Is whey protein safe for dogs, and can it help them gain muscle?

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. Great question! No, it is best to not use human vitamin supplements. They are not balanced for dogs and you could end up overdosing Max on certain vitamins/minerals that can cause a lot of problems. It is recommended you use supplements made for dogs. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Boop by Petco. None of these ingredients look harmful to dogs, so Neiko will likely be OK! He may experience some GI upset such as vomiting or diarrhea, but otherwise these ingredients look safe. I hope this is helpful!

You should feed a good quality brandname puppy food for medium sized dogs. This will have enough protein to make appropriate muscle in your puppy. If you get too much muscle at his age his bones may not be strong enough for it. So it is better to let him grow slowly. Give him lots of exercise appropriate for his age. If you think he still does not have enough muscle at the age of 1 1/2 years you should take him to a vet for a general exam and assessment. If all is well then you can feed the adult version of the food you are feeding or go to a veterinary nutritionist and have a healthy ration calculated for what you want. Do not overfeed protein at this age as it will be detrimental to his bone development and may compromise kidney function. His muscle mass will vary while he is growing, he will have more one day and less another until the body is fully grown.

Yes, you can safely give this in a healthy dog, but I would question the reason for giving it. This is not necessary and is already in adequate quantity in the dog food. Excessive amounts will not be useful and will just be excreted. In certain conditions like liver and kidney disease it may be dangerous. I hope that helps.

Thank you for posting this question. Increasing protein won’t necessarily increase weight , increasing calories in general is the goal. If she will eat more of her food you could increase the amount you are feeding. You could try feeding more times a day. You could also visit www.balanceit.com This website can help you design a home cooked diet safe for kidney disease. This could be given in addition to the commercial food you are feeding. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Capone. Yes there are protein supplements that can be added to food, however, these are typically better formulated by a nutritionist. Additionally, his weight loss may not be from the food itself but more so from his chronic pancreatitis or this could be signs that there is something else going on with him. If his weight loss continues, he may need to have more extensive diagnostics to look for evidence of other diseases. With chronic pancreatitis, he could eventually develop a deficiency in pancreatic enzymes that help digest food, and he may actually not be absorbing all of the nutrients in his diet. Talk with your veterinarian about testing for exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI) and consulting with a nutritionist. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello. An adult dog should not need an additional source of protein if they are eating a balanced dog food well. But I see no harm in sprinkling a small amount on the food to enhance the flavor.or as a treat. You could use a teaspoon daily unless your pet is underweight or recovering from illness or injury. Then you could add more or add it to multiple meals as needed. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Feed a high quality, high protein puppy food. Feed multiple times a day. Premium brands of dog food include Canidae, Royal Canin, Orijen or Acana. Repeat a fecal exam to definitively rule out intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Maldigestion or malabsorption issues may also need to be ruled out via blood tests.

Yes, puppy food is a "hotter" diet higher in protein and carbs. It is formulated for a growing puppy that needs the extra nutrition. An adult dog may gain excessive weight if fed a puppy formula regularly. The higher protein content may also put undue stress on the older dog's kidneys. If possible, feed then separately or take up the puppy food if you free feed.

To the best of my knowledge, no studies have been done focusing on spirulina. Supplements and what not are no well regulated or even tested to see if they do what the manufacturer claims the do. Spirulina can contain toxins and pollution if not grown carefully under the right conditions. I recommend to stick with established pet food companies who have a proven track record of making quality food in a safe fashion. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.