Butter makes almost anything taste better. It makes your chocolate chip cookies fluffier, your freshly baked bread more mouthwatering, and gives your pan-fried foods a better taste.

If you grew up in a midwestern family, you probably had a stick of butter on the counter 24/7 and it appeared at every meal. While butter (in moderation) isn’t necessarily bad for you, does that mean you can give it to your dog?

Should Dogs Have Butter?

There are two answers to this…

Should dogs have butter? No.

Can dogs have butter? They can in that it won’t kill them, but it should still be avoided.

What Makes Butter Bad for Dogs?

Butter has a very high fat content. True butter, not the oil-based margarine spreads (more on that later), has 12g of fat per 1 tablespoon.

A 30-pound adult dog needs just 14 grams of fat per day, so just one tablespoon of butter along with their daily meals would send them over their daily fat limit by quite a bit. If you give your dog butter everyday, you’re going to notice quite an increase in their weight.

Can Dogs Overdose on Fat?

Veterinary clinics see a swift increase in a disorder called pancreatitis after Christmas and Thanksgiving because dogs get into all sorts of fatty foods like turkey and heavily buttered dishes. However, when your dog gets a bunch of fat, the pancreas becomes irritated.

The pancreas is part of the digestive system and releases enzymes that break food down. When it’s hit with an onslaught of fatty foods, it can’t release the enzymes fast enough to break it down. This leads to a painful inflammation.

Signs of pancreatitis are:

• A very painful abdomen, indicated by a hunched back, inability to get comfortable, crying out loud when touched
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• No appetite
• Fever
• Irregular heart rate

Pancreatitis needs to be treated in the hospital with IV fluids and pain medication to keep your dog comfortable.  Most healthy dogs recover from pancreatitis with supportive veterinary care, but older dogs or dogs with diabetes have a harder time recovering.  

Once a dog has had a case of pancreatitis, they need to go on a low-fat diet for the rest of their lives, and even a slight increase in fat (like a table-scrap snack) can trigger a relapse.

Too Much Fat is Bad, but What About Cholesterol?

If anyone in your family has experienced problems with their heart, you know that a person’s cholesterol level needs to be controlled in these instances. While dogs also get heart problems, cholesterol is a concern in dogs with a healthy heart.

Butter has a whopping 31 mg of cholesterol per tablespoon. Some breeds are predisposed to high cholesterol, but certain health conditions (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, adrenal disease) cause high cholesterol. If your dog has any metabolic disease or they’re overweight, butter is extremely bad for them.

In the veterinary world, high cholesterol is called hyperlipidemia, meaning there’s an excess amount of fat in the bloodstream.

When a dog eats, the fat in their bloodstream rises and then decreases within 10 hours after the meal. If their fat levels stay high after 12 hours, then a dog is considered hyperlipidemic.

Signs of high cholesterol include:

High cholesterol is preventable (unless there’s a metabolic or genetic component), and another reason why butter isn’t the ideal food for dogs.

Is Margarine or Vegetable Oil Spread Okay for Dogs?

There’s a mistaken thought that the faux-butter spreads are healthier than butter, but they’re just as high in fat and cholesterol as butter is. There are also tons of chemicals and preservatives in margarine, so don’t ever give your dog anything with these spreads in/on them.

There’s nothing in butter that your dog isn’t getting (in moderation) in their quality dog food. A few licks of butter here and there won’t hurt your dog, but large amounts lead to obesity or dangerous health problems.

Can dogs eat butter? Complete Guide 2022!

Butter is a dairy product. Lactose-intolerant pets cannot tolerate butter. You are probably asking yourself, “Can dogs eat butter?”

Can dogs eat butter?

Can dogs eat butter is an interesting question. We know that you love your dogs, and you want to make them happy. So, can dogs eat butter?

It is probably not a very good idea to feed your dogs butter. Butter is not a dog treat. Read this article to know more about “Can dogs eat butter?”

Nutritional information about butter

Butter carries too many calories for dogs. 80% of butter is saturated fats. 14 grams of butter contains more than 100 calories. The amount of Total Fats in butter exceeds the amount of Protein, Carbohydrates, and Sugar.

14 grams of butter contains 0.12 grams of Protein, 0.01 grams of Carbohydrates, and 0.01 grams of Sugar. Butter contains a significant amount of Saturated fats than other Fats.

14 grams of butter provides 7.29 grams of Saturated Fats, 2.99 grams of Monounsaturated Fats, 0.43 grams of Polyunsaturated Fats, and 0.47 grams of Trans Fats.

Health benefits of butter for dogs

Butter provides no health benefits to dogs. A large quantity of Saturated Fats is not good for dogs. Some people say that they feed a small amount of naturally fermented butter to dogs because it contains Vitamin A and Vitamin B12.

We say that butter is not beneficial for your dog’s health. It does not matter whether your butter is naturally fermented or not. Your dog can have Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 from other foods. Why would you feed foods rich in saturated fats to your dogs?

High levels of saturated fats can lead to high cholesterol in dogs. That’s why we say that butter is not healthy for dogs.  

A brief history of butter for dogs

Butter is a dairy product. They say that a dairy product (butter) originated in Africa. African herders carried sheep milk that turned into a dairy product now known as ‘Butter.’

Yes, it is true that Romans appreciated butter because of its medicinal effect, but they did not use it for their dogs. Ancient Sumerians thought that butter had magical properties, but even they did not feed butter to their dogs.

In fact, people used dogs for butter-churning machines in the past. The dog owner forced dogs to work relentlessly on butter-churning machines. Some farmers still use dogs to herd sheep.

This is nothing more than animal slavery. If someone tells you that butter is a human food meant for dogs, you must not listen to them.      

Is butter bad for dogs?

Yes, butter is a human food that is not meant for dogs. It contains several nutrients that are harmful to dog health.

Lactose intolerance

If you are not sure whether your dog is lactose intolerant or not, you should not feed butter to your dog. Lactose intolerance in dogs can be a root cause of many other problems.

Too many calories

Butter is not good for your dogs because it provides too many calories to your dogs. Too many calories can cause obesity in dogs. Dogs can suffer from arthritis, heart problems, blood pressure, and diabetes due to obesity.

100 grams of butter provides 717 calories to your dogs. If your dog is underweight and you know that he is not lactose intolerant, you can consider feeding him a small amount of butter.  

Too much fat

Butter carries too much fat for your dog. Whenever someone speaks about butter, remember that they are talking about saturated fat. Smart dog owners do not like to feed butter to their dogs.

You do not want to provide such a high dose of saturated fat to your dog. Saturated fat can make your dog sick. Butter is a dairy product that can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Dogs cannot tolerate high levels of saturated fats provided by butter.

Is butter OK for dogs?

No, butter is not OK for dogs. A small quantity of butter is not likely to make your dog sick, but a large quantity of butter provides too many saturated fats and calories to your dogs.

We know that a small amount of butter once in a while is not likely to kill your dog. But we do not recommend using butter as a dog treat. It provides zero health benefits to dogs. You should avoid feeding anything like butter that provides no health benefits but poses risks to dog health.

Will butter hurt a dog?

It depends on your dog’s health, the quantity of butter, and how often you are feeding it to your dog. A small amount of butter is not likely to harm your dog.

However, if your dog is lactose intolerant or allergic to a dairy product such as butter, you should not feed it to your dog.

We do not recommend feeding butter to your dog because you are basically feeding high levels of saturated fats to your dog. Dogs can suffer from several problems after eating butter frequently. Dogs can have diarrhea and an upset stomach after eating butter.  

How much butter can your dog eat?

You should not feed butter to your dogs. It does not matter whether you are feeding a small quantity or a large quantity of butter to your dog. Butter has no nutritional value for your dog.

Some people unknowingly feed their dog butter. You should know that food cooked in butter are not safe for dogs. Feeding dog butter can lead to a variety of problems ranging from diarrhea to vomiting.

Butter is not your regular dog treat. So, butter should not be a part of your dog food.  

What if my dog eats a full stick?

You will have to stop your dog from eating butter. Take it and keep it out of your furry friend’s reach. You will have to know how much butter your dog has eaten. You may not get all the details, but you can try to make an educated guess.

It is important for you to know how much butter your dog ate. A small amount of butter is unlikely to kill your dog. You should try to know when your dog ate the full stick of butter.

Based on the information you can collect about this particular incident, you should consult your nearest vet. Your vet will assess whether your dog needs medication or not.

Sometimes, vets ask you to closely observe your dog and check him for any signs of diarrhea, vomiting, stomach upset, and bloating.

They take into account your dog’s health and medical history. Vets know that dogs have sensitive stomachs and these signs are not likely to appear after consumption.

It is necessary to have a proper investigation and examination to protect your dogs from immeasurable levels of pain and suffering.     

FAQs | Can Dogs Eat Butter?

Can dogs have sunflower butter?

You will be surprised to know that dogs can eat sunflower seed butter. Sunflower seed butter is good for your dog’s health. Unlike plain butter, sunflower seed butter has some nutritional value for dogs.

You must not feed a large amount of sunflower seed butter to your dog. A small amount of sunflower butter should be given to dogs occasionally. It can be served as a dog treat.

Beware of the sunflower butter that contains artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol. Xylitol is poisonous to dogs. Canned sunflower butter can contain artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

Canned sunflower butter can cause hypoglycemia in dogs. You should not even think about serving canned sunflower butter to your dogs. If you still want to serve your dog canned sunflower butter, you should carefully read the labels before serving it to your dogs.

Make sure that your canned sunflower butter is free from artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and preservatives. Remember, artificial sweeteners like Xylitol can kill your dog. So it is always best to avoid feeding canned sunflower butter to dogs.

Sunflower butter, in moderation, can help strengthen your dog’s immune response. It is also good for the fur health of your Fido. Sunflower butter is a healthy alternative to peanut butter because it provides a range of healthy nutrients for dogs.

Sunflower butter provides the following nutrients to dogs:

Sunflower butter alleviates your dog’s mood because it increases the provision of Serotonin in your dog’s body. Sunflower butter also helps in speeding up your dog’s metabolism.

Do not feed too much sunflower butter to your dogs. Like in the case of all dog treats, sunflower butter should not be more than 10% of your daily dog food. While feeding sunflower butter to your dog, you should remember that sunflower seeds carry too many calories for your dog.

Your dogs can face obesity when they frequently eat a large amount of sunflower butter. Obesity can lead to several other issues, such as cardiac issues, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Just do not feed too much sunflower butter to your dogs.

Can dogs eat cocoa butter?

Yes, dogs can eat cocoa butter. Many people believe that cocoa butter is not safe for dogs. Unlike this popular belief, cocoa butter is safe for dogs. There is a huge difference between cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

Cocoa butter does not contain as much Theobromine as cocoa powder. Theobromine is not safe for dogs. Cocoa butter, in moderation, cannot kill your dog. 

Can dogs eat salted butter?

No, you should not feed salted butter to your dog. Salted butter is no different from butter. A small amount of salted butter is not likely to kill your dog. Perhaps, it is not a good idea to feed salted butter to your dog.

If you are thinking about feeding foods fried in salted butter to your dog, you should not do so. High levels of salted butter pose several health risks to your dogs. Salted butter can cause obesity in dogs.

As the name suggests, salted butter carries salt. Salted butter provides Sodium to your dogs. Salted butter can potentially cause Hypernatremia in dogs. You should avoid feeding salted butter to your dogs.

Can dogs eat regular peanut butter?

Your regular peanut butter is a big ‘NO’ for your dogs. Peanut butter is not your healthy dog food. It is not a good idea to feed peanut butter to your dogs because, generally, peanut butter contains Xylitol.

Xylitol is poisonous for dogs, and traces of Xylitol can create serious dog health issues. Peanut butter provides too many fats and salt to your dog. Yes, I know that a small amount of peanut butter does not kill dogs.  

It is still risky to feed peanut butter to your dogs. I have seen people feeding small amounts of Xylitol-free peanut butter to dogs. If you want to feed peanut butter to your dogs, make sure that you read the labels carefully. We do not recommend feeding large amounts of peanut butter to your dogs.

Can dogs eat almond butter?

Almond butter poses health risks for dogs. You should not feed almond butter to your dogs. Small amounts of almond butter are not likely to hurt your dogs. But if your almond butter contains traces of Xylitol, it is poisonous for your dogs.

You should always read the labels carefully to ensure that you are not feeding Xylitol to your dogs. Almond butter provides too many fats and salt to your dogs. Some dogs cannot tolerate small amounts of almonds.  

Can dogs eat ghee?

Ghee provides high levels of fats to dogs. You should not feed too much fat to your dogs. Ghee is safe for human consumption but not for dogs. Dogs have sensitive stomachs, and they cannot tolerate ghee.

Can dogs eat margarine?

No, dogs cannot eat margarine because it is nothing more than flavored vegetable oil. Too much-flavored vegetable oil is not good for a dog’s health. Margarine becomes dangerous when it contains preservatives. Avoid feeding margarine-containing preservatives to your dogs.

Can dogs eat vegan butter?

You can feed a small amount of vegan butter to your dogs occasionally. Avoid feeding vegan butter to your dogs frequently. You do not want to feed too much fat and Sodium to your dogs.

Can dogs eat garlic butter?

No, garlic butter is a big ‘No’ for dogs. It is a bad idea to feed garlic butter to your dogs. Garlic butter can seriously harm your dogs.

How do I know that my dog ate butter?

Your dog’s mouth may smell like butter. It may become tricky to assess how much butter your dog ate. You should carefully look at your dog’s face. You may find traces of butter around his jaws. You may also find butter lying around your dog.

My dog ate Butter-What should I do?

You should try to assess when and how much butter your dog ate. You should also consult your vet.

Are dogs allergic to butter?

Not all dogs are allergic to butter. Some dogs can be allergic to butter. You should always keep your pet poison helpline open. Dogs can suffer from pancreatitis after eating butter.

Conclusion | Can dogs eat butter?

If you have an aggressive chewer at your home, you should not feed him butter. You will never know when your dog ate the full stick of butter. You can feed small amounts of butter to your dogs occasionally. But try to keep it out of your dog’s reach.

Still wondering, “Can dogs eat butter?”

Large amounts of butter can harm your dog’s digestive system. Dogs can have pancreatitis after eating large amounts of butter frequently. Some dogs vomit after eating butter. You should immediately consult your vet in case your dog starts vomiting after eating butter.