Dogs will eat almost anything they can get their mouths on (except their medicine, of course), and this is a fact universally acknowledged by dog owners.
Do you suspect that your dog may have gotten into your protein powder? Here are some things you need to know to make sure he stays healthy and safe after the incident.
If your dog has consumed protein powder, he will likely experience severe diarrhea along with other gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and discomfort.
If he’s in pain, he might also be more agitated or lethargic, or even aggressive or snappy.
Consuming protein powder will cause him discomfort at best and likely behavioral and bowel problems until he passes it. A costly trip to the vet is inevitable if this happens.
Can My Dog Eat Protein Powder?
Maybe you’ve seen commercials for dog-formulated protein powder. To provide your dog with the same health benefits as human protein powder, you can purchase a protein powder made especially for canines.
Examples of this include the fact that dog protein powder would be free of potentially harmful ingredients like those found in human protein powder (more on this in a moment) as well as flavorings, additives, and fillers that are only included in human protein powder to cater to human preferences.
There are situations in which giving a dog protein powder would be beneficial; however, you should always consult your vet to ensure that your dog is receiving the appropriate ingredients for the appropriate issues at the appropriate dosage.
Is Protein Powder for Dogs Safe?
When administered properly, protein powder is safe for dogs. Making your dog protein-rich in an effort to help it gain muscle quickly is not recommended.
Some pet parents, under the impression that protein powder is a great meal, believe that it is sufficient to keep their dog healthy. Protein powder for dogs is proven effective. However, it is not good to merely provide them with protein powder.
There are a few things to remember before giving protein powder to a dog:
- To begin, canine bodies, like human ones, have a tendency to hoard anything that isn’t being used right away. Dogs can develop liver and kidney problems from consuming too much protein. If your dog’s kidneys are already compromised, feeding it large amounts of protein is a bad idea because it will only make things worse.
- Equally, some canine companions have a lactose intolerance and therefore cannot process the protein found in milk or in whey. After ingesting these protein supplements, these dogs experience gastrointestinal distress, such as gas, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Xylitol and other artificial sweeteners, as well as chocolate-flavored protein powders, are toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
Protein powder, which is primarily comprised of amino acids, is an excellent supplement to a dog’s diet. Protein powders that contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs should be avoided.
Benefits of Protein Powder for Dogs
Dogs with high activity levels or those who work long hours need protein supplements more than others. Most dogs living indoors aren’t very active, so their regular meals are sufficient to meet their protein needs. Although, protein powder can be helpful for very active dogs.
Three positive effects of canine protein powder on canine health are as follows.
Dog Muscle Building
When it comes to building muscle in a dog, protein supplements work wonderfully. In the same way, a dog’s body requires protein to function properly.
Your dog won’t be able to develop sturdy muscles if his diet doesn’t include enough protein. The same is true for a dog’s body as it is for a human’s: muscle tissue won’t develop or expand without adequate protein consumption.
Protein supplements are an excellent means of replenishing protein stores, as the body is constantly breaking down protein and requiring the introduction of new protein molecules.
Muscle Repairing
Do you experience muscle soreness after working out? This happens as a result of muscle breakdown from strenuous physical activity.
Our four-legged friends have the same problem; they need to recover from strenuous exercise with a period of rest and rehabilitative care for their aching muscles, just like we do. Muscle recovery is aided by giving a dog protein powder or a protein shake.
Increase Body Weight
Animals can benefit from protein supplements in more ways than one; they help dogs gain weight without accumulating unneeded fats, and they can help tone muscles.
There are times when a dog needs to gain weight, and when that happens, it should be lean mass. Protein powder is a great tool for this!
Disadvantages of Protein Powder for Dogs
In most cases, there are drawbacks to consider after listing the benefits. This also applies to dog protein powder. There are some drawbacks to protein powder for dogs that you should be aware of.
Using protein powder in your dog’s diet can have four negative effects on their health:
Expensive
Protein powders are more costly than other forms of dog food, so many pet owners ponder whether or not it’s worth it to buy it for their dogs. They either don’t feed it or supplement the dog’s diet with other natural protein sources.
Only Protein No Other Nutrients
The powdered protein you feed your pet contains nothing but protein. However, protein shakes do not provide the many other nutrients, vitamins, or minerals that dogs require for proper body functioning.
Therefore, you should add fats and carbohydrates to your dogs’ overall diet in addition to their existing balanced diet.
Will Not Turn Your Dog Into a Superhero
Although powdered supplements can help your dog grow into a healthy adult, you can’t count on them to make your puppy into a powerful adult dog. Additional factors contribute in varying degrees to the dog’s heft.
The Importance of Dosage The protein powder dosage is a very important factor to consider. Dosage for your dog can be determined by his weight.
Your dog requires two grams of animal protein per kilogram of body weight, so keep that in mind. The protein concentration per serving of the supplement you use will also play a role.
What Are The Dangerous Ingredients In Protein Powder?
One of the most annoying things about protein powder and protein shakes is that there is a slight variation between the various flavor options available across different lines and brands and even different production years. Some of the most typical ingredients and the problems they may cause for your dog are listed below.
- Iron
- Vitamin D
- 5-HTP
- Caffeine, tea, and coffee constituents
- ALA
- MSM and/or Glucosamine
- artificial sweeteners (like xylitol)
- Cocoa
- Whey/protein
Iron
Too much iron, which is common in protein powders, can give your dog a very bad stomachache and even damage his organs, which will usually last a very long time if you don’t take him to the vet.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is water-soluble, so unlike in humans, excess amounts in dogs can’t be simply flushed away through the urinary tract. This means that in addition to raising blood calcium levels, it can also lead to kidney and liver failure.
5-HTP
The result is a condition in canines known as serotonin syndrome. Seizures and even temporary blindness can result from the rapid increase in core body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Coffee/Tea/Caffeine Ingredients
Caffeine and other stimulants have a similar effect to 5-HTP. Your dog will act frantically and with extreme nervous energy (like being on a high), which can make him aggressive.
ALA
Antioxidants, which can cause a rapid drop in your dog’s blood sugar level and subsequent extreme fatigue, lethargy, and possibly liver damage, are another name for this.
Glucosamine And/Or MSM
In a short amount of time, this can lead to serious complications like dehydration and nosebleeds. , as well as other telltale symptoms of poisoning. Even in the tiny doses that are safe for humans, they can be lethal to dogs.
Sweeteners (Ex; Xylitol)
Any artificial sweetener is extremely harmful to dogs because even a small amount can cause serious health problems like a dangerous drop in blood sugar, kidney failure, or seizures.
Cocoa
Similar to the effects of caffeine and 5-HTP, even a small amount of cocoa can be too much for your dog’s smaller size and different digestion, causing a rapid heart rate and tremors. Due to its proximity to chocolate, it is sometimes even poisonous.
Comparing the ingredients of MyProtein shakes with the choices up top, you’ll find a lot of overlap.
Pure Whey Protein ingredients are the same. These are two of the most popular protein powders on the market, but they clearly weren’t designed with your dog in mind.
Whey/Protein
Whey protein is commonly found in protein powders for both humans and dogs, and it poses no health risks to humans.
Dosage safety, however, is entirely different. Dogs’ daily protein requirements are much lower than those of humans’. Whey protein shakes are loaded with protein because they are made for humans and consumed by them before, during, and after exercise.
A dog can get too much protein from even a small amount of whey protein powder due to the percentage.
Types of Protein Powder for Dogs
Dogs can benefit from a variety of protein powders, but the ones listed here are the most widely fed. However, they also offer a wide variety of artificial flavors, so pick one that doesn’t if you can.
Various Protein Powders:
Casein Protein for Dogs
Casein protein, which comes from cow’s milk, is a superior protein source. Casein, a protein found in milk, coagulates as a result of the numerous enzymes used in the cheesemaking process.
After being sorted, this material is processed into dry protein supplements that are marketed and sold under a variety of brand names.
Whey Protein for Dogs
In the introduction, we discussed how whey protein, which comes from milk, is a beneficial supplement for canine health. When milk is made into cheese, the watery portion that separates from the curds contains this protein.
Muscle Gain and Recovery Powder
There are different types of protein powders in the muscle gain and recovery category. A variety of protein sources, including milk protein powder, fish protein, soy protein, pea protein, and many others, are included.
Protein powders like these offer a wider variety of proteins from a variety of sources.
However, not everyone benefits from increased diversity. Additionally, the presence of multiple proteins with varying degrees of digestibility reduces the overall efficiency of the digestive process.
You can choose to take a protein supplement consisting of a single product or a combination of products, the choice is yours.
Can Dogs Eat Whey protein?
Whey protein is safe for dogs to consume, and it has many benefits for canines.
As a byproduct of the cheesemaking process, whey is a protein extracted from the coagulated milk. That’s not something you’d find in a dog’s typical diet.
Whey protein supplements are a good idea, then. Because it’s a rich source of nutrients that they’re missing from their typical diet.
Some dog breeds may require more protein than others. There is a general trend toward higher protein requirements among larger dog breeds.
You can give your dog whey protein if he pulls more weight, helps out on the farm, or just had a really good workout. This supplement is designed to help active dogs gain muscle and weight.
Plus points of whey protein for dogs:
The degree to which it is absorbed by the body. Digestive health is essential for a dog, especially when it comes to feeding them protein powder or any other kind of food. This is one area where whey protein really shines. Because it’s an easily digestible source of all nine essential amino acids.
Whey protein powder not only helps your dog’s immune system, but it also may contain cancer-fighting compounds.
While safe, whey protein may not be the healthiest choice due to the high levels of artificial flavoring it contains.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Regular Protein Powder?
Regular protein powder is inedible for dogs because it was developed for human requirements, preferences, and physiologies.
Most manufacturers will add flavors, additives, and more to make it as appealing to humans as possible, since they aren’t designing it for your dog. These ingredients may be safe for you and your family, but they can be fatal to your dog.
Best Protein Powders For Dogs
The best protein powders on the market for canines were investigated, and recommendations were made. These are the five things we think are the best right now.
1 BULLY MAX THE ULTIMATE DOG SUPPLEMENT
PROTEIN POWDER FOR BULKING UP MUSCLE
Protein powder for muscle recovery and endurance training; BSN AMINO X
Four, ISOPURE LOW-CARB PROTEIN POWDER
Protein Powder, 100% Micellar Casein, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 5
For canines, nothing beats these protein powders. They’re packed with strength-boosting, health-promoting ingredients. Oh, and let’s not overlook the fact that they’re cheap!
How Can I Feed My Dog Protein Powder?
If you’re considering supplementing your dog’s diet with protein powder, read on. You can improve your dog’s diet by including protein powder in two different ways.
- Meal
- Shake/Smoothie
You and your dog can decide whether protein supplements should be given in the form of a meal or a shake. They’re both excellent choices.
What To Do If My Dog Ate Protein Powder
If you find that your dog has gotten into your protein powder, don’t panic; the steps below will help you maintain control over your dog’s safety and health.
Get The Exact Product Information And How Much Your Dog Ate
You now know that many protein powders change from year to year and flavor to flavor.
Getting accurate details about your protein powder, down to the stock keeping unit (SKU) if possible, is essential for this.
What it is called, what it tastes like, what ingredients are in it (both good and bad), and how much of it you get.
Call Your Vet And Tell Them Everything
You should definitely call your vet and tell them about this because protein powders can contain a wide variety of harmful ingredients and additives. This is the information that will be requested most frequently, so be prepared.
You should bring your dog in, especially if he ate a lot, and be sure to bring the details about the protein powder you gave him.
Watch Closely For Reactions And Symptoms
If your dog is having a severe reaction (and needs immediate medical intervention), but you don’t bring it in to the vet or it’s the middle of the night and you don’t want to use emergency vet service, you should keep an eye out for serious symptoms. Examples of such things might be:
- Constant and severe bowel movements
- Extreme and extreme vomiting
- Nosebleeds or genital bleeding
- extreme fatigue and dizziness
- Seizures and tremors
- Additional signs of severe anguish or pain
Summary – Can Dogs Eat Protein Powder?
Although protein powder for dogs is generally safe, it is not a good idea to feed your dog exclusively this food because it lacks essential nutrients.
The recommended daily allowance should be adjusted according to your dog’s weight, and additional meals should be given to ensure that he gets all the minerals he needs.