Dogs can enjoy the occasional spoon of peanut butter, it’s safe, it’s delicious and your pooch loves it! But what about almond butter, is almond butter safe for dogs, just like peanut butter is?
Now, we know that a lot of store-bought nut butters contain more than just nuts. There’s added oil, sugar, and a whole bunch of preservatives. Obviously, those aren’t good for you, let alone your dog. But we’re talking about natural nut butter, preferably the homemade kind.
Is pure almond butter safe for your pooch to enjoy as a little treat here and there?
Well, in this article we’re going to answer that question! But, before we start, we’d like to remind you that on our page you can find useful information on human food and if it’s safe for dogs. Some of the articles we’d recommend you read are:
- What fruits can dogs eat and which are toxic?
- Can Dogs Eat Spicy Food?
- What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
- Which Food Is Good Or Bad For Dogs?
Is almond butter safe for dogs?
There is no clear answer to the question can dogs eat almond butter. The thing is, generally speaking, almonds themselves are a bit of an issue.
You probably know that there are certain kinds of nuts that are absolutely toxic for dogs, like macadamia nuts for example. Now, when it comes to almonds they are somewhere in between. They aren’t as toxic as macadamia nuts, however, they aren’t as safe as peanuts either.
Now, even though almonds are not toxic, it is known that dogs kind of have an issue digesting them.
So, basically given that almonds aren’t super safe for dogs, almond butter isn’t either.
What makes almonds healthy
We need to stress that we’re not saying your dog absolutely should never eat almond butter, however, it should be kept in moderation.
Dogs can occasionally consume natural almond butter that has no added sugar, or even worse the additive xylitol which is toxic to dogs. After all, almonds are healthy.
Almonds have a good dose of protein, vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. Besides this, they also contain copper, vitamin B2 also known as riboflavin, and phosphorous.
Almonds are also high in an antioxidant called phytic acid. This acid is basically a substance that binds certain minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
The issue with almond butter
Given that almonds are so healthy, what’s the issue then? Well, your dog simply can’t digest almonds properly. Your dog probably loves the taste of almonds, but consuming these nuts will probably cause gastric intestinal distress for them.
Very small amounts of almond butter are okay, however, if your dog consumes too much they might experience the following symptoms:
- General discomfort
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
If you know your dog ate only a small amount of almonds or almond butter, there is no need to panic. Your dog will most likely be okay and won’t have any GI problems.
However, if your dog consumed large amounts of almonds please watch out for the above-mentioned symptoms and contact our veterinarian as soon as possible! Let your vet know exactly what happened and how your dog is behaving. Your veterinarian will most likely have you bring your dog in for a check-up.
Conclusion
In conclusion, is almond butter safe for dogs? The best answer we can give you is maybe! It all depends on how much almond butter your dog consumes and if it was natural almond butter your dog ate.
Generally speaking, almonds are very hard for your dog’s system to digest, so we would advise you not to feed your dog almond butter nor almonds.
There are many other delicious treats you can give your dog without any risks or dangers to their health.
We also have a few recipes on dog-friendly delicious treats:
- Dog Ice Cream: The perfect treat for your pooch!
- How to make a dog cake: What you need to know
- Here’s An Incredibly Easy Dog Birthday Cake Recipe
Or, if you don’t want to make a cake or ice cream for your dog, you can always share some blueberries, apples, or even pineapple with your canine friend!