Can pets eat peanut butter?
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | Fine — unless it contains xylitol, in which case it is an emergency. |
| Cats | In moderation | Harmless in small amounts and of no nutritional interest to a cat. |
What it actually does
Plain peanut butter is fat and protein, and a spoonful is a normal training reward. The entire risk sits in the ingredients list: some sugar-free and "no added sugar" brands are sweetened with xylitol, which is one of the most dangerous substances a dog can eat, and peanut butter is the commonest route to it because it is what people use to hide tablets and fill lick mats. Read the jar before every new brand.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
The bit that is usually got wrong
Check for xylitol — also labelled birch sugar or E967 — every time you buy a different jar.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Store cupboard
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia nuts | Toxic | Toxic | Risky |
| Salt, salt dough and sea water | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Raw bread dough | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Bread | Not safe | In moderation | In moderation |
| Popcorn | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat peanut butter?
- Fine in small amounts. Fine — unless it contains xylitol, in which case it is an emergency.
- Can cats eat peanut butter?
- Fine in small amounts. Harmless in small amounts and of no nutritional interest to a cat.
- What does peanut butter actually do?
- Plain peanut butter is fat and protein, and a spoonful is a normal training reward. The entire risk sits in the ingredients list: some sugar-free and "no added sugar" brands are sweetened with xylitol, which is one of the most dangerous substances a dog can eat, and peanut butter is the commonest route to it because it is what people use to hide tablets and fill lick mats. Read the jar before every new brand.
Related pages
- Can pets eat macadamia nuts? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat salt, salt dough and sea water? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
- Can pets eat raw bread dough? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat bread? Not safe
- Can pets eat popcorn? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods