 The Short Answer is: |
If your veterinarian recommends it, you should only feed dogs the amount of Ensure that they need to keep their calorie intake low and their overall diet balanced. If your dog is lactose intolerant, do not mix Ensure with other dairy products. Mix it with plain water instead. |
In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Drink Ensure? Can I Give My Dog Ensure?“.
Are your dogs underweight? Do you want to improve the health of your dogs? As dog owners we are naturally concerned when our furry friends are ill or feeling under the weather. You may be wondering “Can I give my sick dog Ensure?” Heres the quick answer.
Can dogs drink Ensure? Ensure can be consumed by dogs in small or reasonable quantities but you need to know a few things about it first. To begin with its not designed for your dog so there may be some side effects. Ensure is a nutritional supplement designed for people who have difficulty digesting food on their own. It can provide enough nutrients to equal standard dog food when mixed with water.
After giving Ensure to your dog it is important to note that they should not eat or drink anything else for a couple of hours afterward. This is because the stomach will need time to digest the liquid. As Ensure is high in fat and calories you should never give them a full serving.
Can dogs have Ensure?
If your veterinarian recommends it you should only feed dogs the amount of Ensure that they need to keep their calorie intake low and their overall diet balanced.
If your dog is lactose intolerant do not mix Ensure with other dairy products. Mix it with plain water instead.
Can I Give My Dog Ensure?
There is evidence that many people with sick or elderly dogs give them Ensure in order to provide them with some nutrients and calories. Some veterinarians recommend giving an older dog Ensure as one of the best ways to ensure they have enough energy and fluids.
If you feed your dog any type of liquid food you should keep in mind that they may not be able to tell when they’re full and will keep drinking until the bottle is empty. They could overheat which could make them sick or cause bloating and diarrhea.
There are some people who disagree with the idea of feeding Ensure to dogs and claim that any extra sugar could cause dental problems and lead to weight gain which could have other more serious long-term effects.
Ensure contains a high level of sugar that can cause serious health problems if consumed too quickly. The amount suggested by your veterinarian should instead be mixed with 12 ounces of water and given to your furry friend over a 20-minute period.
Ensure can and should be given to your dog for a number of reasons. The key is choosing the right type of Ensure for your canine companions. The type of medicine that is best for your pet can be determined by a veterinarian.
Additionally you should be aware of the kind of Ensure you’re buying because some types may contain too much protein fat or sugar which may cause digestive problems in dogs.
There are types of Ensure that are flavored and may contain harmful additives which are also present in other processed beverages not intended for consumption by dogs.
Avoid Chocolate and Other Ensure Flavors
Ensure brands are not all created equal. Some generic brands may contain additives that are very dangerous for your pet. There is even cocoa in the chocolate version of the brand-name product which is toxic to dogs.
Theobromine a chemical found in chocolate that our canine friends are unable to metabolize makes chocolate toxic for dogs. Chocolate also contains caffeine a substance our dogs cannot digest. Neither theobromine nor caffeine can be properly metabolized by our pups so these chemicals are extremely harmful.
Chocolate poisoning includes the following signs and symptoms:
- Frequently urinating due to excessive thirst.
- An increase in heart rate.
- An upset stomach that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
- Heavy panting.
- Whole-body shaking.
- Restlessness.
The following symptoms can result from chocolate poisoning in severe cases:
- Heart failure.
- Seizures.
- Muscle tremors.
So a good rule of thumb is to only buy the original vanilla variety of Ensure and not the chocolate strawberry or caramel varieties because they contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs as well as sugar.
Donot give your dog Ensure without consulting your veterinarian and consider giving him specially formulated dog drinks as well.
As a result of vomiting dogs can develop complications such as aspiration pneumonia where vomit enters the lungs or airways leading into the lungs rather than being swallowed. To understand what caused your pooch to vomit check out the Dog Vomit Color Guide and call your veterinarian immediately.
When To Consider Giving a Dog Ensure To Drink
Ensure contains 10 essential vitamins and minerals has about 20 calories per 8 ounces and has about 20 calories per 8 ounces.
Ensure for example contains the following vitamins:
- A variety of B vitamins including folate vitamin B12 biotin thiamin riboflavin niacinamide and calcium pantothenate are essential for energy metabolism and cell function.
- A vitamin that promotes healthy skin bones teeth and eyes.
- Vitamin K promotes normal blood clotting and protein synthesis.
- Vitamins C and E act as antioxidants to promote a healthy immune system and combat free radicals.
- Vitamin D3 contributes to the strength and health of your dogs bones.
Additionally Ensure contains the following minerals that are beneficial for our canine friends because they are crucial for cellular function:
- Zinc sulfate.
- Manganese sulfate.
- Salt.
- Copper sulfate.
- Potassium chloride.
Usually it is used as a meal replacement or as a supplement for dogs recovering from surgery or illness. It is a good idea to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog anything that is not designed for dogs.
An underweight dogs diet can be supplemented with Ensure to add calories. By adding moderate amounts of Ensure to your dogs diet you can help them gain some weight while ensuring they get the balance of vitamins and nutrients they need. In order to help your dog put on some weight and get more nutrients in their diet your veterinarian may recommend this.
It is also possible to feed your dog high-calorie dog food that is specially designed to give your dog that extra bit of bulk if your dog is able to eat solids.
Can dogs drink Ensure to gain weight?
We highly recommend that you consult your veterinarian before allowing your dogs to drink Ensure to gain weight. Since dogs have different health needs you should also consult your veterinarian. A dogs reasonable and appropriate quantity may be different from another dogs.
Based on your dogs size and health history you and your vet can decide how much Ensure your furry friends should drink. As a result your pooch will be able to gain the needed weight in a healthy manner.
Helping Underweight Dogs Gain Weight
Several ways can help your dog gain weight if he is underweight. A good place to start is by feeding him more calories. Add canned pumpkin puree to their food and feed them one can for every ten pounds they need to gain.
You could also try changing the kind of food you feed them or switching up what they eat throughout the day so that they get an even distribution of protein and carbs. Last but not least you can also use supplements such as high-calorie dog treats or Ensure if your veterinarian recommends them.
Ensure and Lactose
Carnivores dogs can not digest lactose as they are carnivores. Drinking milk without experiencing any adverse effects is a natural process. It is because dogs’ bodies cannot break down the sugar contained in dairy products that they experience bloating gas and stomach cramps.
It is common for dogs to experience symptoms after consuming milk products. There is an enzyme called lactase in milk that breaks down sugar in dairy foods into smaller sugars that are not easily digested by animals with lactase deficiency (which includes most dogs).
It is extremely important to be extra cautious when giving your dog anything that contains dairy products since they do not naturally produce this enzyme. Moderation is key and if your dog is experiencing side effects give them plenty of cool freshwater or dog-friendly drinks to prevent dehydration.
Lactose in Ensure is considered clinically insignificant in lactose-intolerant individuals because it contains 500mg per serving. Comparatively milk contains between 10000mg and 15000mg of lactose per serving which is 20 to 30 times more than milk.
Even with this small amount of lactose there is still a possibility of some side effects because most dogs are lactose intolerant. As a result of consuming Ensure your dog might experience diarrhea or an upset stomach. Milk sugars cannot be broken down by the body causing an imbalance in the natural bacteria levels in the gut which results in gastrointestinal distress.
Conclusion
The Ensure nutritional supplement is designed to help people on a low-calorie diet get all the nutrients they need. Is Ensure safe for dogs? Of course! When choosing dog food you should pay attention to whether its formulated for pets.
Ensure-like drinks for dogs are available that are nutrient-dense but there are also versions of the drink that are not suitable for pets. The food you give them must be safe for them to consume and free from harmful additives. Please consult your veterinarian if you are unsure what to feed your dog.
Related Questions
Can I give Pediasure to my dog?
Generally DogPediasure is safe for dogs but it does contain a high amount of sugar and salt. The sodium content in Pediasure is 130mg and the sugar content is 12g. A dogs health is not considered to be benefited from high salt and sugar levels. As a result too much sugar consumption can result in diabetes weight gain obesity and other health issues.
When dogs eat too much salt they can experience dehydration diarrhea and salt poisoning.
It is for this reason that Pediasure is recommended for dogs. It is highly recommended that you consult your dogs veterinarian if you are unsure.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
