There are more ways of killing a dog than choking it with butter

See also the adjacent entries.

There's more ways to kill a dog besides choking him with butter.
[1845 W. T. Thompson Chronicles of Pineville 35]

A proverb always had to be capped. No one could say, ‘There's more ways of killing a dog than hanging it’ without being reminded, ‘nor of choking it with a pound of fresh butter.’
[1945 F. Thompson Lark Rise xvi.]

It [liquor] was a lifesaver and I'm much obliged. But you can kill a dog without choking him with butter.
[1955 W. C. Macdonald Destination, Danger x.]

Related to: ways and means

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.