.
Then, these are the indications of a liver injury in dogs:
- Vomiting.
- Depression.
- Jaundice or their skin appears to be yellowish.
Warning: Unfortunately, there’s no known antidote for xylitol toxicosis. The only treatment available is tending to what’s affected in your dog’s body.
That’s why time is crucial in this condition.
You must immediately seek the help of a veterinarian when your dog ingests xylitol.
The bad: Skippy peanut butter contains 3 ingredients that can be harmful for dogs
#1: Salt (Sodium)
You can find the nutritional facts on the back of a Skippy peanut butter bottle.
There you’ll find the product’s serving size. To make it easier, let’s look at a much simpler table:
| Average serving size (SS) | 2 tbsp1.12 oz (32 g) |
| Average serving size per container | 14 SS28 tbsp |
It might be tough to remember these numbers, but stay with me…
All of these are relevant to knowing the reason why you shouldn’t feed a lot of Skippy to your pooch.
Now, in each serving size, sodium makes up 7% of it. That’s 0.005 oz (0.15g) per serving.
Keep in mind that a dog can only consume a little salt per day. To be exact here’s how much:
0.7 oz (2 g) to 10.5 oz (3g) of salt per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of their body weight.
So, you might be thinking…
“What should I be worried about? The salt content seems low anyway…”
Yes, Skippy’s sodium content can be small…
So, it won’t do any harm to your pooch if you keep peanut butter treats in moderation.
However, if you go beyond it…
Uh-oh…
Your dog is put at risk of salt poisoning…
It’s a dangerous condition for your pooch.
You might notice it once your dog begins to drink so much water at night.
Then, according to experts, here are other signs of salt poisoning in dogs:
- Fever.
- Tremors.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Depression.
With that, avoid giving your pooch more than the required amount of peanut butter per day. (You can find it under ‘How much peanut butter should you give your dog’ section).
#2: Trans fat (Hydrogenated oil)
Another ingredient found in Skippy is hydrogenated oil.
However, it’s a component that’s present in every peanut butter.
That’s because hydrogenated oil is useful for the cream’s consistency.
So, there lies a confusion on this type of oil usage.
First of all, it’s extracted from plants like sunflower seeds or olives…
But I’m here to clarify that that doesn’t make it healthy.
That’s because the process that the oil has undergone creates trans fat.
What’s that?
It’s the kind of fat that’s unhealthy for someone’s body.
Experts say that it’s the worst fat for a human’s health. That’s why you must avoid it…
But for your dog, it only poses a small risk.
I say, despite that tiny possibility, it’s best not to challenge it…
Note: Remember that 15% of Skippy’s serving size is made up of fats.
So, yet again, keep the peanut butter down to a minimum.
Too much fat consumption can lead to a condition called hyperlipidemia.
According to PetMD, trans fat might cause a modest increase in blood cholesterol in dogs.
The symptoms of that condition are:
- Seizures.
- Abdominal pain.
- Patches on the skin.
- Presence of bumps in the skin that’s filled with fat.
#3: Sugar
Since Skippy peanut butter doesn’t use xylitol, it uses real sugar…
Such an ingredient can still pose a danger to your pooch.
Your dog would get 10.5 oz (3g) of sugar for each serving.
Dogs still need sugar in their body. That’s because it’s a great source of energy.
But that amount I mentioned is already enough…
Moreover, each pooch loves treats, especially those with a sweet taste…
But what if you give them too much of this sweetness?
Then, Fido will have excessive sugar in their body…
And such is a cause for concern.
According to vets, high sugar intake can lead to many dangers in your dog. Namely:
- Toxicity.
- Cavities.
- Diabetes.
- Weight gain.
- Upset stomach.
- Metabolic changes.
“How can I know that I fed my dog too much sugar?”
There are short-term symptoms of high blood sugar that’ll show. Those are:
- Agitation.
- Weight gain.
- Bloodshot eyes.
- Switching between hyperactivity and depression.
If you see these signs, cut your dog off from sugars for a while.
And with that, stray Fido away from the creamy peanut butter treat, too…
For further reading: 7 Reasons Why Dogs Like Treats So Much + 5 Dangers
How to choose the best peanut butter for your dog
To choose the best peanut butter for your dog, you must be mindful. Always check the ingredients and avoid those that have xylitol. If you really want the best, unsalted or homemade peanut butter is the option to choose.
Avoid those that have xylitol
First of all, most commercial products being sold use xylitol. And such an ingredient is dangerous for your pooch.
With that, the first and most important reminder is:
When choosing the best peanut butter for your dog, never get the ones with xylitol.
How to spot xylitol in products
The worst choice of peanut butter for your dog is anything with that ingredient.
To spot xylitol, look for a text that says ‘sugar-free.’
That means that they’re not using glucose to make the product.
Yet, it tastes sweet…
That’s xylitol in its works.
So, look at the back, and you might see an ingredient that says ‘sugar alcohol.’ It’s just another term for xylitol.
Put the peanut butter down, and don’t take it home for your dog if you see that.
Now, that’s how products can claim they’re sugar-free.
These are the peanut butter brands that currently use this ingredient:
- P28 Foods.
- Go Nuts Co.
- Nuts ‘N More.
- Krush Nutrition.
- Protein Plus PB.
Now, what if the peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol? Is it automatically safe?
The answer is a ‘no.’
That’s because there’s more to watch out for…
Be mindful of the ingredients
After checking if the peanut butter has xylitol, it’s time to check out the other components.
Peanut butter is a tasty and sweet treat…
Now, if a product doesn’t have xylitol, that means they’re using real sugar.
So, there goes another problem that you should avoid.
Sugar is an additive that’s bad for your dog.
Excess amounts of it can cause detrimental effects on your dog’s health. And ultimately, it might lead to diabetes.
Moreover, check the amount of fat present per serving.
That’s because too many fats can be dangerous for your canine. Eventually, it can result in high blood cholesterol.
Lastly, sodium is present in jars of peanut butters.
So, you must check to see if the product contains high amounts of salt.
Don’t opt to bring it home to your pooch if it does.
Now, how about the good?
What exactly are you looking for in a peanut butter treat for your fur baby?
Unsalted peanut butter is a healthy option
AKC says that giving your dog unsalted peanut butter is one of the best choices to make.
It’s among the less problematic options available out there.
However, if you give this to your pooch, continue being mindful…
Continue to practice moderation in giving Fido peanut butter.
Homemade peanut butter
And if you want to be really sure, this is the cream of the crop…
Homemade peanut butter is the way.
That’s because if it’s made at home, there surely won’t be any additives or excess sugars.
If you’re going to make your own, you’ll be in control of the ingredients.
With that, you can provide the best peanut butter for Fido…
And it’s made from the heart!
But wait, this article’s not done yet…
Aside from choosing the best peanut butter for your dog, there’s more to ask…
How much peanut butter should you give your dog
PetMD says that peanut butter is energy-dense. That means it contains a lot of calories.
To be exact, there are about 180 to 200 calories per 2 tablespoons in peanut butter.
That’s all the calories that a small dog needs per day. Then for large dogs, that amount counts up to 16% of their needed calorie intake.
Now, vets say that you must consider peanut butter as a treat for your dog. Then, treats should only make up not more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet.
With that, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter are too much for dogs. Whether they’re small or large…
So, here’s the recommended amount of peanut butter to feed your pooch:
| Size of the dog | Amount of peanut butter to eat per day |
| Small | ½ teaspoon twice a day. |
| Medium to large | 1 teaspoon twice a day. |