Creamy or crunchy, peanut butter can be a nice treat for your pooch or a little incentive to get the medicine to go down. In most cases, and in moderation, a little peanut butter is fine. However, pet parents do need to avoid any peanut butter that contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be lethal to dogs.
While xylitol is a good sugar substitute for humans, especially people with diabetes, it is deadly for dogs. If consumed by a dog, xylitol can cause:
Rapid drop in
blood sugar
Diarrhea
Seizures
Liver failure
Death
In 2014, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received more than 3,700 xylitol-related calls. If you believe your dog consumed a product containing xylitol:
If your dog displays any of the following symptoms, you need to seek emergency care:
Be on the lookout for any ingredient containing the letters "xyl," a synonym for xylitol. These names include:
1,4-anhydro-d-xylitol
Xylite
Anhydroxylitol
D-xylitol
Xylitylglucoside
While your pooch may need to be careful when it comes to peanut butter, you can still give them a little homemade treat. It’s easy! Here’s how to make some fresh PB&Y[ogurt] Balls:
2 C flour
2 T peanut butter
12 oz. plain yogurt
(with no artificial sweetners)
Sources
1 http://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/is-peanut-butter-safe-for-dogs
2 https://cvm.ncsu.edu/xylitol/
3 http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/emergency-care-your-pet
4 https://cvm.ncsu.edu/xylitol/
*Do not feed to dogs with dairy allergies
