So your dog loves peanut butter, no surprise there. Yet every time you feed a slab of your human PB to your furry friend, a thought lingers in the back of your head: “Is human peanut butter bad for dogs?” You might already know to avoid a large variety of nuts, as most nuts for dogs can harm your dog’s health. And you might already know that many dog peanut butters, made without any additives, make for an excellently nutritious treat.

What about that jar of JIF that sits in your pantry? Whenever you retrieve it for a PBJ sandwich, or another peanut butter related food, your dog likely perks up with the hopes of a yummy taste. What you should know, however, is that jar of JIF isn’t the best or healthiest peanut butter treat for your pup. In fact, most human peanut butters can harm your pup’s health.

What To Avoid and What To Look For

When it comes to feeding your dog peanut butter, particularly human peanut butter, there are a few things to watch out for. Let’s discover the answer to the question, is human peanut butter bad for dogs?

Obligatory Allergy Mention

Is human peanut butter bad for dogs? Well, yes, for dogs that have peanut allergies. If you are feeding peanut butter to your furry friend for the first time, give them only a small, coin shaped slab of PB and check for any signs of a peanut allergy like itching of the face, itching of the body, or coughing.

According to PetMd, a dog showing no signs of an allergy thirty minutes to an hour after eating peanut butter is good to go!

Is Human Peanut Butter Bad For Dogs? Dropping Some Knowledge

Once you know your pup can eat yummy peanut products, like peanut butter, you’ll want to educate yourself about the risks of feeding your fur baby human peanut butter. Look no further! Lucky for you, I’m about to drop some PB knowledge:

Watch Out For Salt

• Avoid human peanut butters with added salt
  • Giving your dog peanut butter with added salts puts your dog at greater risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. Dogs do not need as much salt in their diet as us humans; a dog weighing 33 pounds is advised to have no more than 100 milligrams of sodium per day.Avoid human peanut butters with added sugars
    • Just like humans, dogs can become overweight and are prone to more disease if they eat too much sugar. Excessive sugar consumption puts your pup at risk for obesity, dental problems, and even diabetes.

No Yucky Oils, Please!

• Avoid human peanut butters with hydrogenated oils
  • You’ve likely noticed that many peanut butters appear very slick and oily. These peanut butters contain hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oils extend the shelf life of peanut butter, but come with a load of health risks. Hydrogenated oils contain trans fats: a type of fat that is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation. When choosing a peanut butter for your dog, check that ingredients label and steer clear of any PBs that have hydrogenated oils as an ingredient.

Artificial? No Thanks

• Avoid artificially flavored peanut butters
  • Many artificially flavored and sugar-free human peanut butters contain xylitol: a sugar substitute that can seriously harm your furry friend. Xylitol is safe for human consumption because humans are able to break it down and digest it. However, dogs are unable to digest xylitol, which can lead to an increased release of insulin and a big drop in blood sugar levels.

What To Look For

So I’ve told you the ingredients in human peanut butters to avoid, now what should you look for? If you’re going to feed your pup human peanut butter that benefits their health, look for peanut butters that are organic, with no added sugars, artificial flavors, or added salts.

A human peanut butter without any substitutes or additives can be difficult to find, and while your puppy will still love the taste, you probably won’t be the biggest fan. So, perhaps it’d be best to find your pup a peanut butter made especially for them.

What’s Best

The best and healthiest peanut butter comes from a peanut butter made with your furry friend in mind; not a human peanut butter, but a dog peanut butter.

Dog peanut butter is made without added salts, sugars, or hydrogenated oils. Don’t worry, natural peanut butters still pack a lot of flavor. Your pup will still love the taste, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your dog’s wellness won’t be harmed by any added salts.

In Conclusion…

Is human peanut butter bad for dogs? No, but what you’ve learned is that not all peanut butters are equal. While human peanut butter isn’t completely bad for your dog, it’s best to opt for a dog peanut butter that your pup will absolutely love and that’ll benefit their health the most.

Read more about peanuts, here.