Almond milk has gained popularity over the years as a dairy alternative and has become a popular choice among people. We know that almonds provide significant health benefits for dogs and humans, but what about its milk? Can dogs have almond milk?
Yes, you can give almond milk to your dog. But only the right kind and the right amount. Because most of the forms are not suitable for dogs.
It is readily available at any grocery store and is a part of most households across the country. Let’s dig deeper into the details and find out how good it is to feed almond milk to your dog!
What is Almond Milk Made Of?
Two main ingredients, almond, and water! are blended to form a thick paste.
The strained paste leaves behind the smooth liquid. In this milk base, different additives and preservatives are added to increase shelf life.
Sweetened and unsweetened almond milk both are available in the markets.
What Type of Almond Milk Dogs Can Drink?
Now that you have the answer to whether dogs drink almond milk, the next step is which one?
Unsweetened almond milk is the best choice for dogs. The only ingredients it should contain are almonds and water. You should give it in moderate quantity because it has many calories.
Also, it is not suitable to make a regular part of your pet’s diet. You should check the ingredients list. Because most of the almond milk available in stores contains artificial sweeteners.
Just like dogs cannot eat junk food like skittles or sausages, almond milk in such a way is also not a good option.
They are unsafe for your dogs to ingest and one of the most toxic additives is “xylitol.” Xylitol is poisonous for dogs. It can put your dog’s life in danger and can cause hypoglycemia, liver failure, or in the worst-case scenario, death!
Symptoms of Ingesting Xylitol:
The question is, how would you know that your dog has ingested milk with Xylitol in it? Watch out for these symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Laziness
- Seizures
- Weakness
Raisins are also toxic for dogs, so make sure whichever milk you buy shouldn’t contain it.
Can Puppies Have Almond Milk?
Puppies can drink almond milk, but is it advisable to feed them this milk?
Certainly not. We believe that almonds are not toxic to dogs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is beneficial. And for puppies, it is not recommended that you feed them different foods every time.
Your pup enjoying almond milk doesn’t mean that you should make it a regular part of their diet.
Think of it this way, you love drinking a lot of soda, but is it right for you? Nope. The same is the relation between almond milk and puppies.
They do not need any milk to survive. The milk that puppies got from their mother was sufficient for them. So any other milk not necessary to add to their diet.
How Would You Know If Your Dog Likes Almond Milk?
Almonds have essential minerals and nutrients that are good for your dog’s health. Most of the dogs love eating nuts due to their crunchy texture. If your pet enjoys eating peanuts and other nuts, there are high chances that they like almonds too.
Your dog might not straight away like the taste of almond milk because they only tend to drink water. However, If you want to incorporate it into their diet, try mixing it with some other food that they eat.
If they enjoy drinking almond milk. You will surely get to know from their body language.
Of course, they won’t look up at you but, they will start wagging their tail, wander around the kitchen or excitedly spin around you. That’s how you will know that your dog is a fan of almond milk!
Nutritional Value of Almond Milk
There isn’t a specific nutritional value for almond milk. It differs from every manufacturing company. From additives, minerals, fat content, sweeteners, fibers, calories till almond concentration.
But before buying, do check the ingredients list for any ingredient that can harm your pet. We advise you that you should buy plain almond milk with 10% almond concentration.
You do not get the benefits from milk only but from almonds also. Almonds themselves have a considerable amount of nutrients. If we talk about 28 gram of serving of almonds, it approximately contains:
- 6 grams of protein
- 3.5 gram of fiber
- 37% of Vitamin E
- 14 grams of fat
- 32% of manganese
- 30% of magnesium
Almonds have tons of vital antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress.
It is responsible for damaging molecules in cells and cause of inflammation. According to researches, almond milk contains all the essential nutrients that a dog needs.
3 Reasons Why Almond Milk Is A Good Choice For Dogs
Looking for one good reason to tell you that, can dogs have almond milk? Well, you are on the right page. Please read below to find the advantage of feeding it to your pet.
1) It Is Lactose-Free:
Most of the mammals feed upon their mother’s milk at the time of their birth. As these puppies pass their growing age. Their bodies no longer produce the lactase enzyme. Which will help them digest milk containing lactose.
Almond milk is lactose-free, unlike other types of milk. So, feeding them lactose incorporated milk can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Almond milk doesn’t contain lactose. Because it is a plant-based product; Therefore, dogs can quickly drink it.
So, the picture is pretty much clear now that dogs can drink almond milk or not. It’s safe for them but in a moderate amount.
2) Dogs Love Drinking its Milk:
Almond milk has a unique creamy texture, which not only humans enjoy, but dogs love it too! Different types of nut butter also make a fantastic treat for dogs.
But be careful while feeding them; you shouldn’t let your dog consume much of it as it can cause health problems.
3) It Helps To Relieve Constipation:
If your dog is suffering due to lactose intolerance, almond milk is an excellent choice.
It helps in easing constipation, the same as in humans. But do not give them in excess amount as it can harm them instead of providing benefits.
5 Reasons Why Almond Milk is Not a Good Option for Your Dog
While every food you feed to your pet has both pros and cons.
We discussed the pros above, and now it is time that you should know why it may also not be an excellent choice for your dog.
1) It Is Expensive:
There is no doubt over the fact that almond milk is not cheap. The processes it goes through and the price of almonds make this milk an expensive option for your pet.
Owning a dog comes with great responsibility and is costly as well. Their food, regular health checkups, grooming, health insurance. All these are expensive, and when you decide to add almond milk, it is an additional expense.
Who doesn’t want to feed the best food available to our pets? But we don’t think almond milk is a practical option as it can cost a fortune.
Spending 2$-5$ for a 32-ounce almond milk pack is expensive to give it to dogs. And if you decide to buy the finest brand like Aussie, it can cost you around 10$ for 1 liter only.
Now you must be thinking of making almond milk at home so that it is cost-effective. Of course, you can prepare it, but does it make a big difference? It can be cheaper than the branded ones. But if the nuts’ price is greater then, it is not an excellent option to put your effort into making almond milk at home.
Usually, these nuts cost 4$ per pound. We know it sounds expensive because almonds need time and effort for cultivation.
2) Canines Naturally Do Not Eat Milk And Nuts:
Dogs can survive without milk and puppies can also for a short period too. The best type of milk for dogs is the one they get from their mothers.
The teeth structure of canines makes it difficult for them to chew nuts, and it is hard for dogs to digest them. So the milk form is the best option for dogs.
If your pup cannot wean on mother’s milk for some reason. There are plenty of other formula milk options available in the market, like raw goat milk.
It has more nutrients than almond milk for puppies.
3) Watch Out for Harmful Ingredients:
Almonds are not dangerous for dogs. but to increase shelf life and add more taste, preservatives and additives are added. Which we enjoy but are harmful to dogs.
Yes, your dog can have almond milk. But before buying it, do check the ingredients and avoid feeding it to your pet if it contains the following:
Carrageenan – This food additive helps to thicken moist food products. And companies commonly use it in dairy-free products like soy milk and almond milk.
This ingredient can be harmful to dogs. It can cause gastrointestinal inflammation.
This prolonged inflammation may cause severe health issues like cancer.
Chocolate – A big no! Chocolates are toxic for dogs as it contains an element called “Theobromine“. Humans can easily ingest it but can cause severe digestive issues for dogs. Avoid giving them chocolate in any form like flavored drink or food.
Gums – Just like carrageenan, it is also used to thicken the liquid. Most companies use gums like Guar gum, locust bean gums.
A moderate amount of this is okay, but it can cause diarrhea.
Xylitol – As discussed earlier, this is extremely dangerous for dogs.
This artificial sweetener is toxic for canines. Because it enters into the blood and causes insulin to be released from the pancreas.
Causing blood sugar levels to drop, known as hypoglycemia.
4) It Can Make Your Pet Obese:
Health-conscious people use almond milk as an alternative. As it has less sugar and low-calorie content. But that does not mean it is entirely free from fats. Foods like whipped cream also contain high-fat content it is also not suitable for dogs.
Nuts contain fat, and so does almond. When these nuts go under process, they have many calories and fat, which your dog doesn’t need.
The high-fat content of almonds can make dogs obese. If your pet is already overweight, feeding them almond milk can lead to health problems.
Obesity has become a rising issue in canines, and the high amount of fat in nuts can also cause pancreatitis.
5.) It is Not Much Nutritious:
There is no doubt that almond milk is beneficial for dogs and is a good substitute for regular milk. But it does not provide as many nutrients as we think.
It is because the nuts undergo many processes during which they lose their vital minerals and vitamins. When the nuts undergo a straining process, the only thing left behind is the milk.
It doesn’t even have half of the beneficial nutrients as almond as a whole. These almonds undergo a filtration process. This why it contains only 2% almond while the rest is only additives and water.
How to Feed Almond Milk to Your Dog?
Now that you have decided to add it to your dog’s diet, you must think about how you should give it to your pet? There are a few ways that you make dog food tastier by adding almond milk like:
- Incorporate it with yogurt, as it has vital nutrients.
- Add it to commercial food to soften it
- Offer them in place of water
- Give them before their meal
- Try giving it with food which they don’t like
Does Almond Milk Help In Arthritis In Dogs?
Almonds have tons of vital nutrients. They are excellent for your dog’s health at an early age, as well as their adulthood.
The same goes with its milk, too; the drinking option is convenient as well. The root cause of arthritic conditions is inflammation. And an increase in it can worsen your dog’s condition.
Almond milk also has anti-inflammatory properties that will help cure arthritic pain in dogs.
Does Almond Milk Prevent Other Bone Problems?
Almond milk is not as effective for bones as other dairy products, but it does strengthen bones. The majority of the production companies add calcium to it so that it resembles dairy products.
But if your dog’s diet does not have calcium-rich food, then almond milk is a fantastic source of calcium.
Calcium is popularly known to strengthen bones and keep them healthy. Therefore, an adequate amount of it will prevent your dog from having bone diseases.
Regular intake of almond milk in moderate quantity is known to decrease the risk of osteoporosis in dogs.
Does Almond Milk Help Dogs Who Suffer From Diabetes?
Almond milk helps in regulating blood sugar. Which automatically helps in the prevention of disease. Almond reduces insulin levels and glucose levels after your dogs have eaten their meals.
The reason behind it is that the low-calorie intake provides excellent, long-lasting results for your dogs.
Can Dogs Have Almond Milk In Diarrhea?
No! Never. Although it is a dairy-free product and is suitable for dogs who suffer lactose intolerance.
Adding such items to their diet during this time is not a good idea and can lead to other digestive problems. When the undigested lactose passes into the colon it is fermented there with the help of bacteria.
It causes bloating and diarrhea.
Conclusion:
All in all, we can say that it is okay to give your dog almond milk. But in a moderate amount; otherwise, it can cause health problems. Make sure you read the labels before you buy it as unsweetened almond milk is the best option.
As we said before, almond milk is not vital for dogs; they can do pretty well without it.
So if you are a dog owner who is not quite sure about buying it as it is quite costly, or even making it at home, don’t worry; you can exclude this from your dog’s diet.