Dogs and peanut butter are a common combination. Dogs love the taste of peanut butter, and it's an excellent way to get them to eat their medicine or reward them for performing a command. Peanut butter is also full of protein, which is great for dogs. However, while this treat is a great way to show your furry friend that you care, there are some things you'll want to know before feeding your dog peanut butter. We break down everything you need to know below.

How To Find The Right Brand Of Peanut Butter

While peanut butter is an excellent treat for your canine companion, there are a few things you need to consider when choosing the right brand of peanut butter. Here are a few tips for finding the right brand of peanut butter for your dog.

Look For Organic Brands

Organic peanut butter is a healthier alternative to regular peanut butter. Brands that are made with organic peanuts have less sugar and salt in them, which makes them healthier for your pooch. Plus, it typically means that the peanuts weren't sprayed with any type of chemical or pesticide during the process, which can be harmful to your pet.

Should Only Contain One Ingredient

Sometimes brands will add unnecessary ingredients to the peanut butter jar to reduce costs or to try to make it taste better. Instead, look for peanut butter that contains only peanuts. Brands with additional ingredients can be harmful to your dog because they could have added sugar or salt.

Talk With Your Local Vet

If you're unsure about the brand of peanut butter you're using, talk with your local vet or veterinary nutritionist to see if it's safe for your dog. Your veterinarian will be able to give you suggestions as well as tell you whether or not it's safe to feed your pet peanut butter, depending on your dog's specific needs.

Create Your Own Homemade Peanut Butter

If you're unable to find an organic, one-ingredient peanut butter, or you find that the options listed at the store are too expensive for your budget, you can always create peanut butter yourself. To create a homemade version of peanut butter, simply take a blender and mix together organic peanuts. We love this recipe for a simple, easy peanut butter you can make at home!

The Do Not's Of Peanut Butter

Like with just about any human food, there are a few things you'll want to avoid when it comes to peanut butter. Here are a few guidelines that will help keep your dog safe and healthy when they're enjoying this doggy treat.

Do Not Purchase Peanut Butter With Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar substitute often found in low-calorie or sugar-free products. Unfortunately, xylitol is highly toxic to pets and can even be fatal if consumed by your dog. The best way to keep your pet safe is only to buy peanut butter that doesn't contain any type of artificial sweetener whatsoever.

Do Not Feed More Than The Recommended Daily Amount

While peanut butter is an excellent treat for your dog, you'll want to make sure it doesn't make up more than 10% of your pet's daily caloric intake. This is because peanut butter contains a lot of fat and sugar, which means that eating too much can make your pet overweight as well as increase their risk for developing issues such as obesity or pancreatitis.

Do Not Use Non-Organic Brands

Non-organic peanut butter brands can contain a lot of unnecessary ingredients that could make your dog sick. To make sure that your dog is receiving only the safest, healthiest treat possible, make sure that you never use non-organic brands.

Do Not Purchase A Mixed Peanut Butter

Today, you can find peanut butter mixed with a ton of different ingredients, including various other nuts such as walnuts and almonds, or even made with jellies, like grape jelly. While these types of peanut butter may be okay for a human to eat, it's definitely not a good idea to feed your dog these brands since they can make them sick.

How Much Peanut Butter Should My Dog Eat?

Now that you know the basic guidelines of giving your dog peanut butter, you'll probably be wondering exactly how much to feed your canine companion. Here are a few tips for getting the right portion size:

• If using it as a treat and not for training purposes, give them only about one teaspoon per day for medium/large dogs and only 1/4th teaspoon every other day for smaller breeds.
• If you're looking to use peanut butter as a training tool with your dog, make sure that their daily caloric intake doesn't exceed 10% of the total calories coming from treats alone.

What If My Dog Doesn't Like Peanut Butter?

When we think of dogs and peanut butter, many of us think about how much they love the taste. After all, dogs will do just about anything for a bit of peanut butter! However, some dogs may not be so fond of this classic snack. If you've found that your dog doesn't like peanut butter or won't even try it, don't worry - there are other ways that you can spice up their daily routines, such as using pumpkin puree or another healthy alternative.

Dogs can be incredibly picky when it comes to food, which means that many of them may not even give peanut butter a second glance. Remember that it's entirely okay for your dog not to like peanut butter as long as they're still receiving a well-balanced diet.

Conclusion

With so many different brands, flavors, and types of peanut butter available on the market today, there's no shortage of ways that you can incorporate it into your dog's daily routine. Whether you're looking for a quick way to spice up their meals or want them to enjoy an easy treat every day, peanut butter is sure to become one of your dog's favorite foods.

We love providing tips for our dog owners! At JoyousJoyfulJoyness, we love to see a dog living their best life and capturing it in a unique way with our custom pet portraits. If you want to learn more about our process and how to get started, you can do so by browsing through our gallery today!