In today’s world, more and more people are starting to shift towards a healthier approach. They do so by giving up on processed foods or getting higher vitamin intakes. Since hydration is so necessary, some people are looking at vitamin water as a good choice for their daily liquid consumption.
As dog owners love their pets and want the best for them, they may consider giving their four-legged friends some vitamin water too. Dogs need vitamin supplements sometimes, and since this type of water is said to be packed with so many vitamins, owners may get the idea that the beverage is beneficial for pets too.
Can dogs drink vitamin water, though? Keep reading to find out whether drinking vitamin water is safe for your canine companion or not.
What Is Vitamin Water?
Vitamin water is a type of drink that contains water with different added vitamins and minerals. It is marketed as a healthy beverage and many people take advantage of it in an attempt to get the right vitamin intake.
The drink can be found in different flavors, but a lot of times, it contains added sugar and different artificial sweeteners, although natural sweeteners are also present in some cases.
Vitamin water with no added sugar is usually sweetened with stevia and erythritol.
What Are the Ingredients In Vitamin Water?
Vitamin water is packed with various ingredients that give the drink its delicious taste and the vitamins that consumers seek.
Here are some of the ingredients you will find in this beverage:
- Vapor distilled/deionized water
- Citric acid
- Zinc picolinate
- Crystalline fructose
- Vegetable juice
- Magnesium lactate (electrolyte)
- Vitamin E acetate
- Calcium lactate (electrolyte)
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Niacin (B3)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6)
- Pantothenic acid (B5)
- Cyanocobalamine (B12)
- Monopotassium phosphate (electrolyte)
Vitamin water is rich in calories and sometimes, it also contains high amounts of sugar – especially if we’re talking about added sugar.
While small amounts of sugary drinks don’t pose a problem, they can have negative effects to get the recommended daily intake of sugar from a single bottle of vitamin water.
Can Dogs Drink Flavored Water?
Pet owners all over the world are wondering whether human beverages are suitable for dogs. Since vitamin-packed beverages are great nutritional supplements for humans, people are curious whether their furry friends can enjoy the same benefits or not.
A human who drinks vitamin water can get a nice intake of vitamin C alongside other vitamins and minerals. However, dogs may react differently to the beverage given that their bodies are not the same as ours.
Most human electrolyte drinks, such as vitamin water, are not good for dogs. The fruit juices and extracts that manufacturers use when creating the vitamin-rich beverage can have negative effects on a dog’s health, affecting important bodily functions.
For instance, the digestive system of the canine may suffer due to the citrus fruit extracts, preventing the tract from working properly.
That being said, you should refrain from letting your dog consume flavored water. It’s too risky.
After all, you don’t want your beloved pet to suffer, do you?
I would rather you give your dog some watermelon juice which is rich in natural vitamins and minerals. Sure beats artificial flavoring and preservatives.
If your dog is dealing with weakness, deficiencies, or specific illnesses, then dog food and plain water may not be enough, some nutritional supplements might be necessary.
Abstain from giving your dog vitamin water without consulting a vet first. Drinking vitamin water will be less risky for a dog that needs vitamins compared to a healthy dog.
You should only give the dog vitamin water moderately if the veterinarian gives you the green light. Moreover, don’t pour a whole bottle into your pup’s water bowl. Start with a small amount and see how your dog reacts to it.
Otherwise, most dogs should not be consuming vitamin water.
What Can I Give My Dog to Drink Instead of Vitamin Water?
A dog needs a balanced diet, this means you should make sure your canine friend eats more than just dry kibbles. You must include various nutritious options to make sure your dog gets all the necessary vitamins to keep it healthy.
With vitamin water not being the best choice, you may be wondering whether there are other human snack options that are safe for your dog.
The good news is that there are a few human snacks that are great vitamin water substitutes, although they should still be given to your dog in moderation. Here are your options:
Yogurt
Many dog owners give their furry friends some yogurt at times, mostly as a treat. While yogurt will get your dog wagging its tail, it shouldn’t be given in large quantities.
Most dogs are lactose intolerant and don’t handle dairy products too well. The good thing is that yogurt contains lesser lactose as compared to milk.
Yogurts have a lot of added sugar in most cases, so you have to be careful with how much your four-legged friend consumes. If you can, find yogurt that either has no added sugar
You can also make your own yogurt so that you can rest assured that it’s not harmful to your dog.
Organic Vegetables or Fruits
Instead of feeding your dog unhealthy human food for a snack, you may want to consider the healthy alternative of giving it some organic vegetables or fruit.
Some of the best picks are pears, tomatoes, collard greens, and carrots.
Broth
Meat or chicken broth can also be a nice alternative for your dog. It is easy to make such broths by just boiling the raw bones for some time.
Make sure it doesn’t have too much sodium in it, this means that it’s best to skip adding salt to your dog’s broth. And no using broth cubes as those contains a lot of sodium.
What Type of Drinks Should Dogs Avoid?
It’s not rocket science that many human foods and drinks are not suitable for dogs. This is why plain, fresh water is always the best if you want your dog to stay healthy.
But maybe you’ve been thinking of giving your pup something else yet don’t know which drinks should be avoided. Here is a list of beverages that should never be found in your pet’s bowl:
Soda
While soda can be a refreshing drink for a human during a hot summer day, it can be harmful to your dog.
Ingesting larger amounts of soda can increase the dog’s sugar level too much.
Soda contains sugar and even caffeine in some cases, so it should never become part of your dog’s diet.
On top of the dangerous rise in blood sugar levels, the dog may also experience caffeine poisoning.
There are also many brands of soda that have zero calories. The manufacturers have replaced sugar with artificial sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners contain a compound called Xylitol. Xylitol is also found in toothpaste which can be fatal to dogs and cats when consumed.
Juices
Giving juice to your dog may be tempting, especially when it comes to natural juices.
Most commercial juices will have additional sugar, though, not to mention artificial flavors and colors. As such, they are not the best for dogs.
At the same time, you may give your dog very small amounts of pure juices, such as the juice of the fruits you’re chopping.
The best thing to do is ask your veterinarian about certain juices and whether they’re good for your dog before giving them any.
Lemonade
Lemonade may be your favorite drink in the hot season but don’t even think about giving it to your dog.
Lemonade contains citric acid, which can lead to your furry friend dealing with an upset stomach.
On top of that, lemonade has large amounts of sugar, which could result in the dog’s sugar level rising too much or too quickly. In the long run, this could lead to health problems.
Tea or Coffee
Beverages with caffeine such as coffee or tea can lead to negative effects in dogs considering how smaller they are compared to humans.
Tea caffeine toxicity is not uncommon in dogs, as caffeine’s chemical components are very toxic for the canines.
Make sure they do not consume anything that has caffeine in it.
Milk
Most people think that it’s okay for their dogs to drink milk.
However, dogs develop lactose intolerance when they mature, so drinking too much milk can lead to a series of issues such as discomfort, nausea, and diarrhea.
So, you should never give your dog milk unless it’s in tiny amounts and you can monitor your dog to see if it has any negative symptoms.
Beer or Wine
It should go without saying that alcohol is something that dogs should never drink.
They are very sensitive to it and may experience some unpleasant effects, such as abnormal blood acidity, convulsions, difficulty breathing, and even death.
Can Dogs Have Pedialyte?
Pedialyte may be given to dogs, but in small quantities only and as long as the dog isn’t vomiting.
Before giving it to your dog, though, ask your veterinarian if it’s okay.
Can Dogs Have Gatorade?
Gatorade is not something that dogs should drink. It can lead to diarrhea, as well as kidney and stomach issues.
The dog may even become dehydrated as the body may be unable to process it properly.
Although a small amount of Gatorade may not be harmful, it’s best to stick to plain water.
If you have a cat, the same rules apply. It is best to not feed your cat any amount of Gatorade given how sensitive their body systems are.
Conclusion
Vitamin water is not a safe choice for a dog. Although it contains many vitamins, the drink is high in added sugars and artificial ingredients which can lead to a series of health complications.
Unless a dog has a vitamin deficit or is experiencing health issues and a veterinarian says vitamin water in small amounts is safe, refrain from giving it to your canine friend.
Plain fresh water is the best option as it has no risks.