Can Peanut Butter really be good?

[Krista]

Yesterday a friend told me that her Dad adds a little peanut butter to his Dachsie's food to help hydrate their skin and give shine to their coats. Has anyone else heard of this? Can this really be healthy for Dachshunds?

I was going to try adding olive oil to Rudy's food as the replies to Marci's posting on dry skin suggested, but peanut butter sounds more palatable. Would this be okay for my slightly skinny dachsie pup? I am already feeding him Eukenuba Lamb & Rice for puppies. If peanut butter is really okay, how much would you add to an 8lb puppy's diet?

[Mark]

It may be OK and if so, it's probably the peanut oil content . . . as for our Dachsies we will stick with the Olive Oil. We don't allow them to have people food and we don't give them the oil year 'round. The peanut butter would add a distinctive odor and flavor that would be difficult for our stubborn little girls to understand eliminating in the Spring & Summer months. I could be wrong, and in fact I think that happened once. (ha) :-)

[Krista]

Mark - I hadn't thought about him only needing extra oil part of the year. I live in a humid valley in Ohio so that is probably true and he would miss the extra flavor. Rudy is also a mini. If he eats around 3/4 cup of food twice daily how much olive oil should I add and should I be adding it at both meals?
Thanks for your help!

[Dolly's Mom]

Hi Krista!

Olive oil did wonders for our Dolly. I used about a teaspoon or 2 each meal. She snarfs up everything so quick in her bowl, I don't think she noticed any difference. Miss Dolly is a N. CA girl, is a smoothie tweener red/brindle and has a very shiny coat.

Dolly's Mom

[Mandy]

As I've said, we use bacon grease instead of olive oil. The boys really love it, and so does my husband, as it means that I make bacon. However, we sometimes use peanut butter as a treat. They love peanut butter. I put it inside a Kong and they have fun all afternoon trying to get it out (1 Kong per dachsund, that is). This may be better for you than putting it into the food. Our boys know that peanut butter is a fun, special treat....Don't totally pass up on medicated shampoos and conditioners...while they don't seem to help with the dandruff, they are soothing to the boys' skin. Also, our guys love to be massaged and I have special Mommy-puppy time with each one every day. It doesn't take but 5-10 minutes and they love the special attention. Plus, the stimulation of the skin can help to evenly distribute the natural oil they already have.

[Mark]

Dolly's Mom uses about the same amount of Olive Oil we do . . . feeding him twice a day try starting with one tsp per meal. His skin will improve in no time!

[Krista]

Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions! I am picking up some olive oil tonight! Peanut Butter in a kong also sounds like a great idea. Rudy already goes crazy over a treat-filled kong. My husband would probably like the bacon too, but since we are both trying to shed extra pounds that probably isn't such a great idea for us. Mandy, what kind of shampoo and conditioner do you reccommend? Rudy is only 6 months old so I have been using a tearfree puppy shampoo by Tomlyn

One last question about the olive oil trick: Does it matter which type you use (ie: extra virgin etc.)? I assume it doesn't, but I just thought I'd ask. Thanks again everyone!

[Mark]

We just get the store brand, no special type. You are welcome . . . I'm sure everyone enjoyed helping.

[Marci]

Dear Krista,
I have given Lucy olive oil in her food now for a few meals and she actually is scratching less. She also doesn't seem as flaky so I also wanted to thank everyone for their replies (Thanks Mark too!). When I comb/brush her she is VERY shiny!

I am glad that you asked about peanut butter. My sister-in-law gives it to her mini schnauzer and he loves it!! I just didn't know about it for Lucy but now i have some thoughts on this from our dachsie parents! For a treat I it sounds OK. I made the supreme mistake of giving her people food with her Nutros early on so I bet she would like it! (I only say this was a mistake because she expects/waits for the "icing" on her dinner now!! I don't mind really)