Can I give my Sheltie Almond Butter?

[frankienme]

Hi all!

When I leave the house, I usually give my sheltie a little bit of peanut butter in the bottom of his bowl to keep from going nuts - no pun intended - and rushing the door - (bad sheltie ) and this keeps him busy while I leave and he seems calmer when I come home. However, I recently found out that peanuts can have fungus and I am working on cleaning out my own system so am not eating peanut butter right now. Now, my dog has had some sinus congestion issues and I was thinking perhaps the peanut butter might not be so good for him as well as it could be contributing to the congestion due to the possibility of fungus.

So, a long way to ask, is there any other nut butter that is okay to give to our shelties - like almond or cashew - instead? Not too much to keep his waistline slim but just enough to keep from attacking the door - he loves his treats so even a dab would work!

I did see the coconut oil post and how it can be good for dogs too. It is funny because I just started using this in my own cooking and for my hair - it is great as a conditioner by the way - and for the body too in this dry weather - and I was wondering if I could give it to my dog. So thanks for that info and perhaps I could put a dab in his bowl and this would work as a distraction - he loves to lick my arm after a shower where I have put on some coconut oil for moisture! I would like some options other than the peanut butter that keep him licking long enough for my escape!

Thank you!

 

[Shelby's mom]

I don't know about the almond butter. But we too have to have to escape the charging sheltie when we leave. I found small low calorie treats (5 cal). I break one in half and throw the pieces across the room. Gives us enough time to get out while she is looking for them. Now she expects this every time we leave and she sits at the pantry door waiting for them.

 

[corbinam]

I don't know much about almond butter.

But, I do give my dogs both a little bit of peanut butter and coconut oil mixed together in a Kong when I leave.

 

[ortegah]

Try this http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Everlasting-Treat-Ball-Large/dp/B0012V1G0Y

We have them and even when the treat is gone you can shove training treats in there and it'll keep them occupied for a good long time.

It's probably safest to keep him in a crate when you're gone though.

 

[Sumac3890]

http://www.k9instinct.com/1/post/2012/12/the-benefits-of-coconut-oil-for-dogs.html


Here is some info on coconut oil.

 

[Ann]

Coconut oil is actually very good for them...I give it to mine every day and they love it. As you probably know if you use it, the consistency in the jar is solid, so you could scoop a bit out and put it in a kong. I don't know anything about almond butter but I think the coconut oil would be a great choice.