What Types of Nut Butters Can Dogs Safely Enjoy?

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?  Can dogs eat Almond Butter?  Can Dogs Eat  Sunflower Seed Butter?  Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seed Butter? Can Dogs Eat Cashew Butter?

Many of us love giving our furry friends treats, peanut butter is often a go-to snack for dogs and is frequently used in homemade treats for dogs. But did you know that not all nut butters are safe for your pup? Peanut butter can be a great protein-filled treat, but there are some important things to consider before adding any type of nut butter in your dog’s home cooked meals. Let’s explore whether the different types of nut butters are safe for your dog. We will share how to find the best nut butters for your dog along with some easy dog treat recipes.

There are plenty of benefits associated with giving your pup a spoonful of peanut butter or incorporating it into your dog's homemade meal! Peanut butter is packed with protein, healthy fats, niacin, vitamins B and E, and antioxidants. It is also low in carbohydrates which makes it an ideal homemade dog treat. Protein helps support a pup’s muscles while healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids help support brain development and joint health. Niacin helps process food into energy while vitamins B and E help boost immunity and keep skin looking nice and healthy. The antioxidants found in peanut butter help reduce inflammation in the body which can help protect against certain diseases over time. All these elements combine to make peanut butter an excellent choice as a snack for your pup when cooking for your dog! 

There are some things to take into account when giving your dog peanut butter as a treat. Since peanuts are high in fat, too much can lead to weight gain or pancreatitis in dogs - moderation is key! Additionally, if your pup has any nut allergies then it would be best to avoid giving them peanut butter altogether. Make sure the brand of peanut butter you’re feeding them doesn’t contain any added sugars or salts as these ingredients are not healthy for dogs.  Smooth peanut butter is easier for dogs to digest than chunky peanut butter so we always recommend a smooth peanut butter.  Lastly, always monitor your pet while they eat the treat just in case they have an adverse reaction - if they seem uncomfortable after consuming it then contact your vet right away!    

Now that you know more peanut butter you’re probably wondering what brands are best for your dog. We already know your dog shouldn't have crunchy peanut butter.  Lets explore the best Peanut Butters for your dog. 

#1 Homemade Peanut Butter 

As with almost anything, homemade peanut butter is going to be the best peanut butter for your dog since you know exactly what is in it.  Below is a simple homemade peanut butter recipe. It takes 10 minutes and only uses one ingredient... PEANUTS!  If you can use organic peanuts all the better but since peanuts are encased in a shell it isn’t necessary. 

Homemade Peanut Butter for Dogs Recipe

You'll Need: 3 Cups of Unsalted Peanuts

1. Blend peanuts in a food processor or a Vitamix until smooth.    
2. Stop occasionally to scrape the sides.  It will start out chunky but eventually will smooth out in 10 minutes. 
3. This will make about a cup of peanut butter and you can increase based on your requirements.   Store in the fridge.  

This peanut butter is perfect for homemade dog food recipes & home cooking treats for your dog.  Since peanut butter is high in fat you can dilute down the peanut butter before serving it to your dog with bananas, pumpkin, yogurt, or chickpeas - making a fun doggy hummus.  Other ingredients you could add are chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp hearts, turmeric, parsley to name a few.

#2 All Natural Peanut Butters for Dog

If you’re not up for making our homemade peanut butter the next best thing is an all natural store bought peanut butter.   Always read the labels to ensure that the peanut butter has no added no added salt, sugar, preservatives or trans fats.  Even if peanut butter says "Natural", make sure there aren’t additional ingredients.  We can’t stress enough the importance of reading labels when you’re home cooking for your dog.   

Some of our favorite peanut butter brands for dogs are below.  These brands include peanuts only. 

1. Farm Boy - All Natural Peanut Butter  
2. Kraft  - ONLY PEANUTS Smooth All Natural 
3. Nuts to You Organic - Smooth Peanut Butter 
4. Compliments Naturally Simple 100% Natural Smooth Peanut Butte
5. Whole Foods - 365 Organic Creamy Unsweetened & No Salt

Some All Natural Brands that Include Added Salt

1. Trader Joe's - Creamy Salted Peanut Butter- has added salt
2. Adam 100% Natural Peanut Butter - has added salted

Salt isn’t necessarily bad for your dog, it just must be consumed in moderation to avoid salt poisoning.  Many human foods contain added salt so you need to watch this carefully.  We will be doing a blog post on salt in the future so stay tuned.

#3 Peanut Butters Made for Dogs

There are lots of peanut butters made specifically for dogs on the market.  The great thing about these products is that they include dog safe ingredients.  The downside is they tend to be more expensive than the all natural grocery store brands or making your own homemade peanut butter.  Some brands we like are:

1. Nature's Logic Peanut Butter Canine Treat
2. Hero Dog Peanut Buddy

One brand we avoid is the Kong Stuff’N Real peanut butter which contains sugar and vegetable oils.

Here is a list of Peanut Butters we tend to avoid due to added salt, sugars, oils and other additives.  

1. JIF Peanut Butter
2. Planters Peanut Butter
3. Kraft Peanut Butter
4. No Name Smooth Peanut Butter

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in many processed foods and baked goods. Unfortunately, this ingredient is very toxic for pets, so it’s important to avoid any food that contains xylitol—including peanut butter. While some brands of peanut butter still contain trace amounts of xylitol, most do not. The good news is that it’s easy to tell which brands are safe for your pet; just make sure you check the ingredients list before feeding it to your pup! If there's no xylitol listed on the label then you're good to go. 

List of Peanut Butters Containing Xylitol:

1. Nutty By Nature 
2. Go Nuts
3. Nuts ‘N More 
4. P28 High Protein Peanut Spread., 
5. Krush Nutrition
6. No Cow

Now that we know what brands to pick from, lets talk about how much peanut butter your dog can have a day.  It's actually not a lot.  Since peanut butter is high in fat and calorie dense only a little each day is recommended. You can feed this small amount as a treat, mixed into home cooked meals, or with an enrichment toy.  As discussed above, you can dilute peanut butter with a number of human foods such as yogurt, pumpkin, eggs and bananas.  Below you can find the daily limit for your dog size. 

1 - 1 1/2  teaspoons for small dogs

2 - 3 teaspoons a day for medium dog

3 teaspoons for larger dog

Recipes for Dogs Using Peanut Butter

We have a ton of quick, simple, and tasty recipes for your dog with this yummy ingredient!

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Try out any of these homemade treats for your dog:

Peanut Butter Cookies Treats for Dogs  

Peanut Butter Banana Bites Treats for Dogs 

Peanut Butter Dog Ice Cream

Homemade Kong Filler Ideas & Kong Peanut Butter Recipe Ideas

• Pumpkin & Peanut Butter
• Peanut Butter & Banana
• Peanut Butter & Yoghurt
• Oatmeal & Peanut Butter
• Peanut Butter, Chicken, Omega Oil, Organic Oats & Berries Meal Mix
• Doggy Hummus - Chickpeas Blended with Peanut Butter

Homemade Dog Food Recipe Including Peanut Butter 

If you’re looking for an easy homemade dog food recipe that was developed by a leading nutritionist to be complete & balanced.  Check out our Doggy Peanut Butter Oatmeal.  Super simple to make and it can be a fun breakfast.   It includes our Essential Nutrient Mix which has all the nutrients to make complete and balanced meals at home developed with pet nutritionists and vets.   

Banana Peanut Butter Doggy Oatmeal

While almond butter may provide some health benefits for humans; unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our canine companions. While it isn’t toxic to dogs it can be difficult to digest. This means dogs should only consume it in tiny portions. The amygdalin and cyanide compounds found in almond butter can cause gastrointestinal issues if consumed in large amounts by dogs. While these compounds may not cause serious harm—unless your pup eats large amounts—it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid large quantities.  

While dogs can have cashew butter in baking it is important they never have raw cashews which is often what cashew butter is made with.  So best to avoid.

Pumpkin seed butter is a nutritious treat for your pup. It’s made from ground-up pumpkin seeds and has plenty of essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, vitamin E and B-complex vitamins. It also contains healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids which can help keep your dog’s skin healthy and coat shiny. Plus it’s high in fiber which helps promote digestion. Just make sure the pumpkin seed butter you give your pup does not contain added salt or sugar.  

Sunflower seed butter is another excellent choice when it comes to providing nutrition to your pup. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin B6, folate, protein, magnesium and selenium; all important nutrients that help with digestion and boost immunity. Sunflower seed butter is also rich in omega 6 fatty acids which help maintain healthy skin and coat while providing energy to their body. Like pumpkin seed butter though it should not contain added salt or sugar. 

Pumpkin seed and sunflower seed butters are both safe for dogs as long as they don't contain added salt or sugar. They offer plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that can benefit your pup's health and digestion—just avoid giving them too much at one time! 

Since both pumpkin seed butter and sunflower seed butters are high in fat content its best not to give more than 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight per day (1 tablespoon for 30 lbs). Too much fat in their diet can result in obesity which can lead to serious health problems so remember moderation is key when feeding these treats!  

Nut butters to never feed your dog include walnut, pecan, pistachios, and macadamia nuts.  All these nut butters are hard to digest and in the case of macadamia nuts contain a toxic element.

All types of nut butters have their pros and cons when it comes to feeding them to our beloved pets. While peanut butter is generally safe if there’s no xylitol present on the label, almond butter should be avoided altogether due to its potential health risks. Pumpkin seed and sunflower seed butters are perfectly fine as long as they don't contain added sugar or salt! As always – talk with your veterinarian before introducing new foods into your dog’s diet! With these tips in mind, you will be able to safely enjoy nutty snacks with your dog!