Dog Alternatives To Peanut Butter

Peanut butter can be used as a tasty dog treat. However, checking the nut spread’s ingredient will prevent harming your dog. Multiple food items can be consumed not only by humans but also by their canine pets.

Dog Alternatives to Peanut Butter

Peanut butter, one of the most loved spread by humans—can also be loved by your canine pet. This nutty treat is considerably a high-valued treat by your pet. While several brands of peanut butter can be given for dogs, not all type of this nut butter is dog-friendly.

These brands may have an insane amount of fat and sugar or contain compounds that are life-threatening for your pet. Suppose you are not confident enough to include peanut butter as a dog treat. In that case, there are numerous alternatives for this nut spread.

What Can I Give My Dog Instead of Peanut Butter?

Peanuts are generously high in protein, fat, and other compounds. If you cannot find the proper peanut butter for your dog or you cannot make one, you can use other dog treats for your pet. Here are some of the daily foods that your canine can consume:

Carrots – This vegetable is low in calories and can improve your dog’s treat. Carrots are also boosted with fiber, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. You can serve carrots as raw or cooked.
Cheese and Yogurt – If your dog doesn’t have lactose intolerance, cheese and yogurt are inarguably the best milk-based product for your pet. Low-fat variants like cottage cheese are a good choice for your canine pet. In addition, yogurt contains good bacteria that can improve your pet’s overall digestive system.
Oatmeal – Oatmeal and other grains can provide fiber for your pet. Fiber can improve your pet’s digestion and reduce the risk of bowel irregularity.
Chicken – Cooked chicken can provide additional protein for your dog. Cut off the chicken skin and prepared it through boiling to reduce its fat content.
Pumpkin – Like carrots, pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamin A, soluble fibers, and beta-carotene. Pumpkins are also high in moisture which can aid your dog’s urinary system.

What Can I Substitute Peanut Butter For?

Other substitutes that you can use to replace peanut butter are fruit jams, meat spread, mashed potatoes, and low-fat nut spread:

Fruit jams that are low in sugar can be used to substitute peanut butter. They are spreadable, tasty, and provide a refreshing treat for your pet.
Meat spread like liver spread, mashed meatloaf, and ground beef can be used as well. Just make sure that it is prepared in minimal amounts of sugar, salt, and oils.
Mashed potatoes can be combined with pumpkin to create a tasty treat. You may also mix it with butter and freeze it in cute molds. Give this treat in moderation.

Can Dogs Have Almond Butter Instead of Peanut Butter?

Dogs cannot consume all nut variants. For example, chocolate-based products cannot be eaten by dogs. Cocoa from chocolates contains theobromine and caffeine, stimulants that your canine pet cannot effectively metabolize. Macadamia nuts also release an unidentified toxin that is poisonous for dogs alone.

If you have other nut butter that is not made with cocoa and Macadamia nuts, then you can give it to your furry pet. Almond butter, as long as it is low in fat and sugars, can be consumed by your dogs.

What Ingredient in Peanut Butter Is Not Good for Dogs?

Peanut butter is generally safe for dogs. However, commercially-produced peanut butter mixed with xylitol is not safe at all. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is chemically reproduced to replace sugar. While it is acceptable for human consumption, it poses a danger for your canine pet.

Xylitol is found to be highly poisonous for dogs. Each year, thousands of dogs encountered xylitol poisoning on several products—including peanut butter. So make sure to review the ingredients list of your store-bought peanut butter before give it to your pets.

What’s In Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter is a tasty treat not only for humans but for your pets as well. It can be made creamy-smooth or can be crunchy to bite. This nut spread consists of the following materials: peanuts, butter, oil, salt, and sugar.

Ground peanuts have been roasted until cooked before oils and fats are included. The oil helps the peanut to create a smooth layer while keeping a thick consistency. Additional flavoring like sugar and salt are also included in the mixture.

Before purchasing peanut butter from your local market, make sure to check the ingredients list. Certain products like xylitol are safe for human consumption but not for pets (like dogs). Selecting the sugar and oil content will also prevent overtaking your required daily intake.

Certain humans and pets have a peanut allergy. Therefore, you can use other nut spreads made with almonds, hazelnut, and cashews to replace peanuts. Non-dairy nut spreads are also available and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

What’s Bad for Dogs?

While you can give your dogs foods edible for humans, some foods are not recommended for dogs. It can be due to specific allergies, or it is considered toxic for dogs.

Before giving your dogs tasty treats, check if these products contain the following ingredients:

Coffee and tea contain caffeine that can be fatal for your dogs
Onions and garlic can kill your dog’s red blood cells, leading to unavoidable conditions like anemia, food poisoning, weakness, and breathing issues.
Alcohol can release harmful toxins that can affect your dog’s liver and brain.
Grapes, prunes, and raisins can cause kidney failure in your canine pet.
Seeds from avocado, persimmons, plums, and peaches can affect your dog’s small intestine. Plum and peach pits also contain cyanide, a toxin that can kill people.

What Can Be Used Instead?

As a pet owner, you should be accountable for your pet’s diet. Consider checking this list of food items that are safe for human and dog consumption—and can be included in their diet: