Peanuts, as in peanut butter, are a beloved treat flavor for dogs. Peanut-butter-flavored treats are all over the place and apparently dogs have a real appetite for the protein-packed nut. But do we know anything about the nutrition of the peanut for our pets? Interestingly, canine and feline research literature regarding peanuts is non-existent. It also has virtually no “bad press.” Treats with peanut butter have been around for decades and it is used in vet clinics and homes to get nervous or reluctant pooches to take their meds. Perhaps we should consider giving it a more mainstream role in pet foods as well.
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are also known as groundnuts, goobers and monkey nuts. The peanut originated in South America (regions stretching from Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). They were brought to Europe by traders in the 16th and 17th centuries and spread to Africa and Asia thereafter. Peanuts were introduced to North America from West Africa apparently through the pre-Civil War slave trade where they were mostly a garden crop. Today, peanuts are a global crop grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions with China as the largest global producer followed by India and the US.
