Why
Peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats, and many dogs love it in puzzle toys or to help take a pill. Peanuts themselves are not toxic to dogs.
The danger is xylitol, a sugar substitute added to some reduced-sugar or "natural" nut butters, sometimes listed as birch sugar. Xylitol can be deadly for dogs. Peanut butter is also high in calories, so large amounts can lead to weight gain.
Risks to watch for
- Xylitol or birch sugar in the ingredient list: do not use
- High salt or added sugar
- Weight gain with frequent use
- Rarely, peanut allergy: itching, swelling or hives
How to share safely
- Read the label every time you buy a new brand. The ingredients should ideally be just peanuts, and perhaps salt.
- Spread a thin layer in a lick mat or stuff it into a toy.
- Keep chunky varieties away from very small dogs who gulp food.
How much?
Small dogs can have about half a teaspoon of peanut butter and large dogs up to a tablespoon, not every day.
How do you spot xylitol on a peanut butter label?
Look at the ingredient list, not the front of the jar. Xylitol may appear as xylitol, birch sugar or birch bark extract. Be extra careful with products sold as sugar-free, low-sugar, keto or protein-boosted, since those are the ones most likely to use sugar alcohols.
The same check applies to things that contain peanut butter: cookies, protein bars, breakfast spreads and powdered peanut butter. Keep your own snacks out of reach too.
Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, with vomiting, weakness, wobbling or seizures, and it can damage the liver. Signs can appear quickly. If your dog ate anything containing it, call your vet or poison control right away rather than waiting.
Making a peanut butter toy last longer
A tablespoon of peanut butter can be more than a small dog's whole daily treat allowance, so stretch it. Mix a little peanut butter with plain canned pumpkin or plain yogurt, spoon it into a rubber toy or onto a lick mat, and freeze it for a few hours. A frozen toy takes much longer to finish than a fresh one.
Wash toys and lick mats after each use. Peanut butter left in the grooves goes rancid and can grow mold.
Almond butter, Nutella or other nut spreads?
Other spreads are not interchangeable with plain peanut butter.
- Plain almond or cashew butter is not toxic, but it is just as fatty. Use it the same sparing way.
- Macadamia nut butter should never be given. Macadamia nuts cause weakness, vomiting and tremors in dogs.
- Chocolate-hazelnut spreads contain cocoa and a lot of sugar.
- Mixed nut butters can hide macadamia nuts, so read the list.
- Dogs with a history of pancreatitis or a weight problem should skip rich nut butters altogether unless the vet says otherwise.
Common questions
Is peanut butter good for dogs?
Only in limited ways. Peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats, and many dogs love it in puzzle toys or to help take a pill. Peanuts themselves are not toxic to dogs.
Is peanut butter bad for dogs?
It can be. Risks to watch for: xylitol or birch sugar in the ingredient list: do not use; high salt or added sugar.
Are dogs allowed to have peanut butter?
Only in small amounts and the right form. Read the label every time you buy a new brand. The ingredients should ideally be just peanuts, and perhaps salt.
Sources
Topic references
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Paws Off Xylitol; It’s Dangerous for Dogs.
General care and safety
If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Do not wait for symptoms. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).