Can Dogs Eat Peanuts? Are They Good For Dogs?

You might be giving your dog peanut butter or peanuts as dog treats already, because dogs just love peanut butter. Since peanut butter is made from peanuts, most of us think they are safe for dogs. Peanuts are rich in protein, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), healthy fats, Vitamin B-3 (niacin) and vitamin E. However, not all forms of peanuts are safe for dogs and there are some risks associated with them.

Dry-roasted or raw, unsalted, unflavoured peanuts are the only peanuts that dogs should really eat. Peanuts that dogs shouldn’t eat are salted. Salted peanuts contain more sodium than your dog needs, so they can be harmful to their health. Make sure you don't feed your dogs moldy nuts, which can be contaminated with toxins called aflatoxins that are potent hepatotoxins and carcinogens accumulating in the liver and are resistant even to heat. Peanut butter spreads often contain a lot of added sugar. Sugar in large quantities is harmful to dogs, just as it is to humans. In the long term, it leads to obesity and dental decay, so be careful to choose peanut butter spreads without added sugar.

Because peanuts contain high levels of fat, they can cause upset stomach, digestion problems (vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, dehydration, and stomach pain) if your dog eats them in large quantities. We recommend you limit your dog’s peanut intake to just a few peanuts (4-5) or a tablespoon of peanut butter, depending on your dog's size. If you have concerns or questions about feeding your dog peanuts, discuss them with your veterinarian, who is familiar with your dog’s health and nutrition.