Is Kroger Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs?

You open your Kroger peanut butter jar to fix a sandwich and just like clockwork, your furry baby appears wagging his tail in anticipation.

He clearly wants to help you enjoy the peanut butter.

But you are unsure if it is safe for him to even taste some of the peanut butter so you ignore him.

As hard as it is, you ignore him for his good.

Then your phone rings and you momentarily forget your sandwich – but your dog does not.

He finally gives in to his urges and grabs a huge bite from your plate.

By the time you notice, it is too late and now you are in full panic mode.

Does he need a vet visit? Will he react to the peanut butter? Will it poison him?

Well, the good news is there is no cause for alarm because dogs can safely consume regular peanut butter.

In fact, according to AKC, peanut butter is a great source of protein, niacin, Vitamins B and E, as well as healthy fats.

There are lots of dog-specific peanut butter but it’s still okay to give your dog regular peanut butter – including homemade ones.

However, there are some caveats.

If the peanut butter brand has ingredients that will harm the dog, then that particular brand will be harmful to your dog.

Is Kroger Peanut Butter Safe For Dogs?

According to the National Peanut Board, any peanut butter that contains xylitol will be unsafe for your doggy.

 Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is commonly used in food products.

It is a popular alternative to sugar because it has a similar taste, but it has lower calorie content and does not raise blood sugar levels in the same way as sugar.

However, xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs and can cause a rapid insulin release, leading to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

 Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs can occur within 10-60 minutes after ingestion and may include vomiting, loss of coordination, and loss of consciousness.

If left untreated, xylitol poisoning can be life-threatening for your dog. Learn more here: How Long Does Xylitol Stay in a Dog’s System?

Chocolate is another harmful product that may be found in some peanut brands.

While chocolate is perfectly safe for humans, it can be a health hazard to your dog.

See, chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine.

Theobromine can be toxic to dogs because their bodies are not able to metabolize it as well as humans can.

When a dog ingests chocolate, the theobromine can build up in its system, leading to toxicity.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs can include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, muscle tremors, and seizures.

In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can be life-threatening.

The good news is Kroger peanut butter does not contain either xylitol or chocolate.

 The ingredients listed on the label include:

• Roasted peanuts

•  Molasses

• Sugar

• Vegetable oils (rapeseed, soybean, cottonseed)

• Salt.

From this, we can infer that Kroger peanut uses sugar and molasses for sweetening and not xylitol which makes it safe for your dog.

It also doesn’t add chocolate for flavoring.

However, do not give too much peanut butter to your dog because your dog shouldn’t consume too much salt (Kroger peanut butter has salt in it).

Salt is an essential nutrient for your dog but if consumed in large quantities, the sodium may result in an electrolyte imbalance which can cause a range of problems, including dehydration, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of certain health problems such as kidney disease.

In some cases, excessive sodium intake can also lead to an accumulation of fluid in the body, which can cause swelling (edema) and other problems.

Related:

Is Peter Pan Peanut Butter Safe For Dogs?

Can Dogs Eat Skippy Peanut Butter?

How Much Peanut Butter Can A Dog Have?

Who Makes Kroger Peanut Butter?

Kroger, like most retail giants, has brand products including peanut butter.

Kroger manufactures some of the branded items in companies that are owned and run by the retail giant but they have outsourced some of the production to other independent companies.

Kroger peanut butter is one of the products that is manufactured by a sister company to Kroger, Tara foods.

Tara foods make Kroger peanut butter at their Albany, GA peanut butter processing factory.

Tara also makes other products for Kroger including spaghetti sauce and cashews.

In Summary

Kroger peanut butter is safe for your dog. This is because Kroger peanut butter does not contain xylitol (a synthetic sugar that is commonly used as a cheaper substitute for sugar in processed foods).

Since peanuts are the main ingredient in Kroger peanut butter, your dog will not have any issues with it.

However, that only holds if your dog does not have peanut allergies.

If your dog has never consumed peanut butter before, it is best to introduce him to the peanut butter slowly just to rule out any allergic reactions before making it a regular treat.