Can dogs eat peanuts?
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| Can dogs eat peanuts? |
Can dogs eat peanuts?
Everyone knows that dogs like peanut butter. Since peanut butter is made from peanuts, most of us assume that peanuts are harmless to dogs. The answer is not that easy.
In terms of your dog's health, peanuts and peanut butter are not all the same. Peanuts are high in protein, vitamin B-6, vitamin E, niacin and healthy fats. This means that peanuts and peanut butter will give your dogs a protein-rich snack that they can never do without. However, there are some risks associated with peanuts and peanut butter.
What types of peanuts can my dog safely eat?
The best peanuts for dogs are not the tasty and salty ones that most people prefer. Dry roasted (or raw) unsalted peanuts are the only ones you can safely eat, even if your dog is doing well by picking up one or two salted peanuts from the ground. However, salted peanuts contain more sodium than your dog needs, and can be harmful if ingested in large quantities. It is, therefore, best to avoid giving dogs salted peanuts. Because of this, some owners prefer to make their own peanut butter. Homemade peanut butter helps owners control the amount of oil and sodium that flows into the recipe and eliminate the growing risk of xylitol intoxication.
Peanuts also contain a lot of fat. This can lead to digestive problems and even pancreatitis if your dog consumes regular or high-fat foods such as peanuts.
How many peanuts can my dog have?
When it comes to peanut feeding, moderation is the key. Limit your dog's peanut intake to a few peanuts and do not feed peanuts as a daily reward. Peanuts roasted with honey and other flavored nuts are also dangerous to your dog. Be sure to remove the peanut shell, as the fiber material may cause suffocation, especially for small dogs.
This helpful article provides more information about foods that dogs are not allowed to eat. If you're wondering about a particular fruit or vegetable, read another great article on fruits and vegetables that dogs can eat and not.