Peanut butter is an enjoyable snack for dogs, but did you know that some brands are not dog-friendly?
Today we’re looking at which peanut butter is safe to give dogs so that you don’t end up at the vet after a treat.
There are over 30 brands of peanut butter on our safe-for-dogs list, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one for your pet!]
Let’s get right into this so that you can be sure what you’re giving your dog is safe for them.
show
Benefits Of Peanut Butter For Dogs
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to give your dog peanut butter.
Not only is it a great treat, but it can calm your dog down when used with interactive toys.
It can also be used to stimulate their brains and keep them happy.
Peanut butter is also super nutritious, providing plenty of fiber and protein, as well as healthy fats.
Peanuts are also a good source of folic acid for cell growth, and magnesium to assist with cell metabolism.
There are plenty of benefits that come with giving your dogs peanut butter, but make sure you’re only using dog safe peanut butter.
What Do We Mean By Dog Safe Peanut Butter?
The name of the brand of peanut butter is not as important as the ingredients list on the jar, as this is what will contain things that are not safe for dogs.
Some of the best-known peanut butter brands are the least healthy for dogs since they are full of sugar and fats.
Peanut butter that is safe for dogs will only contain one or two ingredients: peanuts, or peanuts and salt.
Peanut butter that is safe for dogs is often healthier for the entire family and therefore can help you find more high-quality peanut butter in the first place.
There are plenty of brands out there making safe peanut butter for dogs – you just need to find it.
Make sure that you are always reading the label on the jar you find before buying it.
Some brands will make different types of peanut butter which contain more ingredients that might not be safe.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so always check every jar of peanut butter before giving any to your dog.
Today we’ll be looking at individual products from brands rather than making blanket statements about them.
This will show you the exact jars to get rather than trusting all of the products from one brand.
The most important thing to remember is not to give your dog any peanut butter that contains XYLITOL, and any excess fats or sugars.
The Problem With Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweetener that is used in some peanut butter to make it appear healthier as it doesn’t contain sugar.
However, Xylitol is poisonous to dogs and therefore should be avoided at all costs.
You might not find Xylitol on the ingredients list as the brand might only label it as a sweetener, which is why you need to be careful. You might be giving your dog something unsafe without even knowing it!
You Need High-Quality Peanut Butter
Many brands of peanut butter that we were raised on were of the cheaper variety and therefore contained added oils and fats.
These are fine for humans (if not a little unhealthy) but dogs might not be able to digest or metabolize them properly.
This can be an issue for dogs, and might even land you a large vet bill.
However, the good news is that high-quality peanut butter isn’t often expensive.
We’re going to look into the pros and cons of peanut butter ingredients for dogs, but here are our top recommendations if you’re in a rush:
Ingredients You Should Avoid
When choosing your next jar of peanut butter, here are a list of ingredients to steer clear of:
Xylitol
Xylitol is poisonous in even small quantities. It can be more toxic than dark chocolate, so this is the main ingredient to stay away from.
To be safe, we would recommend staying away from all sweeteners.
Palm Oil
Palm oil is bad for the environment anyway, but many brands are still using it in their products to better their shelf life.
Palm oil has been known to cause diarrhea in dogs which can then lead to dehydration.
Some dogs have even suffered from pancreatitis due to the consumption of palm oil.
The issue with this is that its quality can vary greatly, so while some palm oils might be fine for your dog, others can be very dangerous.
Hydrogenated Oils
This is another ingredient known to give dogs diarrhea and other dangerous gastrointestinal issues.
They can also experience dry and dull coats with more than normal shedding.
Sugar
Too much sugar given to dogs can cause vomiting, weight gain, tooth decay and cavities, and diarrhea.
Xylitol Toxicity
Even miniscule amounts of Xylitol are dangerous to dogs, and can cause things like seizures, liver failure, and even death.
You must never knowingly give your dog foods that contain this sweetener, as it can be so harmful.
Unfortunately, many peanut butters do contain this ingredient.
Either keep peanut butter with this ingredient in it on a high shelf away from children and pet’s reach, or don’t keep it in your house at all.
The majority of dogs that have felt the true wrath of xylitol toxicity have done so by getting into sugar-free gum or sweets that contain the ingredient.
The main issue is that Xylitol is harmless to humans but can be fatal for dogs.
So, we consume it without a care in the world and pose a threat to our dogs by having it around them.
If your favorite peanut butter contains Xylitol and you don’t want to stop eating it, just make sure that you have a different safe alternative for your dog.
Then, make sure that you clearly label which one is for your dog and which is for humans only.
Safe Peanut Butter Brands Vs. Unsafe Peanut Butter Brands
Let’s take a look at which brands are safe for dog consumption and which are not. Bear in mind that there is more than
just Xylitol that can be considered a toxic ingredient, which is why not all of the dangerous brands contain Xylitol.
If you cannot find your brand of peanut butter on this list, simply look at its label to see if it contains Xylitol or any other harmful ingredients.
Remember that the safest peanut butter will be made of 100% peanuts.
100% Peanuts = 100% Safe
These are ranked number one in terms of dog safety since they only contain peanuts.
Remember that these are only safe if your dog can tolerate nuts.
- Teddie
- Crazy Richard’s
- Brads
- My Protein
- Once Again
100% Peanuts and Salt = 100% Safe But Unhealthier
These brands are also dog friendly as they only contain two ingredients – peanuts and salt – that dogs can handle.
However, these brands should not be used if your dog has been put on a low-sodium diet by a professional.
- Brandless Organic
- Laura Scrudder
- Prince & Spring
- Santa Cruz
- Smuckers Organic
- Wild Friends
Contains Palm Oil, Hydrogenated Oils, Or Added Sugars = Not Safe
These ingredients are harmful to dogs and can cause issues such as diarrhea, pancreatitis, vomiting, weight gain, diabetes, cavities, and more. So, do not feed these to your dogs.
- ALDI (Peanut Delight)
- Chef’s Quality
- Earth Balance
- JIF
- Justin’s
- Maranatha
- Peter Pan
- Simple Truth
- Skippy
- Smart Balance
- Sure Fine
Contains Xylitol = Can Be Fatal To Dogs
These peanut butter brands can cause liver failure, seizures, and even death. Do not give these to your dogs knowingly ever.
- Go Nuts Co
- No Cow
- Nuts ‘N More
- Nutty By Nature by Krush Nutrition
- P28
What About Chunky Peanut Butter?
Chunky peanut butter, while the same nutritionally as smooth, is not our preferred choice.
Chunky peanut butter can cause issues with dogs who are suffering from IBD or IBS.
It can also get stuck in the dog’s teeth which can then cause irritation and infection.
If you’re not vigilant at brushing your dog’s teeth, you might find that chunky peanut butter is more trouble than it’s worth.
Still, if your dog prefers chunky peanut butter to smooth, who are we to deprive them?
What To Look For In The Grocery Store
If you’re in Whole Foods, their own 365 Brand is great for only using 100% peanuts.
However, be careful since newer variations from this brand are beginning to include palm oil and sugar, which are not safe for dogs. Always check the label!
Whole Foods also often carries Santa Cruz peanut butter, which is safe for dogs.
Smuckers Original is a brand that is carried in almost all main grocery stores, particularly those that carry organic lines.
If you’ve had no luck finding any dog safe peanut butter in your local stores, you can always purchase it online.
Buying online can sometimes be even cheaper than buying in store – especially if you’re buying in bulk!
Breaking Down Well-Known Peanut Butter Ingredients
Now you know which brands are safe and which are not, but do you know why?
Let’s take a look at these peanut butters and their ingredients to see what is harmful and what is safe for dogs.
Dog Safe Peanut Butters
365 Everyday Value Peanut Butter
Organic and natural peanut butter ingredients: Peanuts
Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter
Creamy and Crunchy peanut butter ingredients: Peanuts
My Protein Peanut Butter
All Natural Style ingredients: Peanuts
Once Again Peanut Butter
Organic Creamy or Crunchy peanut butter ingredients: Organically grown, dry roasted unblanched (with peanut skins) peanuts.
Teddie’s Peanut Butter
Smooth Unsalted Old Fashioned peanut butter ingredients: Peanuts.
Adams Peanut Butter
Natural Creamy or Crunchy peanut butter ingredients: PEANUTS, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF SALT.
Brandless Organic Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: ORGANIC PEANUTS AND SEA SALT.
Kirkland Organic Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: US Valencia Peanuts, Sea Salt
Laura Scudder Peanut Butter
Old Fashioned Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Peanuts, 1% Salt
Prince & Spring Peanut Butter
Organic Creamy peanut butter ingredients: ORGANIC DRY ROASTED PEANUTS AND SEA SALT.
Santa Cruz Peanut Butter
Organic Dark Roasted Creamy peanut butter ingredients: ORGANIC ROASTED PEANUTS, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF SALT.
Smucker’s Peanut Butter
Natural Creamy Peanut Butter ingredients: PEANUTS, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF SALT.
Wild Friends Peanut Butter
Natural Classic Creamy peanut butter ingredients: ROASTED PEANUTS, SEA SALT.
We recommend all of these peanut butter as safe for dogs.
As you can see, we have included both the brand and the name of the peanut butter, as some brands might have different variations that are not safe.
Even peanut butter that contains peanuts and salt is still dog-safe, provided that your dog is not on a low-sodium diet.
From this moment on, we will not be recommending any more brands of peanut butter.
This is because we are now looking at the brands that contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs due to their ingredients list.
Unsafe Peanut Butters For Dogs
Bear in mind that numbers 1 to 12 do not contain Xylitol and therefore might not be toxic to dogs.
However, you can see by the ingredients that they contain added oils, emulsifiers, sugars, chemicals, and more that are harmful to dogs.
These ingredients are not toxic, but they could be harmful.
Are you willing to take the chance when you could opt for a one or two-ingredient peanut butter that you know is going to be safe for your dog?
ALDI – Peanut Delight Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Made From Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Molasses, Fully Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils,Rapeseed, Cottonseed, Soybean, Salt
Chef’s Quality Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Dry Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Hydrogenated rapeseed oil
Earth Balance Peanut Butter
Natural Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Peanuts, flaxseed, peanut oil, agave syrup, palm fruit oil, and salt.
Jif Peanut Butter
Creamy Version peanut butter ingredients: MADE FROM ROASTED PEANUTS AND SUGAR. CONTAINS 2%OR LESS OF: MOLASSES, FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED AND SOYBEAN), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT.
Natural Version peanut butter ingredients; MADE FROM ROASTED PEANUTS, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: PALM OIL, SALT, MOLASSES.
Justin’s Peanut Butter
Classic peanut butter ingredients: DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, PALM OIL.
Maranatha Organic Peanut Butter
Organic peanut butter ingredients: Organic Dry Roasted Peanuts, Organic Palm Oil. May Contain Almonds
Peter Pan Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Less Than 2% Of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Cottonseed And Rapeseed), Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil.
Simple Truth Organic Peanut Butter
No Stir Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Organic peanuts, organic palm oil, organic cane sugar, sea salt.
Skippy Peanut Butter
Natural Creamy peanut butter ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Palm Oil, Salt
Smart Balance Peanut Butter
All Natural Creamy peanut butter ingredients: PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, DRIED CANE SYRUP, SALT, MOLASSES), OIL BLEND (PALM FRUIT AND FLAXSEED OILS).
Sure Fine Peanut Butter Ingredients
Creamy peanut butter ingredients: SELECTED ROASTED PEANUTS, SUGAR, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (COTTONSEED AND RAPESEED), MOLASSES, SALT, AND MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES.
The following peanut butters contain Xylitol which is toxic to dogs and therefore should never be given as a treat.
Go Nutts, Co. Peanut Butter
Go Nutts, Co. does not offer an ingredient list on their website, so you need to call them to get a straight answer.
Almost all of their peanut butter contains Xylitol and therefore is not safe for dogs.
The only peanut butter from this brand that does not contain Xylitol is Pumpkin and Espresso.
Since the latter shouldn’t be given to dogs either, we think that it is much safer to stay away from this brand altogether.
No Cow Peanut Butter
Ingredients: PEANUTS, PROTEIN BLEND (BROWN RICE PROTEIN, PEA PROTEIN), ORGANIC CANOLA OIL, XYLITOL, PEANUT FLOUR, PALM OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, MONK FRUIT, STEVIA.
Nuts ‘n More Peanut Butter
Ingredients: PEANUTS, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, ORGANIC FLAX, BIRCH XYLITOL, NATURAL EXTRACT
Nutty By Nature Peanut Butter
Ingredients: DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, PEANUT OIL, XYLITOL, GROUND FLAX SEEDS AND CHIA SEEDS.
P28 Peanut Butter
High Protein Peanut Butter ingredients: DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, PEANUT OIL, XYLITOL.
Can Dogs Have Peanut Butter Every Day?
While peanuts are safe for dogs, some need to build a tolerance for them.
Peanuts can be quite harsh on the stomach, and some dogs need to grow accustomed to this. Some humans go through the exact same thing, so this is normal!
Dogs should only be given peanut butter as a treat. It should not be used as a meal replacement.
If you want to give your dog a spoonful of peanut butter every day and they can handle it, then go for it!
But if they seem to struggle with digesting it every day, limit it to a once-in-a-while treat. It will taste better to them this way, anyway.
How Much Peanut Butter Is Considered A Treat?
We know how tempting it is to give your dog lots of treats and food they enjoy.
After all, they are the best pets! Why shouldn’t they enjoy their favorite foods as much as possible?
However, just like humans, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Peanuts are full of fat, and too much peanut butter can lead to canine obesity.
This isn’t fun for your dog who probably enjoys running as fast as they can and playing all day.
Obesity stunts their ability to do these things, and it can be rather sad to see your dog suffer from it.
Plus, it’s much more difficult to get dogs to lose weight than for them to gain it.
So, it will be easier for everyone for you to keep peanut butter consumption to a minimum.
Limit the peanut butter treat to ½ teaspoon twice a day for small dogs, and 1 teaspoon for medium to large dogs.
They should never be given more than 2 teaspoons of peanut butter in one day.
Can You Mix Peanut Butter With Dog Food?
Yes, you can use peanut butter as a food additive or supplement.
Peanut butter includes high levels of vitamins E, H, and B.
These are known to keep dogs’ coats and skin healthy, as well as look after their internal systems.
There are plenty of benefits to giving your dog peanut butter, so go ahead and mix it into your dog’s food!
Just make sure that you’re not using too much per day, and that it is dog-safe peanut butter.
Summary
We hope that you enjoyed our article on which peanut butter brands are safe for dogs.
It is a well-known fact that dogs love peanut butter – that’s not going to change any time soon.
Peanut butter is a fun and yummy treat that is excellent for interactive toys to help stimulate your dog’s brain.
But there is one thing you should know about peanut butter before giving it to your dog – some are safe while others are harmful.
Xylitol is a toxic sweetener that is used in many foods for humans, which can cause serious issues for dogs.
When ingested it can cause seizures and even death.
Other harmful ingredients in peanut butter include oils, fats, and sugars. While these are not necessarily toxic, they are still unhealthy and should be avoided.
The best (and safest!) peanut butter to share with your dog will only contain one or two ingredients: either only peanuts or peanuts and salt.
Again, salt is not that healthy for dogs, so 100% peanuts is the optimal ingredient list for dog-safe peanut butter.