Strange Things That Vets Give Dogs
How did peanut butter, whipped cream and spray-cheese become dog staples?
As we’ve mentioned in many posts, most vets don’t study dog nutrition nor the nutrition of any animals that they look after. There’s just too much information to process. So when your vet gives you advice about food or diets just keep this in mind. The confusion around food manifests itself in many interesting ways. Today we look at some of the ones we find to be the most peculiar. Before that here are this weeks recipes.
Spray cheese and whipped topping is not good for dogs
If you go to the vets office for an exam or shots, your dog might get a treat. This might be a cookie or biscuit, and depending on the brand, they can be fine in moderation. The thing we find bizarre is the prevalence of aerosol whipped topping or spray cheese. The pepperoni spray cheese from Kong actually has onion powder in its ingredient list.
Oh the irony…like we mentioned in a previous post, onions aren’t as toxic as most vets would have you believe, but why is it necessary in a dog product?
In addition to onions, this product is made with milk which is high in lactose (dogs don’t digest lactose well), soybean oil which is high in omega-6, and multiple preservatives and stabilizers. See the post on oils to refresh on why too much omega-6 is problematic.
Sometimes vets use people spray cheese, too, which we find really strange. They don’t recommend feeding dogs real food, but will happily feed your dog something that barely passes as people food.
Aerosol whipped cream is not much better than spray-cheese. In addition to preservatives and stabilizers there is a lot of added sugar. For all the talk about pancreatitis, did we mention that sugar is what stresses the pancreas the most?
Like most things a taste here or there won’t hurt. But keep in mind, when you see these products in use, the priority is convenience not health. Admittedly, we get lazy too and order pizza and sometimes eat fast food. While convenience is perfectly fine, when does it become a slippery slope?
Why is peanut butter such a popular treat for dogs?
If you look at any dog treat brand you’l often see chicken, beef and peanut butter as flavor options. Of all the delicious foods that could be used, why peanut butter? After all, peanut butter isn’t particularly healthy nor nutritious.
It turns out that the use of peanut butter for dogs started in a similar way to spray cheese and whipped topping. In the late 1920’s peanut butter began to become widely available, and vets started using it to feed dogs medicine. Due to the high fat content and the fact that it’s sticky, pills can be easily concealed in a spoonful of peanut butter. Also, peanut butter is shelf stable so it can be left on the counter in a vets office without worry of spoilage.
Since peanut butter got the vet industry’s ‘OK’ in this way, naturally it led to being used as a flavor in pet treats and pet foods, despite having a very mediocre nutrition profile. It’s become widely accepted that peanut butter is something you give to dogs.
What’s wrong with peanut butter?
While peanut butter is not toxic per se, it’s not an amazing food for dogs or people. Though it can have some benefits, not all peanut butter is made equal. Most commercially available peanut butter is laden with sugar, preservatives and salt. Some types of peanut butter contain sweeteners like xylitol, which can be dangerous to dogs. Furthermore, many well-known brands are made with hydrogenated oils (the ones that cause heart disease in people) to make them creamy.
Another concern is that peanuts are often very high in aflatoxin from mold that lives on them. These toxins are some of the most dangerous food contaminants as they are associated with liver damage and cancer. Low-cost peanuts from emerging nations are of particular concern. If you live in the United States, strict monitoring and stringent manufacturing practices make aflatoxins less of a worry.
Ultimately, if you choose to eat peanut butter (we do; it’s delicious), pick a high-quality single ingredient brand with peanuts only! Natural peanut butter—the kind made without sugar, preservatives and stabilizers—will separate a layer of oil on top and often needs remixing. It may not look as nice, and is more trouble to use, but it will be much better for you and your pups.
P.S. If anyone has a hack on how to stir natural peanut butter without making a huge mess, PLEASE share.
Treats we think make sense
and healthier alternatives in general:
Freeze-dried meats and liver
Blueberries, banana, and other fresh fruits
Plain yogurt or kefir
Simple homemade biscuits
Real cheese!
The fact that they still have vending machines full of junk food in human hospitals and sugary treats in doctors offices leaves our expectations low. But some good news! The FDA recently banned red dye no.3. We think that’s awesome and hope this good food movement (for people and dogs!) continues to grow.
That’s all for this week!
Joelle and the Precious Creatures Team
There is a natural peanut butter stirrer available on amazon. I’ve been curious about it but haven’t tried it. It looks like it might replace the regular jar lid so it can be stirred without spilling any oil.