You wouldn't eat a slice of butter on its own, but our furry friends have been known to steal any food that they can get their hands on, sticks of butter included. Many of us feed our dogs bread crusts, however you may be concerned that the butter or spread on your toast may be hazardous to your dog. So, can dogs eat butter? Is butter safe for dogs to eat?

In short, no, dogs should not be given butter. Butter is manufactured from milk, and some dogs are lactose intolerant. Butter is primarily saturated fat and provides no health benefits, unlike certain other fatty oils. Your dog should be alright if he ate butter on accident, but avoid letting your dog eat butter in the future.

Butter Nutrition & Minerals

Butter is a dairy product that is typically created by churning cow's milk. Butter has roughly 100 calories per tablespoon, 12 grams of fat, little protein, and no carbohydrate. It contains trace levels of vitamin A, vitamin D, sodium, and potassium, as well as high amounts of cholesterol.

For dogs, butter has few advantages and many disadvantages. Butter contains around 80% fat, the majority of which is saturated fat. It doesn't have a lot of nutritional value for your dog. Butter's high fat content, if consumed frequently, may contribute to obesity. In addition, eating too much butter can lead to pancreatitis in dogs.

Milk, being a dairy product, may induce digestive discomfort in lactose-intolerant dogs; it may also cause an upset stomach due to general food sensitivity. Do not include butter as a part of your dog’s diet either by mixing it in dog food or feeding your dog food cooked in butter.

Symptoms To Watch For If Your Dog Eats Butter

If your dog inadvertently consumes some butter, there's no need to rush to the clinic, but keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

Diarrhea

If your dog's stomach does not agree with butter, it may induce gastrointestinal irritation and diarrhea. These symptoms may last for a few days, feed your dog a bland diet and contact your veterinarian if symptoms get worse.

Vomiting & Loss Of Appetite

These two symptoms, together with abdominal pain, may indicate pancreatitis, which is manageable with medication but should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian as soon as you observe a change in your dog's health.

Weight Gain

If your dog consumes excessive amounts of butter or margarine, he may gain weight and become lethargic, both of which can be indicators of high cholesterol and cardiac issues.

Can Dogs Be Allergic To Butter?

Due to the fact that butter is a dairy product, your dog may be allergic to it. One of the most prevalent allergies for canines is dairy. However, your dog is much more likely to be intolerant to butter than allergic to it. Most adult dogs are lactose intolerant because their bodies cease manufacturing the enzyme that breaks down milk.

In other words, they can't digest dairy properly as adults, and it can induce stomach cramps and gastrointestinal irritation in the same way as lactose intolerant humans experience.

If your dog is lactose intolerant and consumes a lot of butter, they will have diarrhea for a few days. They may also have vomiting, stomach cramps, and excessive flatulence. Food intolerance will not cause major injury to your dog, but it may make them uncomfortable.

Review: Can Dogs Eat Butter?

Because butter is not toxic to dogs, dogs can consume tiny amounts of it without fear of serious health concerns. However, it is not healthy for your pet, and they should not be eating it. Avoid feeding your dog things that have been fried in butter. Dogs have been known to steal and eat butter sticks, so keep it out of reach of your dog.

Avoid high-fat treats like butter and offer your dog whole, balanced meals to ensure they get all the nutrition they need to stay slim. Pure recipes only contain high-quality ingredients, ensuring that your dog receives the nutrition he needs to live a happy, healthy life.