Final Verdict: Peanut Butter – Is it Good or Bad for Your Pitbull?
Most of the pet owners give their Pitbulls some human foods, specially peanut butter. They usually do this as a healthy treat for their pooch. However, feeding dogs with this human food leave one hanging question here – should dog eat peanut butter? As a pet owner, it is also your responsibility to know this facts before letting your Pitbull lick from a spoonful of peanut butter.
Like humans, canines also have a strict diet plan that they need to follow. This is because they actually need to gain dietary nutrients from their everyday meal. But, sometimes pet owners can’t resist to give them some human foodstuff. Moreover, you don’t need to worry because there are already “dog-approved” people foods that can be given to your furry friend.
“Dog-approved” people food
1. Cooked chicken
This can be added into the bowl of your Pitbull’s regular food to add a spice and some extra protein to their diet. Cooked chicken is also a good meal replacement if you are almost out-of-stock of those canine packed meal.
2. Cheese
Giving cheese as a treat to your pooch is good as long as he is not lactose intolerant. Better to monitor your dog’s reaction when this food is given to him. Also, do not overfeed your Pits with this human foodstuff as this is very high in fat. Cottage cheese is a bright option to give.
3. Baby carrots
Carrots are low in calorie and high in fiber and beta carotene or vitamin A, that’s why it is good for your dog’s teeth.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is high in calcium and protein, but make sure not to give those that contains artificial sweeteners or added sugars. The best yogurt to give to your Pitbull is the one with active bacteria that acts as a probiotic. This is good for your dog’s digestive system.
5. Salmon
Why salmon is good because it is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. This is the one responsible for making your Pitbull’s coat healthy and shiny. It also supports your Pit’s immune system. There are variety of ways to introduce this foodstuff to your doggy. You can feed cooked salmon directly to them or add salmon oil to their food bowl.
6. Pumpkin
As a good source of beta-carotene and fiber, pumpkin can help keep the gastro-intestinal tract moving and can aid with digestive issues.
7. Eggs
Giving a protein boost to your Pitbull may be possible by feeding him with and shuffling an egg to your Pits. Eggs are source of riboflavin and selenium that is in their fast absorbing form which consider it as a nutritious food.
8. Green beans
Green beans with no added salt are a delightful food for your pooch. They are good because of the low calorie content.
9. Apple slices
This fruit is a great source of vitamins such as A and C and also has fiber content. They generally help to clean your dog’s teeth and helps to freshens their breath. Be careful in giving apples to them, ensure that the seeds are taken out before feeding this stuff to your pooch. This little seeds may cause choking.
10. Oatmeal
This human foodstuff is very beneficial to adult Pits especially with those who suffers from bowel irregularity issues as it is a great source of soluble fiber. Also if your pooch is hypersensitive to wheat, this foodstuff is a great alternative. However, it is advisable not to put sugar or any added flavors on it.
11. Peanut butter
Among the human foodstuffs mentioned above, this is the most favorite treat of many canines. It is a great origin of protein, nutritious fats, vitamins B and C, and niacin.
Is Peanut Butter Good or Bad for Pitbull
Can I give dog peanut butter? Is it good or bad for my Pitbull? This is the most frequent questions encountered from many pet owners. However, yes, dogs can peanut butter and it is good for canines.
Moreover, as a responsible pet owner, you should be really careful about how you feed your dog peanut butter. Dog can eat peanut butter in moderation for him to enjoy the numerous benefits that it can give to your pooch.
Dog can be given peanut butter because it contains the following nutrients:
- Vitamin E, which helps in keeping your Pits immune system in excellent shape
- Vitamin B3
- Protein
- Magnesium
- Dietary fiber
- Folate
- Arginine
- Antioxidants
How much peanut butter is good for Pitbull
In choosing the right type of peanut butter that you can feed to your Pits, do not choose the “sugar-free” variant. This kind of peanut butter contains the artificial sweetener “Xylitol” which is reported to be toxic to dogs. A xylitol-free peanut butter is perfectly fine to feed to your pooch.
In giving peanut butter to your doggy, the number one rule is to give treats with daily calories having an amount of not greater than 10%. However, the accurate value to be given may differ for every dog. Also please check the caloric count of the peanut butter on the label, as it varies from peanut butter to peanut butter.
Small dogs should not be given more than 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter per day. Moreover, larger dogs should be fed no more than 1 tablespoon. Here is a breakdown of the amount of peanut butter (approximately, with about 95 calories per tablespoon) that you can give to a normally active, healthy dog for your quick reference.
| DOG WEIGHT (in pounds) | APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF PEANUT BUTTER (in tbsp) PER DAY |
|---|---|
| 20 | 3/5 |
| 30 | 1 |
| 50 | 1 1/6 |
Type of Peanut Butter that is Best for Pitbull
As what we’ve said, the best peanut butter that you can give to your pooch is the one without “xylitol”.
What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener or a sugar alternative that is seen in most products free from sugar content such as toothpaste, fresh mints, vitamins in chewable form, and bubble gum. It is somehow healthy for human consumption, but harmful to dogs.
In canines, xylitol consumption results in a fast insulin distribution which further leads to complicated depletion of levels of blood sugar. If left untreated, this can be dangerous to the life of your pooch. Lowering of blood sugar levels or “hypoglycemia” may result as quick as 10 to 60 minutes right after consumption of xylitol.
On the contrary, xylitol poisoning for canines is easy to avoid. Just simply check the label of the peanut butter that you are going to feed to your pooch. If xylitol is included in the ingredient list, then the product should not be given.
However, if you suspect that your pooch has eaten xylitol, look for the following symptoms – weakness, collapse, staggering, lack of coordination, and seizures. Better contact your veterinarian immediately if one of the above symptoms has been observed.
Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter for Pitbull
Many people think that crunchy peanut butter can cause choking for your Pits. That’s why, many people still kept on questioning should dog eat peanut butter. But, if you are only giving a very small amount and follow the recommended dietary needs, then choking is pretty unlikely to occur. On the other hand, creamy peanut butter is easier to smear and that your doggy will be very much busy and enjoy licking spoonful of it.
Homemade Peanut Butter for Pitbull
If you are having a hard time in choosing what type of peanut butter to feed with your pooch, you can make an excellent homemade peanut butter for him. This time, you can already answer the question “Can I give dog peanut butter?”. An advantage of this is that it is more dog-friendly and most of the ingredients like sugar and salt were eliminated. Other advantage of this homemade peanut butter for your Pits includes the following:
- Easy to prepare
- It is healthier
- You can customize the flavor that pooch wants.
How to Give Peanut Butter to Pitbull
There is no any magical secret in giving your Pitbull a peanut butter. Giving your pooch peanut butter is as simple as the following. You can stuff peanut butter into a food puzzle like Kong toy. Put a blob of peanut butter into your Pitbull’s dog’s bowl. Or, scoop some onto your finger and let your Pits lick onto it.
Feeding peanut butter is very much applicable to interactive feeders. This is because your Pitbull really want to get out even the very last bit of it. It will also take them a while to extract every last bit which they really enjoy. Your Pitbull love every minute of being occupied by a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter.
Another helpful tip with those pet owners whose pets are interactive feeders, try to freeze the toy with peanut butter inside. This will create a frozen treat that will keep them entertained even longer. Or, for a more challenging treat, freeze it in their feeding bowl.
Can Pitbull be Allergic to Peanuts
Canines do not appear to have a food sensitivity to peanuts unlike most human do. But, that doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of having so. It is advisable that you just give a small amount to your pooch to start, especially of this is the first time giving them this food treat.
Better to keep an eye on them and look for any signs of abnormalities or adverse reactions. As long as you didn’t notice any signs within an hour, well that’s very much fine. However, listed below are some concerning signs to watch for.
Evidence of an severe hypersensitivity reaction in Pitbulls:
→ Small inflammations or swelling in their body
→ Nodules around their eyes
→ Rapid breathing or difficulty of breathing
→ Vomiting
→ Diarrhea
→ Collapse
→ Severe itchiness
Proof of a chronic food allergy in Pitbulls:
→ Chronic/recurrent ear infections
→ Thin fur coat
→ Chronic itchiness and/or chewing of their paws
→ Recurrent problems with impacted anal glands
Dangers of Peanut Butter to Pitbull
As the same question goes, “Can I give dog peanut butter?”. There are the good side of it, however, there are also some down side why pet owners won’t give this kind of treat to their pooch. Here are some reasons why peanut butter is toxic to your Pitbull:
1. It contains aflatoxins
Aflatoxins are caused by a fungus known as Aspergillus and it occurs naturally in the form of mycotoxins. These generally cause cancer. Because of its mycotoxins content that are considered as one of the most carcinogenic substances on earth, the question “should dog eat peanut butter” can be answered by a “NO”.
Studies also show that this mycotoxins are also toxic to the liver. And it is known to cause liver cancer in laboratory animals, and probably the result would be the same in your Pitbull.
2. It contains harmful fats
As pet owners, you are very strict in your Pitbull’s diet. And thinking if “Can I give dog peanut butter?” maybe answered by this reason. Peanut butters contains trans-fatty acids. These substances are one of the most toxic food substances today. Generally, these fats are the result of a highly toxic process which makes peanut more stable.
These highly toxic fats causes diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation to canine.
3. It contains sugar
Should dog eat peanut butter with sugar content in it? Well, white sugar is the primary reason behind the occurrence of those yeast, bacteria, parasites, and even cancer to canines. The more dogs eat sugar, the more these bacteria and parasites feast inside your doggy.
Sugar can also give your pooch diabetes, food allergies, premature aging, and low level of inflammation. And, when we say inflammation, that’s one of the best answer to the question “should dog eat peanut butter?”. Aside from sugar, the fatty acids in peanut butter can trigger inflammatory condition in dogs including allergies and joint disease.
The Number One Key in Giving Peanut Butter to Pitbull
Most of the type of peanut butter available are safe for consumption of your pooch. With its nutritional contents and benefits, we can say that dog should eat peanut butter. Although, there are reported side effects or dangers brought to canines by eating this foodstuff, still benefits outweighs the risk. And just remember, moderation is the only and number one key here. Well, you can give peanut butter to dogs in a moderate amount for his safety and health as well.
