While peanut butter is frequently recommended as a top-tier treat for dogs, you might be wondering, is it truly safe for your husky?
After all, aren’t nuts supposed to be harmful to dogs… This article is here to dissolve all the confusion. For a fast answer, just scroll down.
Can huskies eat peanut butter? Yes, huskies can eat peanut butter so long as it does not contain Xylitol, a harmful artificial sweetener, or high salt content.
Table of Contents
Can Huskies Eat Peanuts & Other Nuts?
Well, all nuts are different and it’s very true that some nuts are highly toxic for dogs, and some others are not.
When it comes to peanuts specifically, they are not a nut! Peanuts are technically a Legume, an edible seed that grows in a pod from a plant. Harvard University
Peanuts are safe for dogs and always have been.
This doesn’t mean to say that some dogs may react badly to peanuts, but in terms of safety, it’s a green light.
Remember! All dogs are different and your husky may not react well to nuts (even peanuts) that are supposed to be “safe” for dogs.
So, before giving your husky a handful of cashews, you should always do a small test amount first. Toxic nuts should, of course, always be avoided no matter what.
According to PetMD and Dogster:
Nuts that are safe for huskies to eat:
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
Nuts that are NOT safe for huskies to eat:
- Walnuts (especially “black” walnuts)
- Macadamia nuts
- Pecans
- Pistachio (technically not toxic, but fat content is too high)
The exact science behind why some nuts are highly toxic and some others aren’t is not entirely known.
Some of the reasons are based on the fat content of the nut, and some nuts will cause havoc on your dog’s stomach just because of that.
And then you have nuts like macadamia nuts, which again, for reasons unknown, can cause short-term severe neurological issues in dogs, even after ingesting a very small amount.
To be on the safe side, only ever stick to the nuts that are generally deemed to be safe, and even then, be cautious.
Huskies, Peanut Butter and Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in hundreds of products we use regularly.
Xylitol is classed as an “all-natural” ingredient, which means more and more brands are using it to replace sugar and make their products “healthier”. Because of this, Xylitol is being adopted by new brands every day.
The big issue is that it’s highly toxic for dogs.
Your dog should not ingest anything with Xylitol in it, even in the smallest amount.
Xylitol will cause numerous health issues for any dog and in a big enough dose (we are talking a matter of grams) could cause complete destruction of various cells in different parts of your dog’s body.
Here’s the list of some peanut butter brands that use Xylitol:
- P28
- Go Nuts Co
- Krush Nutrition
- Nuts N More
- No Cow
- Protein Plus PB
P.S This list is forever changing, and more are being added every day, always check your peanut butter!
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How Much Peanut Butter Can You Give?
The next common question is how much peanut butter can you actually give to your husky? how much is too much?
Peanut butter should be reserved for special occasions so you can keep it as a high-value treat. It’s not suitable to be a part of his regular diet.
Bearing in mind that peanut butter isn’t actually made for dogs, there isn’t a set “amount” for me to tell you. So all we can do is be sensible and take into consideration the calories and nutrition that your husky already consumes throughout his day.
Peanut butter has a high-fat content and therefore contains a lot of calories for what actually seems like a small amount. This is where you have to be careful, too many calories every day and your husky could start becoming overweight. Or worse, it could start affecting his normal eating habits in a negative way.
While fat is an important part of the nutritional makeup in huskies, too much fat is never good and will cause havoc on your husky’s sensitive stomach. Fat is harder to digest a.nd will irritate his digestive system if he consumes too much.
If you want to give your husky some peanut butter, that’s fine, but then it’s important to cut back on any other treats he would have normally consumed. You must substitute treats, not continually add more in, otherwise, he will definitely be consuming too many calories.
When Can You Give Peanut Butter To Your Husky
If you’re desperate to try out peanut butter, you may as well use this moment to your advantage. Peanut butter is loved by most dogs and this makes it a fantastic training treat.
Your husky will be inclined to follow training attentively and enthusiastically if he knows he’s going to be rewarded with a taste of peanut butter. Try it out the next time you run through basic command training.
Another clever way to use peanut butter is when you need to trim his nails or clean his ears.
Despite being necessary, most dogs do not enjoy this process and will usually give you a hard time. However, smear a thin layer of peanut butter over a wide dinner plate, offer it to him while he’s laying down, and you’ve just got yourself the perfect distraction. His nails and ears are all yours.
The last way you can use peanut butter is to help encourage him to eat his meals.
Now, it’s important to know that this shouldn’t be done every day for the reasons we already discussed. But if your husky is having a hard time eating his meals, try hiding a small dollop of peanut butter in with his kibble every now and then. This will keep him interested.
Watch How Your Husky Reacts After Eating Peanut Butter
As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to give your husky a small test amount of peanut butter first to make sure he doesn’t have reactions.
Even if you opt for peanut butter that does not contain Xylitol or salt, your husky could still have a peanut allergy. So small test amounts are very important.
But it doesn’t stop there, you should always be aware of the moments you give peanut butter to your husky and watch him closely afterward.
If your husky starts showing the following signs, you should be ready to call a veterinarian for further help.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Excessive itching or scratching
- Excessive sneezing
- Frequent licking
- Rashes or red patchy skin
- Unusual behavior and sudden change in temperament
These are all signs that could indicate your husky has either ingested a harmful ingredient within the peanut butter or that he is suffering from an allergic reaction. Either way, it’s important to contact your veterinarian
Summary
So there you have it, you now know that huskies can eat peanut butter, so long as there is no Xylitol contained and that you are offering a limited salt version. Always remember that your husky still may have a peanut allergy, so always start by giving a small amount!
Disclaimer
The advice given in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice in any context. Before making any decisions that may affect the health and/or safety of your dog, you should always consult a trained veterinarian in your local area. For the FULL disclaimer Visit HereCopyright Notice: The content produced and published on My Happy Husky is unique and original. My Happy Husky makes an active effort to search for plagiarized content using plagiarism detection software. If plagiarized content is found, action will be taken.