Before I got a Labradoodle I know it was important that I researched more about them. And one thing I was curious to know was if Labradoodles can eat peanut butter.
So, can Labradoodles eat peanut butter? Labradoodles can eat peanut butter in moderate amounts due to the high-calorie numbers in peanut butter. Some individual Labradoodles might also be allergic to peanut butter as well, so it is advisable to be cautious at first.
Before feeding you Labradoodle peanut butter, there are a few things to be considered as well. Things such as the type of peanut butter, potential benefits, and if there are any risks at all that can factor into giving your dog peanut butter.
What Type of Peanut Butter is Best?
Previously you could give your Labradoodle pretty much whatever kind of peanut butter you could find, but that isn’t the case any longer.
If you’ve ever watched peanut butter left overnight, you will notice that it starts to separate. This is because the oil will move to the top of the jar and the rest of the peanut butter will slowly sink toward the bottom.
The reason for that is because when peanuts are ground up, they release their oil and that oil will start to separate when left to sit for a bit. This is not something you should be worried about as it only means that your peanut butter is more natural.
So if you’ve bought some peanut butter in the store, and you don’t notice any oil that start rising to the top, that is a sign that it quite possibly have different types of hydrogenated fats and/or oils added in. This is less than ideal for a dog.
And on top of that, there are also some types of peanut butter that have moved away from the natural process and have begun adding in many different artificial sweeteners, including one called xylitol.
Xylitol is a common ingredient in sugar-free chewing gums, candies, mints, diabetes-friendly foods and oral-care products.
But while this sweetener is safe for human consumption, it is extremely dangerous for Labradoodles.
If a Labradoodles consumes any xylitol, it can cause a rapid increase in insulin, which can lead to a quick decrease in the blood sugar levels of your dog. This is a condition known as hypoglycemia that can happen within 10 minutes to an hour after consumption, and it’s extremely dangerous to dogs if not dealt with properly.
The list of symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs is quite extensive, and include the following:
- Weakness or lethargy
- Depression
- Walking drunk
- Acute collapse
- Vomiting
- Trembling or tremoring
- Seizures
- A racing heart rate
- Jaundiced gums
- Black-tarry stool
- Diarrhea
- Bruising
- Abnormal mentation
- Clotting problems
- Death
But thankfully there is an easy way to avoid any of these symptoms. Simply check the ingredients and label on your jar of peanut butter, and see if it contains any xylitol or some other form of artificial sweetener. If there is an artificial sweetener in it, I would strongly advise that you ditch it and get a new and better product.
When it comes to peanut butter, there are many options to choose from.
No specific brand can be considered better or worse for your Labradoodle, as long as you make sure to be aware of the potential threats, you, and your, dog should be fine.
So it is recommended to get the most natural, unsalted product you can find, seeing as there is less of a risk factor for your dog when you decide he/she deserves a delicious treat.
Benefits of Consuming Peanut Butter
So now that we’ve established what to be careful of when selecting peanut butter for your Doodle, let’s take a look at some of the benefits a good and natural peanut butter can provide.
First, here is a list of the good things about peanut butter.
- High in vitamin B and E.
- High in protein.
- It contains some healthy fats.
- Dogs usually aren’t allergic to peanut butter
- It’s perfect for KONG treats.
- It can be used to help your dog swallow medicine.
- Contains niacin.
These are all things that make peanut butter a really great treat for your Labradoodle. Obviously we want to give our dogs treats that are packed with vitamins and minerals to help prolong their life.
There are also numerous fun and creative ways that you can serve peanut butter to your poodle that will him/her love it as a great and easy treat.
But there are also certain risks to be aware of before feeding your DOodle peanut butter.
Potential Risks of Consuming Peanut Butter
Peanut butter can indeed be a great treat for Labradoodles, but there are also some potential risks involved with it, besides the artificial sweeteners we’ve already looked at.
Some of these risks of giving peanut butter to your Labradoodle are:
- It’s high in calories and fat which can lead to obesity.
- Sweetened peanut butter contains Xylitol which is poisonous for Labradoodles.
- Crunchy variants can be hazardous to small dogs when they might risk choking on the peanuts.
- It has been linked with causing pancreatitis.
- It contains aflatoxins which are a known cause of cancer.
So as you can see there are quite many dangerous side effects that can cause harm to your Labradoodles’ health.
And while some of these side effects do seem to be a bit on the extreme side of things, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for your dog to run into any of these problems.
That is also why it is so important to give your Doodle peanut butter in moderate amounts if you have to give it to him/ her at all.
Giving Peanut Butter to a Labradoodle
Now that we’ve established what kind of peanut butters you should purchase and which you should be careful of, lets look at the best way to feed your Labradoodle peanut butter.
How much peanut butter you can give your dog, depends on the size of your Doodle. The larger your dog, the more peanut butter should he/she be able to have.
There are roughly two sizes of Labradoodles, standard and mini, and they will each be allowed to have these different amount every day.
| Tablespoons per day (at most) | |
| Standard Labradoodle | 1 tbsp |
| Mini Labradoodle | 3/4 tbsp |
As you can see it’s not entirely record-breaking amounts. of peanut butter that you should give to your Labradoodle. And if you own a quite small standard Labradoodle you should lean moret towards the mini Doodle servings on the scale.
Kong Toys
If you want a fun a challenging way to give your Doodle peanut butter, look no further than the product line from KONG toys.
KONG toys are extremely popular for dogs, and the most common type of food that’s placed inside a KONG toy is actually peanut butter.
But is it safe?
Yes, it very much is. More often than not, it will take quite some time for your Labradoodle to get all the way to the peanut butter hidden inside the toy.
This is especially great for Labradoodles due to their high energy levels. And these KONG toys can help a Labradoodle settle down a bit and use some mental energy instead of the regular physical. And such a toy also allows for your Doodle to receive a treat.
If you are afraid of giving too much peanut butter to your Labradoodle, then just make sure not to fill the toy all the way up.
Place just enough peanut butter in the KONG toy to fit their recommended daily serving and you will easily be able to monitor and make sure that your dog isn’t getting too much peanut butter.
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If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
