YES, Kraft peanut butter is safe for dogs, but there are a few things you should know before feeding your pup this tasty treat! Here’s what to look out for to keep fido healthy and safe.
What Makes Kraft Peanut Butter OK For Dogs?
Wondering why this peanut butter is safe while others may not be? The answer is Xylitol. This is an artificial sweetener which often included in foods to make them reduced or no sugar. While for humans, this is generally fine, it is NOT fine for dogs!
The good news is that Kraft peanut butter uses sugar, which is perfectly safe. However, it’s always a good idea to check the ingredients list every time you buy it. That’s because there’s no telling when a manufacturer may choose to change their recipe for cost or other reasons.
Be wary of any products which are advertised as “less sugar” or “no sugar”, as these products often include artificial sweeteners in place of natural sugars. This is a big no, no for your pooch.
Dogs that ingest Xylitol can experience a rapid release of insulin in their bodies. This sends blood sugar levels plummeting, and it can even be fatal if your dog does not get medical attention! The whole thing can happen in as little as 10 minutes, and that’s why it’s important to be watchful for sudden changes in your pup’s behavior.
If you think your dog may have accidentally ingested an artificial sweetener – call the vet! Then watch out for signs of weakness, lack of coordination, collapse, or seizures. If these symptoms appear, take them to the vet immediately.
Is Kraft Peanut Butter GOOD For Dogs?
In moderation, peanut butter is good for dogs. It offers lots of healthy fats and protein, but it also has a lot of calories. Many dogs in America are obese, because their humans don’t understand that they need a LOT less calories than a person does.
Human foods are chock full of sugars and fats which fit our diets, but for a dog they are overkill. A 40 pound dog only needs to eat about 700 calories per day – there are 200 calories in 2 TBPS of peanut butter!!
As you can see, it’s very easy to over feed your dog if you give them too much people food. While giving them a treat is fine, just make sure it only happens occasionally, and you may want to mix things up by also offering them healthier fruits and veggies like pumpkin as a treat too.
How Much Peanut Butter Can I Give My Dog?
While this depends on the size of the dog, remember our calorie problem. No more than 10% of your dogs diet should consist of treats, or things which are not their actual “food”.
For a 40 pound dog, that’s likely 70 calories or so. That means giving them more than a TBPS of peanut butter is not really advisable.
Many pet parents like to put a bit in a kong toy and freeze it. This gives your dog something to do while you’re out at work or running errands, and it makes the treat last much longer without over feeding.
Kraft Peanut Butter Ingredients List
(OK for Dogs!)
Select Roasted Peanuts, Soybean Oil, Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Cotton Seed And Rapeseed Oil), Salt, Mono- And Diglycerides.
