Can Dogs Be Allergic To Peanut Butter?Can Dogs Be Allergic to Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter dog biscuit? Peanut butter to cover a pill? Peanut butter as a treat? Think again. Many people commonly give their dogs peanut butter because it is a food that they personally enjoy and want to share with their beloved pet. There really is no upside to doing this, and there can be significant downsides, especially if your dog has allergies. Yes, peanut butter is easy to work with when administering pills, but there are other healthier options, such as putting your pet's medication in a little bit of canned food.
Many pet owners may not understand why their dog is constantly scratching, chewing, licking and tearing its fur out. If your dog is displaying these behaviors, then it is important to bring it to the veterinarian for an exam to rule out fleas. But if fleas and parasites are not the culprit, then most often your dog's allergy symptoms are from food, environmental allergies and/or yeast overgrowth. 
Are Dogs Allergic to Peanut Butter?
Peanuts are one of the most common food allergens in pets. In fact, there are several foods that pet owners might routinely give to their pets without realizing they are contributing to their dog or cat's discomfort. Common Allergens in Pet Food:
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
Peanuts are legumes that contain mold, which can fuel yeast growth in pets, explaining why some dogs are allergic to peanuts. Where do yeast problems typically show up on your pet? Ear and skin infections. Many clients report their pets have excessive scratching, itching, redness, allergic reactions, ear infections and hot spots, and this is because they are unaware that their dog is allergic to peanut butter. Moreover, there are many pet owners whose pets already have chronic allergies and skin problems despite these owners carefully watching their pets’ diets and feeding hypoallergenic foods. Their pets continue to scratch and itch because the owners are coating the dog's pills with peanut butter to administer them. Their pets continue to have chronic yeast infections in the ears and scratch and itch. It only takes a small amount (e.g., a teaspoon) to result in a week-long allergic episode. If your dog is itching, scratching, biting on the paws, licking at the groin and/or rubbing its face into the carpet, chances are your dog has a yeast overgrowth. K9 Yeast Defense and Power Probiotic will fight the candida overgrowth in the ears and digestive tract. As the balance of flora returns, the itching, odor and yeasty symptoms will subside. It is easy for a dog to get a yeast overgrowth, as the use of steroids and antibiotics to treat skin infections and allergy problems result in a vicious cycle, leading to a weakened immune system.
Peanut butter is also very high in fat, and many times contains sugar - neither is good for your dog's health. If you have been using peanut butter or peanut-butter-flavored biscuits (wheat is also a potential allergen and should be avoided) in your pet's diet, discontinue and use lower-fat, hypoallergenic dog treats that are fish-based, green vegetables or venison or rabbit freeze-dried food. Natural supplements that reduce allergy symptoms, such as AllerEaze and Amazing Omegas can really help. These veterinarian-recommended products can give pets fast relief from itching, scratching, licking and other symptoms of allergies in dogs.
If your dog has allergy symptoms, there is so much more to allergy treatment than steroids and antibiotics. Avoiding food allergens, improving digestion and reducing yeast overgrowth can all help. Why is digestion of foods an issue with allergies? The majority of your dog's immune system is located in the intestinal tract. Click here to learn more about allergies.
Dogs with food allergies need to eat a hypoallergenic diet and avoid starchy carbohydrates such as legumes, which are found in all dry foods and most dehydrated foods. Yeast and bacteria thrive on sugar, so it's important to keep your dog's carbohydrates to a minimum. A frozen raw novel-protein diet can help. Hypoallergenic Dog Treats We all want to spoil our pets, so having hypoallergenic treats readily available will help prevent family members from giving pets table scraps that contain ingredients your dog could be allergic to. Avoid the common allergens listed above, but ALSO look for low-carbohydrate treats. Unfortunately, most treats are made with the pet owner in mind and not the health of the pet. Therefore, you will see plenty of orange-colored "carrot" treats and biscuits that look like human cookies. What are the ingredients? Gluten, sugars and artificial colors. These are not healthy treats for your dog and will continue the cycle of endless scratching, itching and ear infections. We recommend freeze-dried raw treats made with novel proteins, such as rabbit or venison. For administering pills, the best option is to use a little bit of canned high-protein food, such as venison or rabbit. For convenience, there are pill-coverings available, but even hypoallergenic varieties can contain sugars and that contribute allergy symptoms in dogs. Need Help? If you have questions about how to best help your pet, please email us at Support@AskAriel.com. When you order any of our products, please be sure to include what you are feeding your pet, as we will be glad to include a diet recommendation with your order. |
