Can dogs eat almond butter and enjoy the same benefits that human beings do? After all, almond is, indeed, extremely healthy nut that is rich in various nutrients. In fact, almond also plays a crucial part in the vegan lifestyle.
The almond is particularly appealing due to its pleasant flavor, silky texture, and health benefits. Nut butter and spreads can be produced from almost any type of nut.
Almond butter is a healthier alternative to regular peanut butter and can also be used as a hair and skin lotion. Almond butter is widely used and well accepted. But, the main question here is whether you can feed your pet dog almond butter safely.
The answer is – yes, dogs can eat almond butter. In fact, dogs are likely to be safer eating almond butter rather than eating peanut butter. However, almond butter is only healthy for your pet dog in moderate quantities.
Exceeding that quantity brings with it a host of health issues and problems. In this article, we will explore everything there is to know about feeding almond butter to your pet dog. Keep reading to become the nut butter hero in your pet dog’s eyes!
Table of Contents
Can Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
Almond butter is quite safe for dogs to eat in the right quantities. Not only is it safe and delicious for your pupper, but it also brings with it a host of nutrients that are vital to your pet dog’s healthy growth and physical development!
It contains a large percentage of vitamin E, as well as dietary fiber. Almond butter is also a fantastic addition to your pet dog’s diet because it needs a lot of vitamin E for healthy skin and a lush and flowing coat of fur.
The fact is that human beings use almond oil or almond butter in their cosmetic products to source the benefits of it on their skin. Research tells us that when given to a puppy, the vitamin E and nutrients in almond butter may be beneficial for dogs in the same manner.
Your dog’s hair and skin are essential for its overall health. If not handled and cared for properly, a dog’s skin can become itchy, dry, flaky, and inflamed, as well as cause a variety of other problems.
Almond Butter Nutritional Facts and the Health Benefits it Offers Your Pet Dog.
Almonds are a nutrient-dense, low-carbohydrate food that may be cooked with or consumed raw by your dog. You can get salted, unsalted, raw, or roasted almonds. They can be processed into almond meals, converted into almond butter, or made into almond milk.
Almonds, both raw and roasted, when eaten plain and salt-free, are beneficial for dogs who have a genetic or environmental tendency to develop blood pressure issues and hypertension. They are calorie-dense yet are healthful.
Excessive calorie consumption from almond butter can lead to weight gain, which is a risk factor for several ailments, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially in dog breeds such as labradors and golden retrievers.
If you are feeding your pet dog plain and pure almond butter, your dog can source the following nutrients from it!
Rich in carbohydrates
Almonds, like other nuts, are extremely dense in calories. In fact, of 16 grams of almond butter, about 3 grams are attributed to carbohydrates. However, almonds certainly serve as a rich source of carbohydrates.
Rich in healthy fats
Almonds are high in fat content. Therefore, it is vital to moderate the amount of almond butter that you feed your dog. Still, the advantage that almond butter offers is that these fats are extremely healthy.
Rich in protein
Almonds, albeit not the best source of protein in your pet dog’s daily diet, are still quite rich in protein. The disadvantage is that your dog will have to eat a lot of fat to get the benefit of the protein.
Rich in micronutrients
Potassium, calcium, manganese, and magnesium are all abundant micronutrients in almond butter. The sodium content of almond butter varies depending on whether it was prepared with added salt and how much was added during processing.
Almond butter also contains a lot of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that improves your pet dog’s immune response to sickness.
Therefore, undoubtedly almond is a good source of nutrition. But how much should you be feeding your pet dog? Keep reading to find out!
Can Dogs Have Almond Butter Safely?
Yes! Dogs can have almond butter safely. Not only is it an excellent source of much-needed nutrition, but it also makes for a highly palatable treat.
However, it would be best to remember that you can only include almond butter in your pet dog’s diet in restricted quantities.
But, before you begin including almond butter in your pet dog’s diet, you should check whether your furball can digest it properly. The reason is that many dogs have adverse allergic reactions to almonds.
You should offer a tiny quantity to your pet dog and observe it for a while. If your dog enjoys the taste without facing any allergic reactions from the almonds in the butter, you can gradually increase the amount you feed it.
Can Baby Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
Yes, baby dogs can eat almond butter, but only and only if almonds aren’t toxic to it. To check for any reactions that almonds could have on your puppy, feed it a small amount and watch for any adverse reactions to it.
If you notice any such reactions, you must consult the vet immediately and avoid feeding almond butter to it in the future.
Risks of Eating Almond Butter for Dogs
The main risk that you must consider when feeding almond butter to your pet dog is that of unhealthy ingredients that are often found in commercially available almond butter products.
These ingredients could be refined sugar, added salt for taste, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, thinning ingredients such as palm oil.
Other risks could be due to the natural properties of almonds themselves, such as their high content of fat (albeit healthy fats), naturally present toxins, and any allergic tendencies that your dog might have to almonds.
The risks of these ingredients have been discussed below so that are aware of how they could affect your beloved pooch!
Risk of refined sugar
Being canines, dogs’ bodies have evolved to source their nutrition from foods such as meat which are naturally devoid of sugar. Therefore, sugar is an unnecessary food for dogs and can have disastrous effects on their health.
Some common such effects are pancreatitis, obesity, behavioral issues caused due to excess amounts of energy, and dental issues.
Risk of salt
Salt is generally considered to be toxic for dogs. Not only can it cause acute dehydration in your canine friend but also poison it. If at all you notice any signs of dehydration in your dog, you must instantly consult your vet for medical intervention.
Risk of artificial sweeteners such as xylitol
Dogs are poisoned by xylitol, a sugar substitute. It adds sweetness without adding calories or sugar to the food. It’s a common ingredient in low-calorie, low-carb, and low-sugar dishes. It is generally harmless to eat for humans, but it can be lethal to dogs.
Xylitol tricks a dog’s body into believing it has consumed a large amount of sugar, causing a high insulin release. Hypoglycemia, liver failure, and death can occur if sugar is not present.
Risk of palm oil
Palm oil is used in many nut butter recipes to thin or smooth the butter’s consistency. It also serves as an inexpensive filler in a variety of dishes, diluting the nutty flavor and making it more appealing.
Palm oil is nutrient-dense and high in fat. When eaten in excess, it can cause weight gain as well as a laxative effect. If you’re buying almond butter for your dog, check sure it has no extra ingredients. Almonds should be the only ingredient on the list.
Risk of consuming too much fat that is naturally present in almonds
Almonds are rich in fats, as most other nuts are. Obesity and pancreatitis are two issues that can arise as a result of this. Almond butter has about 55 grams of fat per 100 grams.
Therefore, if your dog is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, immediately stop feeding them almonds or almond products.
Fat can also create an upset stomach if consumed in large quantities. You should provide only a tiny amount of almond butter on a regular basis, and that too, as a treat only.
Risk of natural toxins
Nuts that have become moldy or infected might be harmful to dogs. Aspergillus flavus, a toxin, is found in them. This toxin, in turn, creates another compound called aflatoxins.
Aflatoxin is found in many nuts, and while some levels appear to be acceptable for humans, it can have a different effect on dogs.
Aflatoxin poisoning can cause a lack of appetite and tiredness, among other symptoms. If your dog displays any such symptoms, you must contact a veterinarian at the earliest.
Is Almond Butter Good For Dogs?
Yes, almond butter can be good and healthy for your pet dog. But you must be careful about feeding it only pure and natural almond butter and that too, as a treat in highly restricted amounts.
Can dogs eat vanilla almond butter?
No, dogs cannot eat vanilla almond butter. The reason is that vanilla itself is extremely poisonous to dogs. Therefore, you should never feed your pet dog vanilla almond butter.
Can dogs eat Justin’s almond butter?
No, dogs cannot eat Justin’s almond butter. Justin’s almond butter contains palm oil as a thinning ingredient in it, which is known to be highly toxic to dogs.
Can dogs eat honey almond butter?
You should avoid feeding honey almond butter to your pet dog since most products contain added chemicals and sugar. These can cause weight gain and dental problems for your pooch.
Can dogs eat almond butter instead of peanut butter?
Yes, dogs can eat almond butter instead of peanut butter. In fact, almond butter has higher percentages of Vitamin E and a few other micronutrients.
These can offer significantly more benefits than peanut butter does to your pet dog. Therefore, switching to almond butter as a treat for your pet dog is certainly a great option.
How Often Can A Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
While you can feed almond butter to your dogs every day, you should seldom exceed half a teaspoon of it as a treat. Overfeeding almond butter to your pet dog can cause obesity. Further, you should only feed it completely pure and natural almond butter.
Almond butter is a great treat for your dog. It offers immense health and nutrition benefits while also being delectable in taste.
Almond butter is a great treat for your dog. It offers immense health and nutrition benefits while also being delectable in taste.
However, almond butter is only healthy for your pet dog in restricted quantities. Being a nut, almonds are rich in fat, and overeating them could cause your pet dog to become obese.
FAQs
Can dogs eat almond butter, according to the AKC?
The AKC advises pet owners to feed only tiny amounts of almond butter to their pet dogs.
Can dogs eat peanut butter crackers?
No, dogs can’t eat peanut butter crackers since the added ingredients in these products are harmful to them.
Can dogs eat wheat thins?
No, dogs cannot eat wheat thins. Wheat thins contain large amounts of sugar, salt, and other flavoring substances, which could harm your pet dog’s health.
Can dogs eat goldfish crackers?
Can dogs eat graham crackers?
You should avoid feeding graham crackers to your pet dog.
