We know it. Dogs will do whatever you want in exchange for some peanuts. It’s the perfect bribe to get the attention of your dog, and boy, they love it. However, while it’s a convenient reward for your dog, you wonder can dogs eat peanuts?
Peanuts are legumes rich in healthy fats, vitamin B-6, vitamin E, and niacin. Given in moderation, it won’t pose harmful side effects to your dog. It’s also a good source of protein that can help your pup grow healthy skin, hair, and aids in muscle development.
What other health benefits can your canine get from consuming these treats? Is it a nourishing food or a toxic snack that can cause adverse effects?
Let’s answer your questions:
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Can Dogs Eat Peanuts?
In general, it will not be harmful to your dog if you feed peanuts in moderation and you only give them unsalted and unseasoned peanuts.
However, uncontrolled consumption of peanuts may be fatal in the long run, so it’s not advised not to include too much of it in their diet.
Did your dog ever experience an upset stomach after eating peanuts? Peanut can indeed be the culprit in such discomfort. Since peanuts are rich in high fats, dogs’ natural digestive structure may have problems breaking down fats that cause diarrhea, vomiting, or even pancreatitis.
Can Dogs Eat Salted Peanuts?
Short answer – no. Give your dogs unsalted and unseasoned peanuts to avoid inducing excessive sodium. Too much salt can cause your dog to be thirsty. It may also lead to water retention, and in worst cases, sodium poisoning.
Will boiled peanuts hurt dogs?
Boiled peanuts can be okay for dogs as long as it’s unsalted, unflavoured, and unseasoned. So if you want to boil peanuts for your dogs, make sure it’s plain without salt, star anise, or paprika.
But dry-roasted peanuts are the best option for your dogs.
It would be kinda boring for the dogs, but giving them dry-roasted peanuts instead of raw ones is a better option. Dry-roasting peanuts help reduce the risk of aflatoxin ingestion that causes liver failure in dogs.
Dr. Michelle Burch, a veterinarian at Safe Hounds Pet Insurance said: “Dry-roasted peanuts will remove or significantly reduce the risk of aflatoxin.”
Can a dog have peanut allergies?
Yes, some dogs, like humans, can have allergic reactions to peanuts. Usually, allergic reactions reflect on the skin and ear where dogs suffer from itchiness, infections, swelling, and bald spots.
Dogs with a peanut allergy react through excessive licking on their body, difficulty in breathing, or agitation. In most cases, peanut allergies are treated with topical creams for skin to heal skin condition and antihistamine to aid your dog from breathing difficulty.
Some allergic reactions can be severe and require immediate reaction, so it would be best to bring your pet to the nearest veterinarian to hand out proper medicine such as steroids and administer oxygen or intravenous (IV) fluids.
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How many peanuts can a dog eat?
Should you give a handful of peanuts to reward your cute puppy? Well, sorry to burst the bubble, but no. The answer is, that’s a little too much. You must not let your dog feast on peanuts, so be conscious of the amount you’re giving them.
Once a dog intakes peanut butter with xylitol content, it will only take 10-60 minutes to take effect. Low doses can cause hypoglycemia which is life-threatening when not treated, while larger doses have severe effects such as liver failure.
Give your dog only a few peanuts. Small dogs can have ½ tablespoon – and no more than that, while larger dogs can have no more than a tablespoon. Dogs crave for peanuts. However, peanuts should not be considered as a daily treat. Only give it your dog about 1-2x a week.
Can Dogs Eat Peanuts Related FAQs
At what age can a dog have peanut butter?
You can give your puppy a peanut butter treat at 6 weeks old. But avoid giving them frequently and in large amounts. Also, check the nutrition labels on store-bought peanut butter to assure it’s xylitol-free and will not cause adverse health effects on your pup.
How often can you give dogs peanut butter?
Take them to a bath? Trim their nails? Peanut butter is the best distraction to your dogs. They wouldn’t notice what you’re doing when PB’s at hand.
But as much as possible, don’t overfeed your dog with peanut butter. Give the little dogs no more than half a tablespoon, while the larger dogs no more than a tablespoon. Don’t put it on a daily diet, but you can give them 1-2 times a week as a treat.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Cheese?(Everything You Need To Know)]
Will peanut butter help dogs with diarrhea?
No, peanut butter won’t essentially help with your dog’s diarrhea. While peanut is a fibrous legume, it has a high concentration of fat, and unfortunately, dogs have a hard time digesting fats. Too much consumption of peanut butter can even cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and worse, pancreatitis.
Usually, the best treatment for a dog’s diarrhea is forbidding them from any food for 12-24 hours. Dogs usually recover from diarrhea after a day so after fasting, you can feed them with protein-rich food such as scrambled eggs, or soft, digestible foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, pumpkin, banana, or white rice.
Can peanut butter make my dog hyper?
The real question is, will peanut butter make your dog excited? It will! The aroma of peanut butter excites dogs which makes them jumpy and hyperactive. Moreover, dogs love the salt and sugar in it and the sticky experience overall.
But does it boost your dog’s energy? Since peanut butter is protein-rich, it must be a good source of energy for your dog. However, the high concentration of fats would be a concern since dogs have difficulties in digesting fats.