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Butter is a dairy product that can be found in most households around the world. This popular spread is used in a variety of dishes and snacks, so our dogs are sure to get their hands on it at some point. Whether your pup lays his paws on a stick of butter, or you want to give them a taste yourself, you may be wondering if it’s safe. While butter itself is not toxic to dogs, it can cause serious illness if dogs eat too much.
To help you better understand the many risks of consuming butter for dogs, let’s discuss everything you need to know below! From how much they can eat to what happens when they eat large amounts, let’s get down to the details.
Do dogs like butter?
Dogs can have different taste interests just like us, but most dogs will love the smell of butter. Whether it’s a single spoonful of butter or a layer of butter on toast, many dogs will jump at the chance to eat it. Dogs tend to favor salty and fatty foods because they don’t usually have access to foods with these qualities. Some dogs love the taste so much that they will eat until there is nothing left, which is why this food is a dangerous food for dogs.
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Is Butter Toxic To Dogs?
Butter itself is not toxic to dogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe to eat. There are no toxic ingredients in the butter that can instantly harm your dog, But eating too much can still lead to some serious health complications. Butter contains a lot of salt and fat, which are not friendly to the dog’s stomach and digestive tract. While butter isn’t listed as a human food that is toxic to dogs, it’s still not a good idea to give butter to your dog.
Reasons Dogs Shouldn’t Eat Butter
To make sure you understand why you should always keep any stick of butter away from your pup, let’s discuss the details of why this delicious spread is so dangerous for dogs. It may not be poisonous in itself, but it can still be a threat to your dog’s health.
high calorie butter
Most butter spreads have about 100 calories per tablespoon. While that may not seem like a lot to you or me, it’s a lot when discussing the daily calorie intake for most dogs. For example, an average 40-pound dog should consume about 400 calories a day from their diet. Most of these calories should come from a high-quality dog food. The amount of snacks they consume should only account for 10% of their daily calorie intake, which means that their daily snacks should only provide about 40-50 calories. Most dog treats have about 5-10 calories per serving, so a serving of butter is much higher in calories by comparison.
If you’re looking for a human food that’s low in calories and safe for our dogs, check out our guide to the healthiest vegetables for dogs here!
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butter high in fat
In addition to being high in calories, most forms of butter are also high in saturated fat. While our dogs do benefit from healthy fats like omega fatty acids, butter doesn’t fall into this category. Our canine friends will have difficulty digesting any food high in saturated fat, increasing the risk of complications from pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is a dangerous health threat that usually occurs when dogs consume large amounts of high-fat human food. This causes the dog’s pancreas to subsequently become inflamed, which then disrupts their normal digestive process. Their pancreas will start leaking digestive juices into the surrounding abdomen, which actually starts digesting the pancreas itself and the surrounding organs. Not only is this very painful for the affected dog, but it can also cause permanent organ damage. This condition can be fatal for some furry friends if left untreated.
Many Dogs Can’t Tolerate Dairy
You won’t find many dog foods or treats that contain dairy in any form, and that’s because most dogs are dairy intolerant. Since dairy products are difficult for dogs to digest properly, this often causes them to have an upset stomach when consuming dairy products. If your dog accidentally consumes a large amount of food containing dairy products, they will often experience symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Dairy products don’t offer your dog any health benefits, so it’s best to avoid them entirely.
Can dogs eat small amounts of butter?
As we discussed above, butter is non-toxic and non-toxic to dogs. This means eating a small amount of butter probably won’t do your dog any harm, but there is still a risk of an upset stomach. Butter is difficult for some dogs to digest, so even small amounts can cause diarrhea and vomiting in some furry friends. Because of this risk, we do not recommend giving your dog any amount of butter.
Can Dogs Eat Foods Containing Butter?
Butter is the main ingredient used in many recipes. Butter is found in everything from baked goods to smeared on vegetables, so your dog may at some point beg for a treat that contains butter. Again, the butter in this food is not toxic to your dog and it is best to let your dog take a bite. Any food that contains butter is unlikely to provide your dog with any nutritional benefits, so there are better human food treats to give them.
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Can Dogs Eat Low Fat Butter?
Fat is one of the main concerns when discussing the dangers of consuming butter for dogs, so is low-fat butter safe for dogs? While your dog probably won’t be too concerned if they accidentally eat some low-fat butter, we still recommend against giving them it as a treat. When it comes down to it, low-fat butter still has some fat, calories, and salt, so it’s still not an ideal snack option for our canine friends.
My dog eats a lot of butter, what should I do?
When a dog is interested in eating a tasty treat, they’ll do anything to get their paws on it. Many dogs consume large amounts of butter within reach, causing their owners to panic about any potential complications. So what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? Your best bet is to call your veterinarian.
You don’t have to worry about any toxic effects from your dog eating large amounts of butter, but they will most likely experience severe gastrointestinal distress over the next 12-48 hours. Dogs that eat large amounts of butter have been known to experience vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, and even severe abdominal pain.
By calling your veterinarian and asking what they recommend for your dog’s condition, you can consider your best options for preventing the stomach upset that may ensue. If you happen to find that your dog is eating butter, your veterinarian may induce vomiting and reduce the amount of butter passing through the stomach.
If your dog develops any complications from eating butter, you will usually begin to see signs of an upset stomach within 12-48 hours. No matter what their symptoms are or how severe they seem, we always recommend having them seen by a veterinarian at this time.
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My dog got sick from eating butter, now what?
If your dog has recently eaten butter and they now have an upset stomach, we always recommend that you see them at the veterinarian. The high fat content in butter puts your dog at risk for a complication called pancreatitis, which requires immediate treatment to give them the best chance of a full recovery. The most common symptoms of pancreatitis are gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, so it cannot be ruled out at home.
final thoughts
Butter may not have a toxic effect on our canine friends, but they can still get sick if they consume it in large quantities. Butter has no nutritional value for our beloved puppies, so we advise against giving them this delicious butter.
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Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.