Dogs can eat butter (and will probably enjoy it!) but it isn’t recommended as part of a healthy dog’s diet. Butter is made of milk and is high in saturated fats which can lead to obesity and diabetes if eaten too liberally. There are no major health benefits to feeding your dog butter unless he or she is severely underweight, and even then it should be in tiny quantities as butter will make them unwell.
What to do if my dog has eaten butter
Has your dog managed to get their paws in the butter dish? If you caught them in the act, and they only ate a small amount then it’s probably fine. Keep an eye on their behaviour to see if you need to take further action. However, if your pet has gotten into a whole tub of butter then you need to be prepared for him to start being quite unwell.
The high fat content won’t be something your dog is used to, so he’s likely to have irregular bowel movements, bloating and possible vomiting and diarrhea. If the butter is salted, you’ll also notice that your dog will be drinking excessive amounts of water and feeling a little dehydrated. These symptoms should pass relatively quickly, but if they don’t, then you might need to take a trip to the vet.
If you’ve got more questions about your dog’s diet, then head over to our advice page for more tips. You can join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram – don’t forget to tag us @DogBuddyCo!