Almond butter, like peanut butter, is a satisfying and nutritious nut butter many enjoy. It can be used as a good spread, among other things.
Like peanut butter, you can also eat it on a scoop or spoon.
Because most dogs enjoy peanut butter as a snack, you may wonder if almond butter is a safe alternative.
So, can dogs also eat almond butter?
In this article, you’ll learn about whether or not dogs can eat almond butter. You’ll also learn about the various health benefits or harmful effects eating this food can have on our dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
The short answer is maybe. Dogs can eat almond butter, but it should only be in small amounts.
Almond butter can be an okay food for dogs. But at the same time, it can also be harmful food. Read on to discover why this is so you can keep your doggos safe and healthy.
But before we get started, it is important to know that there are two types of almond butter: natural and artificial. The latter is most likely bad for your dog.
Why Almond Butter Can Be Harmful To Dogs
It is important to remember that almond butter is still high in sugar, especially artificial almond butter. And this could be very dangerous to dogs.
That is especially true if you feed them large amounts of almond butter. Feeding too much sugar to dogs can cause trouble for their health. It puts them at risk of having diabetes, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), or even weight gain.
Almond butter is also high in fats, which are bad for dogs.
Fats can lead to numerous health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, kidney issues, etc. And the fats found in almond butter are unhealthy fats, but it has a few healthy fats.
Artificial Almond Butter And Xylitol
Some artificial almond butter may also be toxic to dogs due to its ingredients. Certain artificial almond butter may contain Xylitol.
Xylitol is an ingredient that acts as an artificial sweetener to decrease the calorie of foods yet maintain sweetness simultaneously. Foods containing Xylitol must never be fed to dogs.
Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycemia or a significant decrease in the blood sugar levels of dogs. This condition can be fatal to dogs.
Xylitol can also directly and possibly severely damage the liver. This can be harmful to dogs and pretty much every animal.
Benefits Of Almond Butter
In healthy amounts, almond butter may also have some nutritional benefits to dogs. It is rich in Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, and Calcium.
- Vitamin B3 helps keep your dog’s fur healthy, strong, and shiny and supports the liver and the eyes.
- Vitamin B6 can improve the nerve function of dogs.
- Vitamin E is good for preventing eye and muscle degeneration.
- Zinc is a mineral that promotes healthy joints and regulates a dog’s metabolism.
- Magnesium regulates metabolism and helps in a dog’s neurotransmission.
- Iron is a mineral that helps carry in the hemoglobin of red blood cells.
- Calcium helps develop bones and teeth. Almond butter may be a good source of calcium for lactose-intolerant dogs.
Along with peanut butter and cashew butter, almond butter is an okay food for dogs as long as it’s in moderation and without Xylitol.
Only feed almond butter to dogs in small amounts. Overfeeding almond butter will harm your pup’s body and may cause conditions such as diabetes.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy Or Harmful For Dogs
This article is a part of our series of articles called “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Find out “Can dogs eat beets” in our next article in the series.