Peanut butter is a popular treat for dogs worldwide, but can huskies eat peanut butter safely?
Huskies can eat peanut butter in moderation (1 to 2 teaspoons per day at most), but it’s important to check for xylitol in the ingredients, as this is highly toxic to dogs. It’s also preferable to use peanut butter that isn’t high in salt or palm oil, as these can have negative effects if ingested in large amounts.
Natural or organic peanut butter is best, and in this guide, I’ll take you through everything there is to know about feeding huskies peanut butter.
Allergies – Be aware that some huskies can be allergic to peanut butter. Symptoms include red and itchy skin, bald spots, excessive licking and more. If you suspect your husky has had a reaction, take them to your veterinarian immediately.
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Essential Things To Know Before You Feed Your Husky Peanut Butter
Before you feed your husky peanut butter, check if it contains xylitol.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute added to peanut butter products to make them taste sweeter.
Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs; even very small amounts can cause hypoglycemia, seizures, liver failure, and other issues.
What Types Of Peanut Butter Contain Xylitol?
Luckily for us husky owners, most big-name peanut butter brands like Jif or Skippy don’t add xylitol to their peanut butter but always check the label first.
The best peanut butter for huskies contains just peanuts and nothing else.
Here’s a list of some brands that are known to contain xylitol:
- Nuts ‘N More
- Go Nuts
- P28 Foods
- No Cow
This list isn’t exhaustive; obviously, always check before you buy.
What About Salt & Palm Oil?
Some peanut butter contains lots of salt and palm oil, which are technically edible for your husky but not ideal.
If your husky has too much salt, it can make them thirsty and lead to salt toxicosis in severe cases.
There isn’t a big risk of this from peanut butter alone, but it’s still best to err on the side of caution and offer them natural peanut butter with as little salt or preservatives as possible to be safe.
Palm oil can also have negative effects if fed in large quantities, leading to a laxative effect. But again, there is little risk from a regular serving of peanut butter.
Can Huskies Eat Jif Peanut Butter?
Jifs doesn’t contain xylitol, so your husky can technically eat it without severe consequences.
It does contain a lot of salt, though, with roughly 150mg per serving. It also contains palm oil, which is not ideal.
I’d recommend feeding your husky a natural peanut butter containing as little salt as possible instead.
The absolute best peanut butter is one that you make yourself, but look out for natural and organic peanut butter in shops and always check the ingredients first when buying peanut butter for your husky.
Why Huskies Can Eat Peanut Butter
Assuming the peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, it’s completely safe for huskies to eat because it contains peanuts as the main ingredient, which are not harmful to dogs.
It should be fed in moderation because peanut butter is very calorie-dense and can contain unwanted ingredients like salt and palm oil that can cause issues if fed excessively.
Nutritional Benefits
Here’s a quick rundown of the nutritional content of 100 grams of peanut butter (Healthline source):
- 22 Grams of carbs, 5 of which are fiber
- 22.5 Grams of protein
- 51 Grams of fat
- Around 600 calories, depending on the brand
When looking at a husky’s diet, protein should make up the bulk of their calories.
Peanut butter does contain a fair amount of protein, but its fat content overshadows it.
Why Do Huskies Like Peanut Butter?
Huskies love peanut butter because of the natural flavor and the nutty smell, as well as the rich fat content.
Why huskies like this specific flavor is anyone’s guess, but it is something that the vast majority of dogs also like to eat, so we can’t deny it!
It’s also great for mental stimulation because they can spend a while licking it off a spoon of their favorite toy.
How To Feed Huskies Peanut Butter
There are a couple of ways to feed your husky peanut butter, and it’s good to change it up from time to time.
All Natural, Organic Peanut Butter
The safest way to feed your husky peanut butter on its own is to use organic peanut butter with no added sweeteners, salt, or preservatives. In an ideal world, homemade peanut butter would be best but this isn’t very practical.
You can add a teaspoon as a topping to their dry food or offer it as a treat during obedience training; it’s really up to you.
Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Peanut butter-flavored dog treats are one of the best ways to give your husky a peanut butter taste without worrying about other ingredients that might’ve been added.
These treats are designed to be perfectly safe for huskies (in moderation).
See our other husky treat recommendations here.
For Mental Stimulation
One of my favorite ways to feed my huskies peanut butter is by spreading it on one of their chew toys.
This gives them extra mental stimulation because it can take a long time for them to lick it all off.
How Much Peanut Butter Can Huskies Eat?
First and foremost, peanut butter should only be fed as a treat to supplement a main diet consisting of dry food – it should never replace meals.
This is because peanut butter contains a lot of fat, which is beneficial for huskies but not in large amounts.
Secondly, peanut butter shouldn’t be fed too often if it contains salt or palm oil as these can have a negative effect on their health.
A good rule of thumb is to offer your husky one teaspoon of peanut butter (ideally organic with no added ingredients) once or twice daily, but no more.
This keeps it in moderation and maintains the bulk of their diet coming from complete nutritional dog food.
What Happens If You Feed Your Husky Too Much Peanut Butter?
Feeding your husky too much peanut butter in one sitting won’t significantly impact them, assuming it is a one-off occasion and the peanut butter doesn’t contain salt or palm oil.
Feeding Them Too Much Peanut Butter Regularly
If you feed your husky too much peanut butter regularly, i.e., when it starts to take a significant proportion of their calories, it can have a negative impact on their overall health.
This is because husky dog food is designed to be nutritionally complete and high in protein specifically, whereas peanut butter isn’t and contains a large proportion of fat.
Excessive peanut butter can lead to weight gain and even pancreatitis in severe cases due to the sheer amount of fat they will be consuming.
If It Contains Salt/Palm Oil
Feeding your husky too much peanut butter that is high in salt could lead to salt toxicosis. This is unlikely, though, assuming you didn’t feed them a huge amount and they have access to fresh water.
If the peanut butter contains palm oil, it can impact the stomach and lead to diarrhea through a laxative effect.
If you’re worried that you might have fed your husky too much peanut butter and they are starting to show signs of a medical problem, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
In Summary
Peanut butter is an excellent snack for huskies, but you need to do your research to ensure you are feeding your husky the right amount of peanut butter and the correct type of it.
Avoid peanut butter containing xylitol; ideally, choose peanut butter with no added salt, palm oil, or preservatives. Feed it as a treat and stick to the rule of one to two teaspoons daily.
Want to learn about other husky snacks? Check out some of our other articles below for some quick and easy foods you can give your husky:
