Why Peanut Butter is Harmful For Your Dog
Dogs and peanut butter aren’t a great fit. While most dogs enjoy peanut butter stuffing in play toys, it is poisonous for your furry friends. Peanut butter contains a poisonous ingredient known as xylitol – a common sugar substrate found in candy and gum. Though safe for human consumption, this sugar substrate is toxic for your furry friends and might be life-threatening.
Dangers of Xylitol Poisoning
If you suspect your furry friend has ingested peanut butter accidentally, or you intentionally placed peanut butter inside their play toys, check the ingredients to ensure there is no xylitol present. Dogs that have consumed xylitol often require immediate veterinary treatment. This is important as xylitol poisoning might cause seizures and liver failure.
Without immediate treatment, xylitol poising can be fatal. Therefore, if you suspect your dog has accidentally ingested peanut butter, contact your vet immediately before the condition worsens. Some of the common symptoms to check out for include tremors, vomiting, difficulty walking, and muscle weakness.
Toxic peanut butter brands for dogs
Some of the peanut butter brands known to contain high amounts of xylitol include P28 Foods, Nuts ‘N’ More, Krush Nutrition, and Go Nuts. However, peanut butter brands that don’t contain xylitol are safe for pets. In fact, they are awesome treats for your furry friends – just remember to check the label. As a suggestion, you should shop for a peanut-butter that is pet friendly.
Symptoms your dog might need emergency medical treatment
Dogs usually exhibit several signs to indicate a potential medical attention when they have ingested a toxic substance. For starters, if your furry friend exhibits seizures, unconsciousness, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, pale gums, and high fever, then you should visit the vet immediately to get proper treatment.
What to look out for when shopping for peanut butter
As you shop for groceries and other household essentials, it is important to avoid peanut butter brands with ‘’xyl’’ on the bottle as an ingredient. These letters stand for xylitol – a toxic sugary substrate that can harm your dog’s overall health.
That said, you should avoid all products that contains these ingredients; xylitylglucoside, D-xylitol, anhyroxylitol, xylite, and 4-Anhydro-D-xylitol. Avoid products that contains these big words on the ingredient section as they are a health risk to your dog.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, if your dog accidentally ingests peanut butter you should visit the vet immediately as this might be toxic for your furry friend.
References: Modern Dog Magazine, Aspca Pet Insurance , Preventivevet
