Loyal, affectionate, and outgoing, Shih Tzu is the most adorable toy dog breed. To own Shih Tzu means to love them. Many pet parents, overcome with love for their Shih Tzu, tend to share their food with them. However, this can often go wrong. Many human foods can prove to be harmful to dogs. Do you know which foods from your plate can you safely share with your pet Shih Tzu? What about peanut butter?
Can Shih Tzu eat peanut butter? Yes, Shih Tzu can eat peanut butter in moderation. Peanut butter is rich in vitamins, protein, and healthy fats and makes a healthy treat for Shih Tzu. However, you should avoid buying peanut butter that contains Xylitol, which is toxic to all dog breeds, including Shih Tzu.
Does Shih Tzu like eating peanut butter?
Shih Tzu doesn’t merely like peanut butter; they’re crazy about it. And why wouldn’t they? Peanut butter has all the right ingredients for them: salt, sugar, fats. Moreover, it is also rich in protein and can be digested easily. Dogs are suckers for these qualities in their food.
The popularity of peanut butter among dogs can be reflected from all the peanut butter flavored dog treats and snacks widely bought by dog owners.
The next time you open the jar of your peanut butter around your Shih Tzu, don’t be surprised when you find them wagging their tail enthusiastically.
Is peanut butter healthy for Shih Tzu?
Peanut butter is rich in carbohydrates, healthy fats, and dietary fibers. It also contains a high quantity of protein, along with minerals like iron and calcium.
Another essential compound present in peanut butter is Niacin. Niacin is an organic compound that is an essential part of the diet of all dog breeds, including Shih Tzu.
Therefore, when given in moderation, peanut butter can be a healthy treat for Shih Tzu. Although there is one thing, you need to be careful about while buying peanut butter for your pet Shih Tzu: Xylitol.
Beware of Xylitol
Although peanut butter is mostly safe for Shih Tzu, many manufacturing brands have recently started to use Xylitol in place of sugar.
Xylitol is an alcohol that occurs naturally in different plant materials. It is often used by diabetic people as a sugar substitute and is a crucial ingredient in several medicines.
While Xylitol is mostly harmless to humans, it can prove to be lethal to your Shih Tzu. Consuming Xylitol can increase the release of insulin and decrease the blood sugar levels of your pet dog.
This condition is called Hypoglycemia and occurs within less than an hour of Xylitol consumption. If left untended, it can become life-threatening for your pet.
The good news for you and your pet is, not all brands use Xylitol in their peanut butter. You can easily find brands that manufacture peanut butter without Xylitol, both online as well as in the markets.
Which peanut butter brands do not use Xylitol?
Here is a list of brands that manufacture Xylitol-free peanut butter you can safely feed your Shih Tzu:
- 365 Everyday Value
- Teddie
- Poochie Butter
- Crazy Richard’s
- Woodstock Farms
- Fix & Fogg
- Smuckers
- Peanut butter & Co
- Good & Gather
- Kirkland Signature
- Adams Natural
- Maranatha
Although these brands are safe for your Shih Tzu now, they might change their minds about Xylitol in the future. Therefore, always check the label of peanut butter for Xylitol before buying it.
Home-made peanut butter: the best alternative
If you want to give your Shih Tzu a treat they love, why not make it yourself? Home-made peanut butter is the safest alternative to the store-bought one.
When you make peanut butter for your Shih Tzu, you can avoid adding salt to it. Since high sodium consumption can harm your pet’s health, unsalted peanut butter is perfect for them. Moreover, you won’t add any additional chemicals that the store-bought peanut butter contains.
In short, home-cooked peanut butter is the healthiest treat for your Shih Tzu.
Can your Shih Tzu be allergic to peanut butter?
Unlike us, dogs do not have an allergic reaction to peanuts. If you are feeding your Shih Tzu peanut butter for the first time, they might take a while to adjust to its taste. Begin by feeding them smaller quantities.
However, as a concerned pet parent, you can never rule out the possibility of an allergy in your pet. These are the signs you should look for in case of an allergy:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Itchiness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Hives
- Collapse
What happens if you feed your Shih Tzu too much peanut butter?
Excess of anything can lead to trouble, and the same is true for peanut butter as well. Peanut butter contains a considerable amount of fats, leading to obesity Shih Tzu if fed regularly.
Too much fat consumption can also lead to diseases like Pancreatitis. Peanut butter is also rich in sugar, which can make your pet diabetic.
Can you feed peanut butter to a Shih Tzu puppy?
Unlike their parent dogs, Puppies are fragile and can get sick quickly if not taken proper care of. Avoid feeding a puppy peanut butter unless they’re six weeks old at all costs. Even then, you should be extremely careful about the amount you’re feeding them.
Other human foods Shih Tzu can eat
Peanuts
Unlike almonds, peanuts are safe for Shih Tzu. However, you should feed them unsalted peanuts.
Cashews
Rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, cashews make good treats for Shih Tzu. However, too many can lead to excessive weight gain.
Bread
While bread doesn’t contain many nutrients that can benefit your pet, it is certainly not harmful to them either. Avoid feeding Shih Tzu spiced or raisin bread.
Wheat and grains
You can feed Shih Tzu wheat and grains unless they are allergic to it. Consult your veterinarian beforehand.
Salmon
Salmon is rich in protein and amino acids, and very healthy for Shih Tzu. However, take care to feed them only fully-cooked salmon. Raw or undercooked salmon can make them very sick.
Cheese
When fed in moderation, cheese is an excellent snack for Shih Tzu. When picking a kind for your pet, go for low-fat cheese such as mozzarella, cottage cheese, etc.
Popcorn
Popcorn contains thiamine and riboflavin to promote the health and digestion of your Shih Tzu. When feeding them popcorn, go for unsalted and unbuttered popcorns that are air-popped.
Honey
The list of nutrients in honey can go on forever. Honey can also boost Shih Tzu’s immunity against allergens.
Coconut
Coconut is safe for Shih Tzu. It contains lauric acid that prevents viruses and bacteria. It can also soothe itchy skin and flea allergies.
Human foods Shih Tzu cannot eat
Not everything you eat can be fed to your pet. Here is a list of human foods that you should never feed your Shih Tzu:
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts can damage the nervous system of Shih Tzu and are considered one of the most poisonous foods for all dog breeds.
Almond
Although almonds aren’t toxic to Shih Tzu like macadamia nuts, they can create problems if not chewed properly. In many cases, an unchewed almond has damaged the esophagus of dogs.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains methylxanthines, a stimulant that can disrupt, and even stop, Shih Tzu’s metabolism process. Consuming a large quantity of chocolate can lead to diarrhea, seizures, vomiting, heart problems, and even death.
Garlic
All dog breeds are vulnerable to the Allium family. Garlic is the most toxic of all allium plants (onion, chive, etc.). Garlic poisoning may cause anemia in your pet.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains oils that can irritate Shih Tzu and make them uncomfortable. Thus, it’s best to avoid feeding them cinnamon.
Summing up
To sum it up, you can feed Shih Tzu peanut butter as a snack as long as it doesn’t contain Xylitol, which is toxic to them. However, feeding them too much peanut butter can make them obese, and even lead to diseases such as Pancreatitis and Diabetes. Always feed them peanut butter in moderation.