Can dogs eat peanuts?

It’s common for owners to wonder if they can give dogs peanuts when they see their hungry faces every time they open a package that contains peanuts. If you are one of them, be sure to read on, as we are going to answer this very common question.

Peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ) is often confused with oilseeds, but it is actually a legume. In addition, it is a great source of concentrated protein and in this article we will also tell you if your furry ones benefit from its properties.

Nutritional composition of peanuts

According to scientific articles , peanuts originate from South America, a continent where they are part of the traditional diet of the inhabitants. It is a food rich in antioxidants (22%) , fats (48%), proteins (26%), carbohydrates (2%), raw fibers (3%), vitamins and minerals such as calcium, thiamine and niacin.

These components make it an inexpensive and highly nutritious food supplement, even capable of fighting malnutrition in many regions. In the case of dogs, the answer is yes: they can eat peanuts and get health benefits from consuming them.

Are peanuts good for dogs?

The answer is yes. Peanuts are good for dogs as well as other animals. Its antioxidant and nutritional properties are also manifested in the body of our favorite facultative carnivores. Therefore, you can start including this food in the daily ration that you give them.

However, it is important that whenever you offer peanuts to your canids, you remove the shell, as it can cause gastrointestinal problems, suffocation and gum damage. Keep reading to learn about the specific benefits of this food, as well as other important details.

Peanut benefits for dogs

Peanut brings remarkable benefits to dogs thanks to the action of its components. According to the North Carolina Division of Food and Drug Protection , these are some of the most relevant:

• Prevents cardiovascular diseases: the high content of fiber, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants (such as omega 3 and 9) make peanut a food that helps to prevent heart disease, preventing cell damage.
• Strengthens the immune system: this property is explained by the concentration of vitamins that this food has, such as E, B, folic acid and minerals such as manganese. These same micronutrients promote muscle development in canids.
• Prevents Tissue Degeneration: Peanut’s antioxidant properties help prevent tissue degeneration.
• Maintains vascular and liver health: thanks to the concentration of oleic acid.

Due to its functioning, it is convenient to provide peanuts to puppies and elderly dogs, as these are the stages in which animals most need to strengthen the functioning of the organism and prevent diseases that can be fatal.

Avoid salted peanuts

The best way to offer homemade peanuts to your dogs is raw and in shell , so that their nutrients are fully preserved. If you prefer to offer it cooked, put the peanuts in the oven, also without shell and without sugar and without salt .

Never offer your furry peanuts salted, caramelized or fried. Remember that there are dogs that are allergic or hypersensitive to certain foods, so it is advisable to talk to the veterinarian about the decision to include this food in their diet.

The professional knows his patient, so he will make very valuable recommendations. In fact, consultation is vital to rule out contraindications , as is the case with dogs suffering from heart disease, kidney dysfunction or epilepsy.

peanut dosage for dogs

Considering that peanuts are often an allergy-causing food for many people and animals, you should be careful when offering them for the first time. The ideal is to start with a maximum of one or two peanuts , always shelled and raw.

Monitor the dogs behavior and if there are no changes in stool, vomiting or other signs of allergy or hypersensitivity, consult your veterinarian and move on to the next phase of acceptance. Avoid offering this food again if the animal has had an adverse reaction.

If, on the other hand, your furry ones react favorably to eating peanuts, try to give them a little bit every now and then. Use this food during your training routine or as a reward for positive behavior. The following are the recommended dosages:

• Large dogs: 10 grams of peanuts 2 to 3 times a week.
• Medium and small dogs: 2 and 5 grams 2 to 3 times a week.

On days when you feed your dogs peanuts, you should remove from their dinner portions an amount of fat similar to that offered in peanuts. Remember that this food is very caloric, so it should not be abused.

Peanut presentations for dogs

Always offering raw peanuts may seem monotonous to you (and surely your dogs will think so too). Therefore, this food can be provided in different presentations. One of them is peanut butter, a creamy and soft paste that maintains the properties of the grain.

In this case, it is best to make the butter at home , this way you will control the levels of sodium and oil in the preparation (which are often excessive in commercial products). On the other hand, you can prepare delicious cupcakes with roasted peanuts, as long as the ingredients are suitable for dogs and without using sugar.

Allergies and side effects

As we mentioned in the previous lines, peanut is one of the foods that most causes allergies in people and animals. Therefore, care should be taken when offering it for the first time or if possible hypersensitivity cannot be excluded. There are also some effects that need to be considered, such as the following:

• Obesity: Peanuts have a high calorie content. Therefore, an excessive intake can lead dogs to become overweight or obese. The high levels of fat in this seed also cause digestive system problems and even pancreatitis .
• Xylitol Poisoning: This is a sweetener known as sugar alcohol. The United States Government’s Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) warns that it may be present in certain peanut butters, so it’s best to opt for a homemade option.
• Seizures: Although this is an effect that is still being studied, it is noted that peanuts can cause epileptic seizures in dogs with a history of this disorder. This observation is also valid for heart and kidney disease.

Peanuts, a safe food for healthy dogs

As we have seen, peanuts are a safe food for dogs as long as they are completely healthy. To ensure that your furry animals are not at any risk, it is best to consult your veterinarian about the decision to include this seed in their diet.

Rule out possible allergies, hypersensitivities and underlying diseases that are considered contraindications, it will be safe to provide peanuts to your dogs. Remember not to overdo it as it has a high calorie content.