Can dogs be allergic to peanut butter?

In my practice, we have often had clients use peanut butter to give oral medication. Peanut butter works well because it sticks to the pills and makes it more difficult for the dog to pick out the pill and spit it out.  However, I advise clients to use peanut butter in small quantities to give medication or to put in interactive dog toys (such as Kong toys).

Peanut butter is high in fat and could cause intestinal problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea, for dogs that have very sensitive intestinal systems.  Excessive fat, in large amounts, could contribute to the development of a more severe condition, such as pancreatitis.  Also, high calorie food high in fat can lead to obesity, which is a rising problem for dogs, just like it is with their owners.  Obesity can lead to conditions that can decrease your dog’s life span and quality of life including:  joint problems and arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, and heart disease.

Unlike in humans, peanut allergies appear to be very rare in dogs.   Today, however, you have to be careful because there are a variety of different types of nut butters available.  Macadamia nuts should be avoided because they are toxic to dogs.  There is a lot of variability between dogs in the amount of nuts needed to cause a toxic reaction.  The clinical signs of macadamia nut toxicity usually develop within 12 hours and include weakness and/or inability to walk, ataxia (staggering gait), vomiting, depression, tremors, and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature).  If you suspect your dog has ingested macadamia nuts, seek veterinary care immediately.

The question has come up because of Air Canada’s and WestJet’s recent decisions to allow small pets in the cabins of its planes. The CTA is looking into complaints against the two airlines and may end up ordering them to put all animals except service animals back in the cargo bay.

Of course, fur is fur, and service dogs are just as likely to set off an allergic reaction as plain old pet dogs and cats. So, what should be done if an allergy sufferer books the same flight as someone who can’t get around safely without a guide dog?

The Canadian Lung Association suggests the allergy sufferer should have a choice between staying on the flight with the animal or switching to another – at the airline’s expense. There’s no word yet on how the airlines feel about this. Probably they’ll have to accommodate the disabled passengers, even if they lose money by it – and probably they won’t be willing to lose money to accommodate passengers who simply prefer to have their pets with them.

Also, this would give priority to the service dog and its owner. Maybe that’s an unspoken admission that being blind, deaf, or unable to balance is worse than being allergic to animal fur and, therefore, deserves more consideration. Yet, in the United States, a business legally can keep a service animal out if it threatens the health or safety of people or even if it’s disruptive (as when a dog barks during a movie).

It’s going to take time to think this one through.