You’re spreading almond butter on your toast, but is it OK to share a lick or two with your drooling pup? Well, that depends, says Dr. Emily Singler, VMD, Fetch’s on-staff veterinarian.
While all-natural almond butter isn’t toxic to dogs, you’ll have to pay close attention to the label and avoid certain ingredients before giving your pup a lick.
(Even though almond butter is generally safe for your pet, always consult your vet before introducing new foods to their diet.)
Occasional, small amounts of almond butter (less than 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake) are safe for dogs to enjoy and offer several health benefits like protein, fiber, vitamin E and magnesium. But, as we mentioned before, you’ll want to look at the ingredients label first.
“If almond butter is sweetened with xylitol, this must be avoided, as it’s very toxic to dogs,” Dr. Singler explains. “Some kinds of almond butter are mixed with chocolate. These should also be avoided due to chocolate toxicity in dogs.”
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Both almonds and almond butter are high in fat, which can cause gastroenteritis (signs include vomiting, diarrhea and bloody stool) and pancreatitis, which can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain and severe sickness, Dr. Singler shares. That’s why it’s important to serve this snack as an occasional treat.
“Don’t serve more than 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon at a time, depending on the size of the dog,” Dr. Singler explains. “Dogs prone to pancreatitis or with very sensitive stomachs shouldn’t eat almond butter.”
Similar to how you might give your pup peanut butter, almond butter can be served in their bowl or a rubber toy, Dr. Singler says. If you want to give your dog a lick off your spoon, be sure they don’t eat the utensil, too.
We’re confident that almond butter isn’t the only human food your dog would love to sink their teeth into (cue the drool). Check out our series “Can dogs eat ... ?” to learn more about which human foods are off-limits and what’s fair game.
The Dig, Fetch Pet Insurance's expert-backed editorial, answers all of the questions you forget to ask your vet or are too embarrassed to ask at the dog park. We help make sure you and your best friend have more good days, but we’re there on bad days, too.
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