I had two issues this morning. The first was that my new GH has eaten nothing but a few doggie treats since I got her Sunday afternoon. The second was that I had to feed her a pain pill this morning due to the procedure to reset her dislocated toe. The vet gave me to things that you stick the pill in so that the dog will readily eat the pill. Unfortunately, the dog seems to have broken the code at getting the treat but leaving the pill intact. We tried the usual pill feeding method of opening her mouth, putting the pill in the back with her head a bit up, and holding her mouth until she swallowed. I think this dog can set a record for calmly standing there with her mouth held shut, but not swallowing the pill.

I remembered that a Great Pyrenees that I owned many years ago used to love peanut butter. I decided to mash up the pill and put it into the peanut butter after discovering that she readily to the peanut butter. It worked. I then thought of smearing some on the top of her food, and she finally ate some of it.

The long build up is to simply ask if there is any negative issues in regards to peanut butter. I certainly don't intend to make it part of her diet, but it seems usefull now to get her her medication and to prime the pump on eating. Thanks for your input.

Peanutbutter is a regular part of Sammi's diet, as I use it wtih her Kong

I think the only negative issues I would ever have would be if she suddenly could not have her PB anymore.

Super, that's great to know. I had never heard of a Kong so I looked it up on the internet. It seems like a cool toy, and I guess you can get them at the pet stores.

Percy's the best peanutbutter jar licker ever
All of our pups love pb, no ill effects at our house.

You could also try putting some sardines on top of her kibble to make it more enticing. When Sharky stays with us and doesn't want to eat his dinner this always does the trick. Of course you don't want to be decorating her food for the long term, but not having a proper meal since Sunday is a little concerning.

Soul takes pills daily for his lupus. I put them in globs of cream cheese, and he loves it!

Sardines sounds like a great approach. At least I have the pill issue solved thanks to Skippy!

Speaking about not eating, and interesting story was related to me yesterday. I was out riding my bicycle, and I saw a car with a Greyhound logo. I followed the guy, and fortunately he lived close by. His thing was rescuing senior Greyhounds which is an admirable thing to do. His last rescue was 11 years old. Anyway, he had to Greys, and the one who was adopted at 11 had to be put down just recently at the age of 14. The two dogs never particularly paid any attention to one another, but when he came back from putting the one dog down, the other Grey acted strangely for days and would not eat at all for three days. I think they sense more than we even know.

As an aside, the vet recommended that when putting a dog down when there are two in the house, the other dog should be brought along. He indicated that when the other dog sees that they leave without the dog being put down, it gives them some closure on the issue. Fascinating stuff.

My three get plenty of Peanut butter. Our adoption kennel recommended it for kong filling, saying that low fat is better for them. We probably go through two jars a month. They get vitamins and fish/flax seed oil capsules in it every day. All three are very happy to lick the pb and pills right off our fingers. Go for it.

Jim

BTW gang, what is the appropriate Kong size for a Grey? I see that they come in various sizes. Thanks.

My Henry has a VERY sensitive tummy. He is on homecooked with steak. And every day, twice a day, he gets peanut butter with his meds and has no problem ith it. I made a video of Henry taking his meds and pb yesterday~ http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?s=&...t&p=3656759

On the peanut butter question, I recommend getting organic or natural peanut butter that doesn't contain any added sweeteners. Regular PB contains high fructose corn sweetener, which I assume can be a problem if a dog has a sensitivity to corn. Even if they don't, I don't think the dog needs the extra sugars.

FWIW,
DD

Thanks for all the input, and EmilyAnne, I did watch the video!

I give them peanute butter to take their medicine.

We use peanut butter as well. Other soft things we put in their kongs include cream cheese and liverwurst. For pill taking, one of my dogs is really good at figuring out that I'm trying to hide them and will either leave them, or spit them out after she licks all the cheese/peanut butter. Recently someone has suggested hummus and it works like a charm! Just wanted to mention it in case the PB stops working.

We got a king size kong and it is too big I think, so I would suggest one size down which would be the extra large.

I don't know if I'm a bad doggy daddy but I don't mind giving my dogs a bit of the regular peanut butter.
With my older dog (not a greyhound), she takes pills in cheese slices folded on the pills. For the amount I give her, the store brand works, or Kraft if it's on sale.

Cookie is a pb addict . Sometimes I slather pb on banana slices and give it to her (thats what her foster mom did).

Jodie's favorite treat is peanut butter on an english muffin!!

Carl gets his eye supplements every morning buried in peanut butter and I have some organic peanut butter baked treats from Costco for him. Fortunately, all my dogs have been BIG fans of peanut butter.

The only issue here is when we run out of peanut butter!

No problems with PB here. Slices of American cheese work well for some dogs. I just tear off half a slice then tear it in half. Warm 1/4 in hand a sec and smush around pill. Offer to dog. As soon as it takes it hold up non baited quarter of slice so it soesn't take time to dissect cheese covered pill.

I use string cheese for pills. Cut off a small section and just push the pill into the middle. If it sticks out and she can smell it she won't eat it, so I then smear a little peanut butter over the exposed end of the pill/capsule. She INHALES them!

Hi there,

yup, peanut butter works the best for giving pills! Unless your pup has issues with it (the big D - yucky runny poops) then it shouldn't be a problem. Most dogs love it. I use it every day for in their kongs - smear a little on the inside, fill it with kibble, cookies, bananas, bits of cheese, chicken - whatever your pup likes and you have on hand. Freeze it overnight so it takes longer for the pup to get through it. Cream cheese works well also, both for giving pills and in the kongs.

There is an ingredient in peanut butter that can be toxic if they are given alot. Small amounts are not usually an issue.

MaryJane -- could you share the link to that source?

I have medium sized kongs for my girls, and it seems to be a good size for them.

They come running when they hear the PB jar being opened!

This is absolutely true. Letting the remaining dog(s) sniff and examine the body of their buddy allows them to have more closure than simply a disappearance. My childhood beagle/basset Sally stood with us to bury her companion Kippy in the backyard. For about a month, she would go out and stand at his grave, mourning. It was heartbreaking, but we knew she was processing his loss just like us.

Do I have the ONLY greyhound who does knot like peanut butter?

Dogs are fascinating creatures. When I was a young boy, we had two female collies. In those days everyone let their dogs run free. Niether dog ever chased a car. One of the sisters was hit and killed by a car, and from thence forth every car that came down the street got chased.

I make my dogs peanut butter sandwiches..no problems here. (I use regular creamy peanut butter)

Yes!

To answer a previous question--- for links on the toxicity of peanut butter - go to google.com and search on:

peanut butter aflatoxins

I did that and couldn't find anything relating to canines. Unless your dog is allergic, what is the risk? ...and how much is needed?

Probably a misunderstanding somewhere along the line, and someone misinterpreted peanut butter to be toxic, and now it's basically kinda like a rumor. An incorrect one that is. If my uber sensitive Henry can handle peanut butter, I highly doubt it's toxic. And my vet never would have reccomended it as a way of giving meds or for kongs. It is true though that it isn't a good idea to feed you dog *too much* peanut butter, simply because it is very fattening. I'm not sure how much is too much. Probably depends on the individual dog.

I've done some searching and basically the articles says that peanuts can contain mold that has been shown to cause (liver?) cancer if left to sit around and grow. The quicker the peanuts are processed and sealed, the less the mold. Even better if it's stored in the fridge after opening. Though, I found nothing canine related . . . .

12 paws up at our house for the peanut butter, my 3 all love PB. We use it to give pills in also. Works every time.

We used to give King PB in his kong daily but we found that it was not helping him loose any weight. Now that his weight is down we give it as a rare treat. He sure LOVES it though!

My sister once warned me that you don't want to give it to them too much at a time. I guess a big glob could get stuck in their throat, so just be careful not to let them get to much in the throat in one swallow!

Have you tried Pill Pockets by Greenies? They come in beef and chicken flavor. They are soft treat like holders that you slip the pill inside of. These work great. I have been giving Sierra medication for almost 2 months like this. She never spits the pill out. She hears the bag crinkle and wants one.

My Kitty broke the code immediately on the Pill Pockets. She ate the Pill Pocket and spit out the intact pill!

It is OT, but I took Poodle along when his best buddy Rex went to the bridge and he never mourned.

We use tinned corned beef when we give worming tablets, as its quite mouldable when at room temp so we just hide the tablet in a ball of it and they just swallow it down Poor Throp's just had some teeth out and i found the natures diet wet food also works quite well in hiding the pills as it's of a pate consistancy (also works well in making soggy kibble more appetising )

Sardines mixed in with the kibble works well on Throp when he goes off his food and as it goes mushy he can't just eat the bits he likes.

To elaborate on links for the aflatoxins in peanut butter, update the search on google.com to include "canine" (ie. peanut butter aflatoxins canine).

Note, I also give my dogs peanut butter, just not too much. I have also cut back eating it myself. The reason I have formed this opinion is:
1.) I have not seen any notes on studies done to determine toxicity levels in humans or animals.
2.) I have also not seen studies to identify whether the fungus increases during shelf life and by how much.
3.) While the states have very tight standards with food processing, many of our food ingredients are now coming from other countries which do not have the stringent standards that the US has. For example, my peanut butter jars do not indicate the country of origin for the peanuts which is a "big concern" for me as I cannot make a choice whether I trust that country.

I realize and respect that others on the forum may have a different opinion and will act according to those beliefs.

Oh yes, Merlin loves his peanut butter. He gets it in his Kong every day, and if he has to take meds, he gets them hidden in PB. Best to put small amounts of PB around the inside of the Kong, though (as if you're painting it to the sides), rather than fill the Kong with it, otherwise it can cause diarrhea in some dogs, esp. greys.

BTW - not to hijack the thread, but I think we need more pictures of your gorgeous hound

Has anyone found that PB upset your greyhound's stomach? Sounds like a lot of greyhounds with sensitive stomachs are still able to tolerate peanut butter. How much daily? In addition to hiding pills, it seems like it would be a good way to get weight on a skinny grey.

I have you beat! My dog doesn't mind taking medications! She is such a chow hound that if you hold the pill in your hand like it is a treat she will gobble it right up!

How's that for weird

(Sorry to get off topic!)

Biscuits dipped in PB is a weekly treat in our home!

Currently I am having to give Ellie Panacur for a bad case of hookworm. She tollerates the syringe and liquid in her mouth because she knows if she is good, she gets a big spoonfull of peanut butter. And when I get a couple of "empty' jars all the girls get one and they are happy as pigs in ^*&% and will spend hours licking the remains out of the jars

Greg

Mine loves her PB AND will take a pill like it's a treat. I usually just toss her daily pills (multi-vit & G/C) into her food and they are never left behind.

Now our border collie when I was growing up convinced me with her food quirk that dogs werent colorblind LOL She would NOT eat anything green. If you gave her something like stew, she would eat everything around peas or green beans, then lick them off and leave them in the bowl. She wouldnt touch green milkbones. I even dyed her food green once just to see and sure enough, she didnt touch it

Luther loves PB..he takes his meds and supplements every day with a bit..We even have a little song to go with it....(sung to any tune you want).."I know I can, cuz I'm the peanut butter man. Mum says I should cuz it tastes so good.."

Anyway, all I have to say is "Lu, time for peanut butter man"..and he's ready..no pill is too large or too yucky with PB!

Peanut butter is not the problem.
Not enough peanut butter is the problem!

Kenny lost 10 more teeth and cannot have hard cookies as treats for a while.
He is getting banana slices, cooked carrot pieces, and PB kongs for treats now.

GoinGrey

I used peanut butter to get my dog to take his pills. Worked like a champ although there was a lot of lip and palate smacking going on after!
I have a large puppy kong. At fist my dog would get it caught on his lower teeth, and yipe 'cause it scared him (and probably hurt too). He's seem to gotten the hang of it though.

My Clash, the Duke of Bunnytown, ate his pills in peanut butter. I tried that fakey cheese Velveeta once and he was appalled! No way would he eat that nastty yellow stuff! Abigrey