Peanut butter is a long-standing favorite among most dogs. It’s sweet, nutty, and sticky — what’s not to love? But even though peanut butter is popular among pet owners, can dogs eat it safely? The answer is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no. To understand the implications of feeding your dog peanut butter and how to know when it’s too much, keep reading below.

Peanut butter can indeed be safe for dogs to eat, but it depends on what’s in it. Natural peanut butter typically has peanuts as the only ingredient, which makes it a great option for dogs. Limiting peanut butter to one ingredient means no sneaky additives that may harm your pup.

Natural peanut butter may be organic, but this should also be examined closely. Organic peanut butter is more likely to contain aflatoxins, which are naturally occurring toxins that can develop on peanuts that aren’t chemically treated to eliminate them.

If you want to go commercial, proceed with caution. Many commercial peanut butters (like Jif and Skippy) contain additives that can be harmful to dogs. Be sure to check the label before sharing it with your furry friend, or simply choose a natural, non-organic alternative instead.

Even better yet, consider making your own peanut butter using the best peanuts you can find. You can purchase unsalted, shelled and skinned peanuts and blend until smooth in a blender or food processor. You can make it smooth or crunchy peanut butter — both are safe options in moderation, and you can be sure the peanut butter is xylitol-free.

Peanuts pack a lot of protein but are high in fat, and many commercial peanut butters are also high in salt and sugar. Read the label carefully — the fewer ingredients, the better for your dog. The fat and sugar in peanut butter can be particularly problematic if used too frequently and could potentially lead to obesity and pancreatitis.

If you’re using peanut butter as a regular treat, like in chew toys or on a lick mat, your safest bet is to make it yourself. And when it comes to how much to feed your dog, the amount of peanut butter shouldn’t make up more than 10% of their overall calories in a day.

If you’re opting for commercially bought peanut butter, there are a few red flags to look out for, including xylitol, fat content, added sugars and allergic reactions.

Xylitol is a sweetener popular in foods, gum, toothpaste, and other human substances. It’s a “natural” sugar substitute that’s safe for humans — also referred to as birch sugar — but can be extremely toxic for dogs. In fact, xylitol is more dangerous to dogs than chocolate.

Be sure to check the ingredient list carefully to make sure xylitol isn’t listed. Don’t be misled by the words “all natural ingredients”: Xylitol is considered a “natural” ingredient.

The pancreas helps your dog digest much of the fats that they eat. Feeding a dog too much food that’s high in fats and simple sugars can cause the pancreas to work harder. The result can sometimes mean that your dog could develop pancreatitis.

High salt content in some proteins can also be detrimental for dogs with pancreatitis. And though there are good protein sources that can contain healthy fats, they should be consumed sparingly. Look out for ingredients like palm oil, corn syrup and trans fats.

Peanut butter often poses health risks to dogs due to its high sugar content. If a dog eats too much sugar, they may be at risk for some serious health issues, including weight gain and obesity, tooth decay, unsteady blood sugar levels, diabetes and hypoglycemia. So it’s best to avoid sugar in your pup’s diet at all costs. Yet another reason to consider making homemade peanut butter for your dog.

Avoid giving your dog a bite of your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The peanut butter will likely be fine, as long as there’s no xylitol in it, but the jelly, on the other hand, may cause harm. Not only is there a lot of sugar in jams, jellies and preserves, but the fruits themselves can hurt your dog. Grapes, for instance, are dangerous to dogs. It’s safest to give dogs their peanut butter plain.

Fortunately, peanut allergies are very rare in dogs. But every dog is an individual, so there’s always a chance of allergy. If you’re concerned, give your dog a very small taste of peanut butter the first time or two.

Signs of allergies can include severe itching; swelling, particularly around their eyes or muzzle; hives or small areas of swelling; vomiting and/or diarrhea; rapid or difficult breathing; or collapse. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, take them to your emergency veterinarian immediately.

You may come across peanut butter products marketed specifically as “peanut butter for dogs,” but this label doesn't guarantee that they’re any healthier or safer than regular peanut butter. Though these products typically leave out harmful ingredients like xylitol, they may still contain unnecessary additives, flavorings and artificial sweeteners. These additives provide little nutritional benefits to dogs.

Like you would if choosing a peanut butter from the grocery store, check the label. Look for a simple ingredient list with just peanuts. And as always, moderation is key.

Peanut butter is a great occasional treat for your dog, but if you want some peanut butter lifehacks, we've got you covered. Your pup may even start to look forward to activities they usually hate if they know peanut butter is part of the deal.

Put a bit of peanut butter on a spoon, put the pill on top of it, then a bit more peanut butter. Your dog will likely eat the peanut butter never realizing there’s a pill in there.

If your dog is a whiz at finding even hidden medication, take a thumb-sized piece of bread, put peanut butter on it, roll the pill in it and give your dog the little sandwich. Unless the pup is a Houdini, this trick will likely fool them into taking the pill.

You can also put a bit of peanut butter on a wall to distract your dog while you’re grooming or bathing them. Additionally, you can put some peanut butter in a dish so they can lick it off to keep them occupied while you’re clipping their nails.

Lastly, put some peanut butter in a hidden food toy as a treat, or freeze the toy for an especially long-lasting, tasty treat. Both of these methods can be helpful to distract your pup.

There are plenty of treats available on the market that contain peanut butter. Below is a list of products and recipes to make your very own peanut butter treats for your lucky pup.

• Carrot and Peanut Butter Dog Treats

• Pumpkin Peanut Butter Frozen Treats (frozen treats can be good for separation anxiety or a longer-lasting treat)

• Peanut Butter Macaroon Munchies

If you’re not a home chef, consider human grade peanut butter treats from The Honest Kitchen. These Peanut Butter and Honey snack cookies are a perfect convenient treat made with goat’s milk, barley, rolled oats, peanut butter, honey and organic coconut oil. Dogs can’t resist them.

Peanut butter is enticing for both humans and dogs, but feeding your pup any old peanut butter from the grocery aisle won’t cut it. Because the range of peanut butter in stores varies so much and may contain toxic additives and high levels of fat and sugar, consider making your own at home.

If you’re in a rush and need to buy peanut butter from the store, read the labels carefully, and consider consulting with your veterinarian about which store-bought brands of peanut butter are safest for dogs. Alternatively, when you’re looking for a safe, fool-proof option to support your dog’s health, consider natural, human grade dog food and treats from The Honest Kitchen.

Explore our full collection of healthy and natural treats — your pup will thank you!