Foods and beverages that are made for dogs are usually much safer and healthier options than some made for people. What about Ensure? Can dogs drink Ensure? Today we are going to give you a complete answer. You will need to know all the facts before you start giving this beverage to your pet. And yes, you will need to know all the facts before you proceed.
Can Dogs Drink Ensure?
First, What Is Ensure?
Ensure is not a standard beverage. Abbott Laboratories brand produces this and it is actually a meal replacement or nutritional supplement for humans. Can dogs drink Ensure? Let’s see the ingredients and nutritional values first. An 8 ounces bottle will contain 6 grams of fat, 220 calories, 9 grams of protein, and 15 grams of sugar. Although there are a lot of ingredients inside, the main 6 are:
- Water
- Corn maltodextrin
- Soy protein isolate
- Canola oil
- Sugar
- Milk protein concentrate
An interesting fact here is that the beverage is something even people who are lactose intolerant can drink. Dog owners have been using this beverage for dogs who need to gain weight. Ensure has been with us since 1973.
Should You Give Ensure To Your Pet?
The short answer is maybe. Some vets recommend Ensure as an important and beneficial addition to the diet. It can be ideal for dogs who need to gain weight. Older dogs can benefit from Ensure as well. It is one of the interesting methods an old dog can get all the nutrients he needs or at least most of them. Other vets don’t recommend using Ensure. It has sugar that can cause certain health issues and poor oral health. As you can see the opinions are mixed.
Our opinion is a bit simple in the lack of a better word. Yes, you can give Ensure in small amounts to your dog. Always keep in mind that you should mix it with water and allow your dog to drink the mixture. A vet will tell you which amount of Ensure is ideal for your pet. It will depend on his size, health, age, and breed. Most of the time you will need to dilute it with 12 ounces of water and allow your dog to drink it within 20 minutes.
It is a good idea to allow your pet to have the time to digest the drink. What this means is that he needs a couple of hours without any other food so his stomach can digest Ensure mixture properly.
There is no need to add that you must not replace his whole diet with Ensure. This is an addition to the diet and not the main part of it. Your dog needs proper food that is made for dogs and it is still the best way he can get all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals he actually needs. Don’t forget about fruits and vegetables (the ones that are safe for dogs obviously). These are a great addition to the diet.
Not All Ensure Variations of Ensure Are Safe For Dogs
As you should know, there are all kinds of Ensure versions on the market. While some are healthy and beneficial, others are toxic. The best example here is Ensure that contains chocolate. This treat is toxic to dogs. It contains theobromine chemical that dogs can’t metabolize. Chocolate also has another ingredient that is bad for dogs. It is caffeine and no, they are unable to digest it properly. These two can cause severe problems to your pet and even kill your pet in larger amounts.
If you give Ensure that contains chocolate to your pet, you may end up with a pet who has chocolate poisoning. The first symptoms may include:
- Shaking his whole body
- Restless
- Heavy panting
- A heart rate that is increased
- Frequent urination and need to drink more water
- Upset stomach and probably vomiting or diarrhea
All of these are the first signs that a dog will show. In severe cases heart failure, muscle tremors, and seizures are possible. As you can imagine, you need to take him to a vet as soon as possible! He needs to start treatment and eliminate the harmful ingredients from chocolate in order to allow your pet to recover.
A safe approach is to use Ensure made with Vanilla flavor only. It is generally the healthiest, the safest and there are no harmful ingredients inside. The variations that are made with different flavors can be bad and they can cause all sorts of issues and health problems.
Vitamins And Minerals In Ensure For Dogs
Ensure actually contains a lot of minerals and vitamins that dogs need. If your pet needs one or multiple of these, giving him Ensure in small amounts can help. IN general, here we will see the most common vitamins and minerals dogs can get from Ensure.
- Vitamin A– Dogs need this vitamin in order to get a healthier coat, bones, eyes, and skin.
- Vitamin B- Here we can see all kinds of variations and most of them are present in Ensure. Your dog will benefit by getting a better energy level and also better cell function.
- Vitamins E and C- These vitamins are essential for your dog and they act as antioxidants. In a nutshell, these protect the body from free radicals that can damage the cells and therefore organs.
- Vitamin D3– Yes, Ensure does contain D3 vitamin. It affects the bones and keeps them in healthy and strong condition.
Ensure contains a lot of minerals as well. Here we can see potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, salt, manganese sulfate, and copper sulfate. Thanks to these dogs who are recovering from surgery, they can benefit from this beverage.
The Final Word
The answer is still complicated. Can dogs drink Ensure? They can and there are a few cases (when recovering from surgery, needs to gain weight, and needs certain vitamins) when Ensure is an ideal addition to the diet. But, always give it in small amounts and consult your vet about the ideal amount and any risks that may affect your dog specifically.