What do you think does peanut butter help dog constipation? Or if you are one of them who thinks peanut butter is good for dog constipation then you should reconsider and read this post prudent.
Dog’s love for peanut butter is not new this is why dog owners use peanut butter as an occasional treat for their pets. This yummy and sugary treat cannot help with dog constipation but too much of this snack may cause severe health problems to your pet.
Pet owners are concerned about feeding nuts to their dogs and usually ask can peanuts cause constipation in dogs? The precise answer is peanuts and peanut-related mixes like peanut butter are safe for dogs to eat but moderation would be the only condition.
Relating it to our topic of discussion, peanut butter is also made of peanuts so it is all safe to feed this treat to your dog. Will a little bit of peanut butter make my dog constipated? No, you can give peanut butter to your dog in moderation. You can use peanut butter as a rewarding treat when they perform well in exercise or training. You can feed peanut butter through a spoon or spread it over toys and within hollow bones so your canine can enjoy a lasting treat.
But keeping the dog’s health in mind, not all peanut butter variants are made equally some contain high sodium and some mixture has high fat and sugar levels. Peanut butter is, however, rich in protein which makes it a good snack for dogs but excessive quantity increases the chances of health risks in dogs.
In order to know all facts related to peanut butter and dogs, you must stick to the post till the end. Whether you can give peanut butter to your canine or not and how much peanut butter you can feed to your dog, are the key factors we are going to address in this content.
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Is Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs?
Since peanut butter is a good source of healthy fats, vitamin B & E, protein, and niacin, thus in moderation peanut butter is healthy and safe for dogs. Yet to avoid any risk, go with the healthiest peanut butter option which is unsalted rather you can opt for a homemade version that contains less sugar, less sodium, and zero additives. Any dog food containing high sodium, fat, and sugar levels is not safe for dogs as it may cause various health problems.
Dogs are in love with flavored fat the same as humans do and fat content in peanut butter is high this is why it suits well with their fat-related taste buds. But you may have noticed that these taste buds get satisfied only with the fats of nuts and meat, not from vegetables or legumes.
You may know about the sweet tooth of dogs while their smell receptors are that much activated that they can feel sweet at the tongue tip, this, again, justifies their love for natural peanut butter. Similarly, protein is the component that drives dogs nuts over peanut butter as it is loaded with it as well as peanut butter in moderation can make their behavior very pleasant.
Does peanut butter constipate puppies? This is utterly a misconception; dog pups can eat peanut butter in moderation also make sure that sugary treat is free from xylitol. Due to such concerns, some pet owners choose homemade peanut butter to feed their dogs or puppies. As you can control sodium, fat, and level of sugar in a homemade peanut butter recipe and with the least risk of xylitol poisoning.
What are the Health Risks of Market Bought Peanut Butter?
Nowadays, some peanut butter manufacturing companies started using a sweetener substitute that is xylitol. This is the commonly used component widely used in various sugar-free foodstuffs such as vitamin chewable tablets, toothpaste, chewing gums, baked food items, and mint tablets. Although xylitol is non-toxic to humans but toxic for dogs.
Xylitol is the substance absorbed in blood instantly and causes maximum insulin release from the pancreas. The process causes low blood sugar levels which is medically termed hypoglycemia and the situation takes place within just 30 minutes of ingestion while dogs may have shown symptoms like seizures and tremors. Rather diarrhea/vomiting and poor coordination are the other signs of hypoglycemia and if it’s left untreated health condition of the dog can get severe.
Dog owners should pay keen attention to the ingredient list and check thoroughly if there is xylitol even if it is peanut butter or any other dog food. You must keep food products with xylitol away from your dog’s reach.
If by mistake your dog has eaten something containing xylitol so don’t panic and take your pet to the vet clinic if possible or contact the vet directly for guidance.
Note: Even the peanut butter with the slightest amount of xylitol should not be given to dogs; so have to be aware to be careful.
How much Peanut Butter You Can Feed to Your Dog?
However, peanut butter is the finest source of natural protein, fats, and several vitamins, and if you want your dog to enjoy their treat so moderation and the lowest amount are the basic rules. An excessive quantity of this sugary treat can make the way for obesity and many other health hazards such as pancreatitis, digestion problems, etc.
Especially if you have a dog with diabetes or food sensitivity or sensitive stomach issues so you should be more careful with the dog’s diet and proportion. In order to figure out the right amount of peanut butter for your dog, the safest option is to ask for veterinarian advice and follow it properly.
Besides this, there is another option of 10% rule, in which 10 percent of a whole day of a dog’s diet should be the snack. All you need to measure the food quantity your dog eats in a day and simply calculate a 10% portion of any snack or healthy treat.
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