From chocolate chip to biscotti to peanut butter cookies, these are favored snacks that pair well with a glass of milk- not forgetting the dunking.
It’s Santa’s favorite snack too!
Whether you prefer your peanut butter cookie light and crunchy or soft and chewy, your furry friend will want to join in every time you take a bite.
If such a situation leaves you in a dilemma, worry not, as you are in the right place.
So, can dogs have peanut butter cookies?
Yes.
Giving your dog some peanut butter cookies as a treat or reward for good behavior will not harm it.
Just ensure you feed it to your dog in moderation.
Plus, the peanut butter mixed in the cookie dough will be an excellent source of vitamins, protein, and healthy fats, adding some healthy kick to your dog’s body.
This article will dig deep into the benefits, health concerns, and tips you need to know before feeding your canine friend peanut butter cookies.
Health benefits of peanut butter cookies for dogs
Peanut butter is the main ingredient in these cookies. It will be the sole source of nutrients that will benefit your dog.
Peanut butter is full of protein, aiding your dog’s muscle growth and repair. It also supports a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B3 is found in peanut butter and aids in breaking down the sugars and fats in your dog’s body into useful energy. Your dog will be high in energy with peanut butter in its diet. Vitamin B3 will also maintain a healthy digestive tract, boosts brain function, and is a catalyst for hormone production in dogs.
Peanut butter is a good source of folic acid, essential in forming red blood cells in the bone marrow and producing DNA.
Peanut butter is also high in vitamins E and B7, maintaining healthy muscles, eyes, coat, nails, and skin. Vitamin E also promotes healthy cells and can aid in preventing arthritis in dogs.
Health concerns of feeding your dog peanut butter cookies
Your dog can be allergic to peanuts, wheat, and flour. Consumption of peanut butter cookies will lead to an allergic reaction with symptoms such as red itchy skin rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing in severe cases. Always watch your dog closely to monitor any sign of an allergic reaction.
Peanut butter has a high-fat content that can lead to weight gain in your dog. If you are concerned about your dog’s weight, portion control will be key for snacks with peanut butter.
Adding raisins to the peanut butter cookies can cause kidney failure as it is toxic to dogs. The signs of a raisin reaction include abdominal pain, dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea within 6 to 12 hours.
Peanut butter cookies are high in carbohydrates which can cause a spike in dogs’ blood sugar. If your dog is on medication or is diabetic, high blood sugar puts it at risk.
Added sugar in peanut butter cookies will lead to weight gain, causing heart disease, respiratory issues, joint problems, and lethargy in dogs.
Some peanut butter cookies contain macadamia nuts and chocolate pieces, which are not safe for dogs as they also cause poisoning. Ingestion of these ingredients by dogs will cause vomiting, weakness, hypothermia, and diarrhea.
Some peanut butter contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Xylitol causes hypoglycemia (drop in blood sugar) which can be life-threatening to your dog. It can also cause seizures and liver failure.
Simple peanut butter cookie recipe for dogs
Ingredients
1 cup natural (xylitol-free) peanut butter
3 cups whole wheat flour
Two large eggs
1 ½ cup of water
Two tablespoon honey
One tablespoon of baking powder
Instructions
Step 1: Mix all the ingredients well till it makes a dough.
Step 2: Roll the dough to a thickness of ½ inch, then cut it into strips. You can also use shaped cookie cutters.
Step 3: Place the strips on a baking tray and bake at 350F for 25 minutes. Once done, let them cool and offer them to your dog.
How much peanut butter cookie should I feed my dog?
When offering your dog treats such as peanut butter cookies, you should follow the 90/10 rule.
Ninety percent of the dog’s daily calories should come from a full, balanced diet and the 10 percent from treats.
Peanut butter cookies shouldn’t exceed 10 percent of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
Give it once a week to monitor any adverse reaction your dog has, then increase it to twice a week.
It should be considered a splurge.
Can dogs eat peanut butter cookie dough?
No. When preparing peanut butter cookie dough with your dog nearby, it will be best to keep a watchful eye.
If your fur friend eats the dough, it will cause stomach bloating or twisted stomach in severe cases.
Peanut butter cookie dough also contains raw eggs, which can be toxic to dogs.
Signs of cookie dough ingestion
Elevated heart rate
Vomiting
Bloated abdomen
Low blood pressure
Seizures
Weakness
Respiratory failure
Coma
What to consider when feeding your dog peanut butter cookies
When baking the peanut butter cookies for your dog, choose an all-natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain harmful additives like xylitol and is low in sugar.
Swap out the sugar ingredient in your peanut butter cookie recipe and use honey instead.
Avoid feeding your dog peanut butter cookies if it has health problems like kidney disease, obesity, or special dietary requirements.
Moderation is key. Many pieces of peanut butter cookies can lead to negative health issues in dogs.
When buying peanut butter cookies for your dog, choose the ones that are low in fat and don’t have artificial sweeteners. Avoid cookies containing macadamia nuts and raisins.
Homemade peanut butter cookies will best fit your dog as you will know what is in your pet’s snack. Don’t add preservatives or too much salt and sugar.
Call your vet immediately for assistance if your dog has an allergic reaction to the peanut butter or ingests bread dough.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
