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Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Updated on July 18, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Yes, dogs can eat xylitol-free peanut butter. Maybe you’ve already noticed that your pup goes nuts for this tasty treat, which can be even more fun when you add an element of challenge by smearing the snack inside a special toy, freezing it and making your dog work for it. Yet there are some important things to consider before letting your dog lick that peanut butter-coated spoon clean, and always consult your veterinarian before adding a new food to your dog’s diet to ensure it’s an appropriate special treat for your pet.

Dogs love peanut butter, and it can be a highly motivating treat to offer them in moderation. It’s full of protein and healthy fats, and its sticky consistency is perfect for smearing inside a bone or strong toy. If you have a dog who can clean peanut butter out of a KONG toy in 5 minutes flat, try freezing it to keep your pet busy for hours.

The key to feeding your dog peanut butter—and all treats in general—is moderation. A small amount of peanut butter on special occasions shouldn't be a problem for your dog, but if you start to feed your pet larger amounts of peanut butter more frequently, the fat and sugar may start catching up to them, with adverse effects on their health. Peanut butter is a high-calorie food, so be sure to only serve it in small amounts.

Can dogs eat honey peanut butter?

Yes, dogs can enjoy this delicious combination, but be careful—since peanut butter is high in calories and honey is high in sugar, they should be considered a rare treat. You can try combining the two with eggs to bake your own traditional treats or mix and freeze peanut butter and honey for a frozen snack.

Does peanut butter have health benefits for dogs?

While peanut butter contains a good amount of protein, healthy fats, vitamins B and E and niacin, it does not provide health benefits beyond those already included in your pet’s commercially available food. For this reason, peanut butter should only be provided as a high-value reward or treat, not as a staple in your pet's diet.

The healthiest peanut butter options are unsalted and have no added sugar or flavors. Check the labels to ensure sodium and sugar levels are low; both can be unhealthy for dogs in large amounts or when eaten too regularly. 

All treats offered should never make up more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake. Ask your veterinarian to estimate the healthy caloric intake for your dog and calculate what amount of peanut butter would equal less than 10% of that number. If you feed your dog other treats, remember to factor in those calories, too.

Another important thing to look out for is xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute often found in products like toothpaste, breath mints and baked goods. Some peanut butter manufacturers have begun using the sweetener, too. It is safe for humans but toxic to dogs, for whom xylitol consumption can be life-threatening. In dogs, xylitol causes a rapid release of insulin, which results in an equally rapid decrease in blood sugar levels, which can lead to seizures and liver failure and can be fatal. This leads to a condition known as hypoglycemia and can occur as quickly as 10 minutes after eating xylitol.

Luckily, xylitol poisoning is easy to avoid. Check the label of the peanut butter or any other product you plan on feeding to your dog, and keep xylitol products out of your dog’s reach. If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. And keep an eye out for symptoms of xylitol poisoning, such as weakness, collapse, staggering, lack of coordination and seizures so you can report all symptoms observed once you meet with your veterinarian.

How to feed your dog peanut butter

The great thing about peanut butter for dogs is that it gives you an opportunity to be creative in feeding it to them. You can even make it a fun challenge. 

Peanut butter can be smeared inside bones or specially made toys with hollow centers. You can add a bit of peanut butter to their bowl or even let your dog lick the spoon clean before throwing it in the dishwasher. 

When feeding your dog peanut butter, monitor them to ensure they don’t get too much in their mouth at once. If this happens, offer them plenty of clean water and less peanut butter the next time you decide to give them a treat. Always provide lots of drinking water for them while they eat peanut butter, even when offered in moderation.

Featured dog food and treats with peanut butter

FAQs about peanut butter and dogs

Peanut butter is safe for dogs to eat—but with some considerations. If your dog has any health issues, such as diabetes or kidney disease, consult your veterinarian before allowing your dog to eat peanut butter.

It’s also important to monitor the amount of peanut butter you give them at once. What looks like a small scoop to you might be a struggle for them to lick off the roof of their mouth.

If your dog has a health condition, such as diabetes, it’s important to ask your veterinarian before introducing any new foods, not limited to peanut butter, no matter how small the treat is.

Yes, dogs can eat crunchy peanut butter. Peanuts are still the core ingredient, and they are generally considered safe for dogs to eat in moderation. Avoid peanut butters with added sugar, salt, xylitol or flavoring.

Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter meant for humans, as long as it does not contain xylitol. Xylitol is an alternative sweetener that is safe for humans but can be toxic for dogs. Double-check all nutrition information to ensure you're not giving your pet a variety too high in sugar, salt or other additives. These can be unhealthy for your dog and lead to obesity.

Yes. In fact, the more natural the peanut butter, the better. Any peanut butter that lists peanuts as the only ingredient is a safe option for dogs who can safely eat peanut butter.

While peanut butter chips might be safe for your dog to eat, they are not a healthy treat. Always check the label on human foods for ingredients that might be toxic to dogs before offering a treat. Peanut butter chips generally contain extra sugar, which is unhealthy for your dog and can lead to obesity and other health problems in the long run.

Allowing your dog to eat peanut butter every day is not recommended; it should only be offered as a treat on occasion. High-quality dog food will always be the healthiest option for your pet.

If your dog sneaks a small bite of peanut butter fudge while you aren’t looking, they should be fine, but it’s best to always place sweets and foods toxic to dogs out of their reach. Peanut butter fudge is high in sugar, which is unhealthy for your dog and can lead to obesity and other health problems in the long run. And make sure there is no chocolate or other toxic ingredients included in the fudge.

Dogs can eat crunchy peanut butter with bits of peanut still in it, but they should not be fed products like almond butter or cashew butter. Peanuts are technically a legume, while walnuts and cashews are actual nuts. The type of fat in nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts is not as easy for dogs to digest as the type of fat in peanuts.

Powdered peanut butter should be safe for dogs but check the ingredients to be sure. Some types of peanut butter contain xylitol, a sweetener that’s safe for humans but can be dangerous for dogs. If the peanut butter contains xylitol, do not allow your dog to eat it. 

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