Can Huskies Eat Peanut Butter?
There is nothing funnier than watching a husky smack his lips after a generous lick of peanut butter. Of course, you laugh your head off and post the hilarious video you filmed online, but you can’t help feeling a bit guilty. Is it OK to feed your husky peanut butter? The answer may cause you to sigh in relief.
So, can huskies eat peanut butter? Huskies can eat peanut butter in moderation so long as the product doesn’t contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which is harmful to dogs. Unsalted or homemade peanut butter is the healthiest option.
It sure is funny watching a struggling dog wolf down a spoonful of peanut butter, but all things in moderation. If you feed your dog too much peanut butter, it may become a serious health risk.
Peanut Butter and Dogs
You are probably relieved to find out that it is safe for huskies to eat peanut butter, but is it necessarily the healthiest thing for them?
Believe it or not, peanut butter actually has a lot of surprising health benefits for your husky.
Huskies are working animals that burn a lot of calories and need a lot of protein. The peanutty goodness of peanut butter is a welcome treat after a day in the hot sun playing, and may just be the perfect snack to kickstart your husk’s energy.
Peanut butter is high in protein which is necessary for you husky to develop strong muscles and keep his coat shiny and strong.
I’m not arguing for an all peanut butter diet, but a quick lick of this stuff will really help to keep his spirits high.
Watch Out for Xylitol
Just because it is safe for your dog to eat some brands of peanut butter, doesn’t mean that all peanut butter is safe.
There is an ingredient in some brands of peanut butter that is potentially fatal to dogs called Xylitol.
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is beneficial to humans. It is a common sugar substitute for people with diabetes and can actually help repair damaged teeth, but it is deadly for dogs.
In fact, as little as 1.37 grams of xylitol could cause faintness, staggering, collapse, or even seizures in your husky. That is even more potent than chocolate!
Not a lot of brands produce peanut butter with xylitol, but here is a list of a few that do:
- Go Nuts
- Crush Nutrition
- Nuts ‘N More
- P28
- No Cow
There may be more brands that contain xylitol out there, keep a look out for the ingredients label.
How Much Peanut Butter is Too Much?
Peanut butter may be a fun treat for dogs, but at the end of the day it is human food and should not be a regular part of your dog’s diet.
Peanut butter does have a lot of protein that is good for your husky’s well-being, but it is also loaded with sugar and fat. Too much and your dog could become overweight.
I wouldn’t recommend giving your husky peanut butter more than twice a week. Your husky should know that peanut butter is a special treat reserved for special occasions. You definitely don’t want to give your husky a lick every time you crack the peanut butter jar open.
Other Health Concerns with Huskies and Peanut Butter
Obesity and xylitol are just a couple of the health problems that dogs may have with peanut butter. Did you know that your husky may be at risk of peanut allergies?
There are two types of allergic reactions your husky may face when eating peanut butter, either an external or an internal reaction.
An external reaction will be noticeable on your dog’s skin. Be on the lookout for bald spots, rashes, and red irritated skin.
Internal reactions are more common and far more serious. Your husky could throw up the peanut butter and be done with it, or he could develop much more serious problems like low blood sugar or seizures.
In addition to the things mentioned above watch for the following after your husky eats peanut butter:
- Any excessive itchiness or scratching
- Raw patches in the skin or rashes
- Excessive sneezing
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constant licking (as if parched)
- Water eyes
- Any other uncommon behavior or out of the ordinary actions.
Notice any of these symptoms? Then your husky could be allergic to peanuts.
If your dog has an external reaction. You should be fine to take care of it yourself. There are plenty of rash and soothing skin creams you can use to help ease your dog’s pain.
And if those don’t work there is always the good old fashioned, cone of shame.
Internal reactions are much more serious and should be addressed by a medical professional.
When is it OK for a Husky to Eat Peanut Butter?
We have identified plenty of risks of feeding your dog peanut butter. Let me clarify and say that actual cases of huskies with peanut allergies are few and far between. 99% of the time your husky will be OK eating peanut butter, but you still don’t want your fuzzy buddy eating too much and getting fat.
So, when is a good time to give your husky peanut butter?
Here are a few suggestions:
- After an intense training session. Anyone who has owned a husky knows how difficult they are to train. Their boundless energy fuels their adorable personalities but also makes them hard to focus. A great way to keep your husky entertained during training sessions is by switching up your usual treats. If you usually throw your husky a strip of bacon after he does something good, try mixing things up and giving him a lick of peanut butter.
- When he needs a boost of energy. I know that peanut butter always cheers me up and I’m willing to bet it will do the same for your husky. If your Siberian seems down, give him a spoonful of peanut butter to brighten his spirits. The proteins in peanuts are great fuel for energy so your dog can play all day long.
- When giving your dog medicine. I hated swallowing pills as a kid and had to eat them with a spoonful of pudding to help me get them down. Some dogs absolutely hate pills and refuse to take them no matter what you try. If you slip a pill capsule into a glob of peanut butter, the dog won’t even notice! Just like me with the pudding!
What Type of Peanut Butter is Best for Your Husky?
Not all peanut butter is created equal. There are some that will be healthier for your dog than others. Here is what you need to know.
Generally speaking, any peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol should be OK. Most peanut-butters are heavy on sugars and preservatives that aren’t great for your dog.
Look out for peanut butter brands that are “additive free”.
Make sure you that you still check the ingredients label for peanut-butters that claim to be “all natural” or “no artificial sweetener.” Xylitol is
Is Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter Better for Your Husky?
Ah yes, the eternal debate. Good or evil? Right or wrong? Creamy or crunchy? Clearly creamy is the winner, why in the world would you eat crunchy? But that really doesn’t matter right now. Which is best for your husky?
There really isn’t that much of a difference nutritionally between creamy and crunchy peanut butter. The peanuts in crunchy peanut butter could be a choking hazard to your husky, but in all honesty that is very unlikely.
I wouldn’t recommend giving crunchy peanut butter to a husky puppy for that reason, but as they get older there shouldn’t be much of a problem. Either peanut butter is fine.
But if you are smart you will give your husky creamy.
Related Questions:
Is it OK to give your husky Jelly? Jelly is full of sugar that isn’t healthy at all for dogs. The fruits that they are made of don’t sit well with dogs either. Jelly won’t cause any serious harm to your dog, but it is best if you keep it away.
Is chocolate OK for dogs? Chocolate is toxic to dogs and should be kept away from them. Chocolate can cause loss of consciousness, internal bleeding, or seizures if a dog eats too much.