Can Chihuahuas Eat Peanut Butter? [Feeding Guide!]

Peanut butter is a childhood favorite of many. It’s one of those things you can never have enough, no matter how many times people try to tell me otherwise!

It is the perfect snack for humans, but what about chihuahuas? Can they enjoy a peanut butter sandwich or cookies made with this delicious spread too?

As it turns out – yes. Chihuahuas can eat peanut butter. They are a good source of protein and vitamins. However, not all peanut butter is safe for dogs as some contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs. You should always check for the ingredients and better look for PBs with fewer preservatives.

In this blog post, we’ll cover everything from their nutritional value, how much to give, the types of peanut butter your chihuahua can eat, and more.

Let’s get started.

What is Peanut Butter?

Before we take a look at the nutritional value of peanut butter, let’s first take a look at what it is exactly.

You may have heard of peanuts before. They are a legume that grows underground and they usually have two embryos inside them.

Peanuts are ground into peanut butter, which has four main ingredients – roasted peanuts, oil, sugar or salt, and sometimes hydrogenated oils to prevent the peanut oil from separating.

It is a common ingredient in many snack foods and desserts, including cookies.

There are different kinds of peanut butter – crunchy or creamy. Each is suitable for chihuahuas, but you should know the difference before feeding your dog either one.

Nutritional Value For Dogs

Peanut butter is a fine occasional treat for chihuahuas as it has all the nutrients required by dogs.

It is full of protein which is especially important for dogs. They are unable to digest most proteins found in plants, so peanut butter with its high levels of protein is great.

Peanut butter also contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. These include vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid or vitamin B5, pyridoxine, thiamine or vitamin B1, and minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, copper, zinc, selenium.

Chihuahuas require these nutrients in smaller amounts than large breed dogs, so peanut butter is healthy for them.

It also has prebiotics which is good for the gut flora of your chihuahua. They help with digestion too!

And best of all – you can eat it too!

Beware of Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as an artificial sweetener or sugar substitute in many products. It is found in gums, candies, and sometimes in peanut butter.

It has some great benefits for humans – it helps prevent cavities and ear infections. However, it can be really bad for dogs if they ingest too much of it.

Xylitol can actually be fatal for dogs. 

This is because the body is not able to produce enough of an enzyme that would break down xylitol. As a result, it gets absorbed into the bloodstream and causes a quick drop in blood sugar levels. This leads to liver failure with symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, seizures, or coma.

That’s why it’s important to check the content of peanut butter for xylitol in different brands of peanut butter before feeding it to your dog. If you’re not sure, it’s better to be safe and avoid peanut butter altogether.

Different Types of Peanut Butter for Dogs

As I mentioned earlier, there are different types of peanut butter. The main difference is between crunchy and creamy peanut butter which can be used interchangeably when baking or cooking.

Both are suitable for chihuahuas, but they have different nutritional values.

Crunchy peanut butter has more protein and less sugar than creamy peanut butter, so it’s healthier in general. However, some dogs may not like the texture of crunchy PB whereas others do.

Creamy peanut butter is softer and sweeter, so it’s easier to use when making cookies or other baked goods.

It has higher amounts of sugar and oil, so you should watch your dog’s body condition while feeding it to them more often.

Homemade peanut butter is another option. It’s healthier than the storebought version, but you should make sure there are no additional ingredients in it. Also, make sure you give your recipe to your veterinarian before feeding it to your dog.

Unsalted peanut butter is slightly healthier than salted peanut butter as it has less sodium. However, both types of peanut butter are safe for chihuahuas if they do not have any underlying health conditions that would cause them to be on a certain diet.

You should also keep an eye on the ingredient list that goes into commercial peanut butter. Avoid brands with sugars or unhealthy additives like xylitol, which is found in some peanut butter.

Amount to Feed A Chihuahua

It’s important that you know how much peanut butter is safe for your dog. You can’t just give them unlimited amounts!

The recommended amount of peanut butter is no more than 1 tablespoon a day for a chihuahua weighing less than 15 lbs. This means if they weigh less than 15 lbs, you should feed them no more than 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.

If your Chihuahua weighs over 15lbs up to 30lbs, then two tablespoons are fine!

You can also substitute it with other healthy snacks or treats for dogs instead.

Too much peanut butter can lead to problems for your chihuahua. Obesity is the most common problem, but overfeeding peanut butter (especially if it has xylitol) can lead to pancreatitis or problems with your dog’s pancreas.

For example, pancreatitis is a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary attention. Your dog will experience severe abdominal pain and you may notice that he or she vomits frequently.

Peanut butter can also cause allergic reactions, so make sure it’s only a small percentage of their diet and not the main part.

That’s why it is important to keep an eye on your dog after feeding her peanut butter. If she vomits, don’t feed her for a few hours and give her some water instead.

As long as these rules or guidelines are followed, your dog should be fine with peanut butter – it may even become their favorite snack!

Peanut Butter Recipe for Dogs

The recipe below is suitable even if your Chihuahua weighs less than 15lbs! You can also increase the ingredients and feed them to larger dogs.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons cooked brown rice, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon parsley flakes

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls on a baking sheet

Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and then allow to cool

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator

Recipe yields 15 treats for dogs!

Conclusion

Peanut butter is a healthy treat for Chihuahuas! It is a great source of protein and vitamins, so your dog should be happy to get a little taste of peanut butter.

Just make sure there’s no xylitol in the peanut butter you feed to your Chihuahua and keep an eye on how many tablespoons or teaspoons you give them. Remember to feed your Chihuahua in moderation!