Is Peanut Butter Safe for My Dog?

I’m sure you have seen the buzz online and through social media in relation to peanut butter and your dog. Is peanut butter safe for your dog? Have no fear! Not only is it safe, it’s healthy and a good huMom tool to have at the ready for many doggy situations. The issue is in the ingredients. Let’s break it down so you can regain confidence when it comes to peanut butter and your dog.

You would think peanut butter is a simple food and needs no ingredients in the mix. For some brands this is true, but most brands have additives. Don’t be fooled, just because a peanut butter is labeled “natural” or “healthy” doesn’t mean it’s safe. This couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol derived from xylose that naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables. What’s important to note here is that xylitol is a non-nutritive food additive. Which means it does not contain any vitamins or minerals. Yet it appears in products that claim to be “natural” or “healthy.” While FDA approved for ‘dietary use’ it’s only benefit seems to be as a sweetener that replaces sugar or unhealthy alternatives like ‘artificial sweeteners.’ So while it might be marketed as healthy for humans, the dangers of xylitol in peanut butter can be devastating for your dog. Here’s why.

All mammals control their blood sugar by use of insulin secreted from their pancreas. In huMom’s, xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. But, in canines xylitol can trigger insulin secretion. In dogs xylitol is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This can trigger a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This accelerated release of insulin can rapidly decrease the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in your dog within 10 to 60 minutes of ingesting xylitol. The FDA also mentions dose and weight as being a toxicity liability, stating 0.3 to 0.4 grams of xylitol can trigger hyperglycemia in a10 lb dog. For more information on xylitol poisoning in small dog breeds please see our article at The Little Beach Dog.

Symptoms may include any or all of the following…

• Vomiting

• Weakness

• Lack of coordination or difficulty walking or standing

• Weakness/sluggishness or lethargy

• Tremors

• Seizures

• Coma

So while there is no way to know how xylitol will affect your dog, the safest way to protect your pooch is to avoid peanut butters that contain xylitol. The easiest way is to stick with a brand that you know doesn’t have xylitol in the ingredients. It gets more complicated: The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recommends avoiding any ingredient that includes the letters “xyl,” the synonym for xylitol:

• 1,4-anhydro-d-xylitol

• Anhydroxylitol

• d-xylitol

• xylite

• xylitylglucoside

• Zylatol

But the list doesn’t stop there. Xylitol can also be labeled as birch bark extract, birch sugar, or wood sugar. Confusing, and another reason why you should pick one brand that you know is safe, and stick with it.

The Beach Dog hopes this clears up any uneasy feelings about peanut butter and your dog. It would be a shame to avoid peanut butter because xylitol FREE brands are a treat most dogs love.

Peanut butters to AVOID:

Pick a peanut butter brand and stick with it. Here is a list of Peanut butters that are easy to find and safe for your dog.

✔️Jiff

✔️Skippy

✔️Smuckers

✔️Peter Pan

If you are a clean eater and prefer your dog be as well, here are a few healthy options that are safe for your dog.

🐶Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Organic Peanut Butter.

🐶Trader Joe's Peanut Butter (No Salt)

🐶Teddie Super Chunky Peanut Butter.

🐶Poochie Dog Peanut Butter.

So with all of our research, we are happy to declare that peanut butter is safe for your dog. In order to maintain safety, avoid peanut butter with xylitol. The Beach Dog recommends, choosing a brand that is xylitol free and sticking with it. If you have any questions, The Beach Dog always recommends that you contact your veterinarian. If you are concerned your dog may have ingested peanut butter containing xylitol, call your Veterinarian immediately.

As always the Beach Dog thanks you for allowing us to provide the love.