Are Peanuts Safe for Dogs?

Can dogs eat peanuts? Are peanuts for dogs safe? These are some of the concerning questions that come to every parent's mind. This is because, being a dog or puppy parent, one must have heard about the effects of nuts on a dog’s health. Several nuts can be fatal to a dog’s health. However, when it comes to the taste and interest of dogs, they like to have peanut butter. Thus, every parent wishes to get complete details of nuts that are safe for their pets and which are dangerous for their pets.

Can dogs eat peanuts and are peanuts safe for dogs?

Peanuts are entirely safe for dogs’ health. However, one needs to understand the proportion in which dogs should be fed and in which form should be provided. Peanuts are rich sources of protein, and protein is an essential nutrient that is required to keep the health of dogs in check. One needs to be sure to feed your pet peanuts unsalted, raw, dry-roasted, and de-shelled. These peanuts are safe to use in dog treats and cookies, peanut butter dog treats, and various animal health supply products. Pet parents need to make sure that they only feed de-shelled peanuts to their pets, as shells may sometimes become choking hazards.

Peanuts provide our pets with essential nutrients, such as vitamin E, vitamin B6, phosphorus, niacin, potassium, and several others. With that, it is necessary to take care of the proportion of fats used in these dog treats and cookies or even peanut butter for dogs. While peanuts are suitable for dogs, they contain high levels of fats, which can cause digestive problems if your dog overeats.

Which forms of peanuts should be avoided when feeding dogs?

In most cases, it is found that dogs face issues if they consume fats in large amounts. It affects their digestive system. It can upset their stomach, causing various symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, etc. The regular consumption of fats by dogs can lead to a painful condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of your dog’s pancreas.

Xylitol In Peanut Butter and dog treats: Peanut butter and peanut butter dog treats it is good for dogs’ health, and they also enjoy having it. Peanut butter is very rich in providing proteins to dogs. However, it is always recommended to check the ingredients used to prepare peanut butter before feeding it to the pooch. One of the most harmful ingredients for dogs that are used in making peanut butter is Xylitol. Xylitol can be fatal to dogs' health. Thus, various brands have now removed the usage of Xylitol in peanut butter and before purchasing any brand one should always check the ingredients used in making peanut butter for dogs. 

Xylitol is considered toxic and sometimes deadly for dogs' health as it is a high-sugar substitute that is fatal for dogs. Once consumed by dogs, xylitol gets absorbed into the bloodstream, where it releases insulin from the pancreas. These releases result in a decrease in blood sugar levels. If it remains untreated, low blood sugar levels in dogs become fatal to their health.

Avoid Salted Peanuts: Salted peanuts contain large quantities of sodium, which can be fatal to dogs’ health. Some dogs may suffer from salt poisoning because of the consumption of salted peanuts. Hence, it is recommended to use low-sodium peanuts or unsalted peanuts.

Shelled Peanuts: Peanuts are small nuts, and dogs usually consume them directly. Sometimes, they may get stuck in their throats. Shelled peanuts become too hard for dogs to chew, becoming choking hazards in the throat, resulting in several health issues in dogs.

Tips for feeding peanuts to dogs:

There are a few tips that one should follow while feeding peanuts to dogs so that their health is protected.

• Try to avoid feeding salted or unshelled peanuts.
• Be sure to feed only raw, unflavored, and deshelled peanuts.
• Make sure to feed peanuts only in small amounts as they contain fats.
• Make sure to feed your dog treats that don’t contain xylitol, dog treats made at home, or peanut butter. 
• You can also try mixing some peanuts into dog treats.

Read More - Ditch the Grains: Discover the Benefits for Your Furry Friend!

What types of dogs should be prevented from eating peanuts?

Some allergic reactions may occur in some dogs that have underlying health conditions. Here is a list of a few situations in which a dog should be prevented from eating peanuts:

Dogs with Kidney Issues: Peanuts or peanut butter dog treats contain large amounts of salt and sugar, which is harmful to dogs with kidney conditions and may worsen them.

Dogs that have increased weight: Peanut butter is rich in fats and, thus, is not suitable for overweight dogs or puppies. 

Dogs on special diets: Some dogs require extra care in their diet to maintain their overall health. Thus, it is recommended that peanut butter not be fed to dogs on special or veterinary diets.

Which nuts are harmful to dogs?

There are varieties of nuts that are beneficial for humans but very harmful to dogs' health. Some of them are almonds, walnuts, pistachios, raw cashews, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, and hickory nuts.

What symptoms or side effects can dogs suffer from?

There may be some symptoms that one might notice if the pooch is showing allergic reactions to nuts. If you notice any of such symptoms, it is recommended that you consult with the veterinarian immediately and take appropriate treatment. The signs of allergic nuts reactions in dogs are as follows:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Breathing problems like trouble breathing or breathing too fast
• Hives
• Swelling around face and mouth

Final Thoughts:

In this article, we have tried to cover every aspect of feeding peanuts to dogs. Some pets are allergic to peanuts similar to humans. Hence, one should be very careful before feeding any nuts to their pets. Thus, it is always recommended to consult with the veterinarian once your dog’s age, life stage, and lifestyle are considered to get complete details of whether and in which amount peanuts should be provided to dogs. 

Kwik Pets offers several peanut butter dog treats along with all the pet products you require to keep your pet healthy, happy, and engaged. Check out the various pet products available at Kwik Pets by clicking here.

Read More: Are Chew Toys Good For Puppies?