Yes, skippy peanut butter is safe for dogs – in moderation. However, there are a few things you need to know and watch out for before you give your dog this tasty treat.
What Makes Skippy Peanut Butter Ok For Dogs?
The ingredient in peanut butter which is no good for fido is called Xylitol. This is an artificial sweetener that some manufacturers add to their products to replace sugar for various reasons, such as cost, or to make it “sugar free”.
Fortunately, Skippy uses sugar and not artificial sweeteners. BUT, you should make sure to check the ingredients every time you buy it, because you never know when a manufacturer may try to switch to something cheaper!
In dogs, Xylitol causes a rapid release of insulin. This is dangerous for pups, because it can decrease blood sugar levels and even be life threatening if you don’t catch it! This is called hypoglycemia, and can happen in as little as 10 minutes to an hour after a dog ingest xylitol. So make sure to check ANY peanut butter products before sharing with your dog.
If you think your dog may have accidentally consumed a Xylitol product, watch for the signs. If you notice weakness, collapse, staggering, lack of coordination, or seizures. Take them to the vet!
Is Skippy Peanut Butter Good For Dogs Though?
In moderation, peanut butter can be great for dogs. It’s a good source of protein and healthy fats, but it’s also important to keep in mind serving sizes. A dog can’t eat as much as a human, and if you load them up with too much peanut butter they could quickly become overweight.
However, it’s fine to use this to entertain your dog left alone while you’re at work! Filling a Kong toy with peanut butter is a good way to occupy a pup and keep them out of trouble for a bit while you’re out.
If you can find unsalted peanut butter, that’s the best for your pup, because you should avoid too much sodium for them. However, if that’s not possible, a bit of Skippy will be fine, even though it does have salt in it.
How Much Peanut Butter Is Too Much?
The AKC goes by the golden rule of “10%” when it comes to treats ((https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-peanut-butter/)). This means that only 10% of your dogs diet should consist of things which are not their actual food.
However, that doesn’t mean you pup should eat 10% of their calories in peanut butter! You should also include other healthy snacks like pumpkin!
You should also keep in mind that 2 TBSP of Skippy peanut butter is 190 calories! A 40 pounds dog only needs about 700 calories per day ((https://www.kurgo.com/dog-calorie-calculator)). As you can see, this can quickly become a weight problem if you let it.
Skippy Peanut Butter Ingredients List
(Dog Safe!)
Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Cottonseed, Soybean and Rapeseed) to Prevent Separation, Salt.
