Dogs will always eat just about anything they deem appropriate more so foods they see their owners eat. Thus, most of the time, they see many foods as alluring and delicious. The fact, however, remains that even dogs require a good meal for healthy living, and thus recklessly eating all sorts of food might actually endanger their lives.
One yummy treat loved by dogs is the nut butter, specifically almond butter. Since they are also human consumed, when a dog sees their owners eating some of this, they often go crazy by trying all sorts of tricks to have just a little taste. Even so, should they be given the eagerly yearned for almond butter taste?
This usually brings about the big question of whether dogs can and should actually eat almond butter. Just because they like it does not guarantee that they should eat it.
To answer the above question, yes. Dogs can eat almond butter, but the treats should always be strictly supervised and regulated by the owners.
Reasons why your dog can eat almond butter
Almond butter is safe for dogs
Safety is always the number one priority when it comes to the life of your dogs. You will need to feed them nontoxic food items which almond butter qualifies as one. This will, however, require you to check on the ingredients and additives on the butter.
An all-natural, unsweetened and unsalted almond butter is often most preferred in these cases. This is because; some additives to the almond butter are always harmful to your dog’s health. Hence vigilance and awareness are of utmost importance.
For instance, it is vital to ensure that you do not give your dog almond butter with ingredients such as Xylitol. This ingredient, despite being totally safe for humans, it is very harmful to dog health. This is because, when ingested by the dogs, it often immediately creates health complications.
Xylitol induces a potent release of insulin into the dog’s system, which in turn results in hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can usually be a life-threatening condition to the dogs if not attended to with haste.
Therefore, despite almond butter being safe, you as the dog companion should always double-check on the ingredients, flavors, and additives included during processing. This will ensure that the almond butter is all-natural and safe for your dog’s consumption. However, all in all, it is safe apart from the minor precautions.
Almond butter is nutrient-rich and healthy
The vast nutrients in the almond butter usually make it a very healthy treat. It contains a variety of vitamins, added fats, and minerals, which are great for improving and maintaining a dog’s health. Therefore, in 32-gram almond butter, there is an 18-gram fat composition and the rest comprising of the other nutrients.
These include abundance in Vitamins E and B3, which are great for boosting the immune system and nourishing the dog’s skin, eyes, and liver. Furthermore included in the almond butter are minerals such as calcium for strengthening the skeletal system, iron for assistance with red blood cells, and magnesium and zinc for a boosted immune system.
Almond butter, therefore, contains an abundance of vital nutrients required by the body for a healthy living.
Precautions
It is important to note that almond butter should not be a regular part of the dog’s diet. It should be an occasional treat administered in controlled proportions to avoid too much intake. Almond butter is usually safe and healthy for the dogs if appropriately administered.
Nevertheless, failure to adhere to some of the warnings might result in catastrophic and life-threatening conditions for the dog. One of the vital reasons for limiting almond butter as a regular diet is;
The high-fat content
A significant chunk of almond butter is usually rich in fats. This means that it generates a lot of calories, averagely, it is to the amount of 200 calories per 32 grams of almond butter. This is an alarmingly high amount.
Despite the fact that this might be beneficial to dogs with a dietary deficiency in fats, or those that burn a lot of calories in a day, the majority of dogs often have an adequate diet with adequate calories. Thus, this extra fat content will impose serious health risks to the dog.
- For instance, the high-fat content, if consumed on a regular basis, may result in poor weight control issues. This will contribute to weight problems for the dogs, which might negatively impact their health if not rectified in time.
- Too much fat consumption by the dogs is also attributed to severe gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. For example, the dogs might start exhibiting signs and symptoms such as;
- Vomiting
- Stomach aches
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Passing of gas, among others
These side effects of irregular high fat consumption might be distressing, stressful, and very uncomfortable for the dogs. Hence, this will substantially affect their overall health.
- Moreover, the ingestion of such high amounts of fats over a long period of time will also interfere with the physiological body functions of the dog. Research suggests that with time, the dogs might develop pancreatitis, a chronic health problem.
The almond butter jar should also be out of reach for your dog. Since, whenever they are able to access it, they might consume too much butter, which will surely be harmful.
Final Verdict
In general, almond butter can be eaten by your dog. However, just like any other food, the quality of the almond butter often needs checking to ensure that it is toxic-free and all-natural. Almond butter should also not be a regular diet constituent as this will also present with health and safety consequences.
Furthermore, dog owners should also be responsible and strictly adhere to the precautions given to ensure that they do not endanger the lives of their dogs. Nevertheless, all in all, almond butter usually presents with a variety of health benefits with no negative consequences on proper administration. Thus, it constitutes a really great occasional dog treat. Your dog will surely love it.
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