Can Dogs Drink Almond Milk? Is Almond Milk Bad for Dogs?

For us bipeds, almond milk is not only nutritious, but it’s also less environmentally damaging than some other dairy and non-dairy varieties… though that’s not to say it’s environmentally friendly. Healthy for us as it may be, is it a good idea to let your furry friend share it with you? Can dogs drink almond milk? Should they?

The short and definitive answer is… drumroll… perhaps!

Like a lot of other foods and drinks produced for human consumption, dogs can drink almond milk… but they should do so with caveats.

In today’s post I’ll explain why you need to be careful about the variety and quantity of almond milk you allow your dog to drink. I’ll also discuss the benefits of almond milk as well as the risks of allowing your dog to drink it.

Can Dogs Drink Almond Milk?

Many people searching for an answer to this question will likely be concerned because their dog drank almond milk by accident.

Dogs can drink almond milk in the sense that it’s very unlikely to cause them short-term harm. Most dogs can drink a moderate quantity of almond milk and not suffer any ill effects at all.

However, you have to be extremely careful not to allow your dog to drink almond milk that contains certain artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to dogs.

Is Almond Milk Bad for Dogs?

As a general rule you can allow your dog to drink a small amount of almond milk from time to time.

That said, never allow your dog to drink almond milk that contains the sweetener xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol found in fruits, vegetables and many other plants and is used as a lower calorie alternative to sugar.

I’ve spoken previously about the danger of some sweeteners for dogs. To drive the point home again here, xylitol is highly poisonous to dogs, and as a consequence you should never allow your dog to drink or eat anything containing it.

It may seem innocuous, but even a small amount of xylitol can cause your dog’s blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low (hypoglycemia), which can lead to liver failure, seizures and in worse cases, death.

Even if almond milk doesn’t contain dangerous sweeteners, you must still be very diligent in terms of the quantity and frequency you permit your dog to drink it.

When Treats Become Bad

Although almond milk contains many nutrients, it’s often high in calories, because of the sugar and fat content. So even if xylitol isn’t used to sweeten it, allowing your dog to drink almond milk in large quantities every day can mean it will intake more calories than it needs.

Of course, if almond milk is sweetened with sugars, this can cause tooth decay in dogs.

All dogs can become obese if they have a diet that includes more calories than they can burn… and yes, Whippets can get fat too! Since canine obesity has a number of serious health and quality of life implications for dogs, it’s wise not to encourage over consumption of any type of “treat”.

Finally, dogs can have allergies to certain nuts, so it’s entirely possible that any dog drinking almond milk, especially if doing so for the first time, might have an allergic reaction to it.

Hence, although dogs can drink unsweetened varieties of almond milk, it’s sensible not to let them drink very much at all. 

For example, a little almond milk left in the bottom of your cup will probably not pose a huge risk (assuming it doesn’t contain xylitol and assuming your dog isn’t allergic to it). But letting your dog drink a cup of almond milk a day should absolutely be avoided.

Find out more about xylitol and other foods bad for dogs.

Is Almond Milk Good for Dogs?

In all honesty, almond milk does not form part of a dog’s natural diet! Of course I’m being facetious, but I’m also pointing out a fact.

Without doubt almond milk will contain nutrients that will be good for dogs. It’s largely lower in calories than cow’s milk, and many varieties will be boosted with calcium as well as Vitamins A and D.

However, although dogs can drink almond milk (unsweetened of course) the nutritional benefits are probably outweighed by the fact that most dogs don’t need almond milk… the nutrition they need should come from a high quality and balanced premium dog food.

My advice would be only ever to give a small amount as an occasional treat and only then if it’s unsweetened.

Find out what dogs can and can’t drink.

Summary

Dogs can drink almond milk, but only if unsweetened. Almond milk containing sweeteners like xylitol is dangerous for dogs and varieties with added sugar will introduce unnecessary calories.

Just because a dog can eat or drink something made for human consumption, it doesn’t mean it should.

A little unsweetened almond milk as a one off treat will probably not cause any harm but dogs shouldn’t drink almond milk in large quantities on a regular basis.

If you’re ever in doubt about almond milk or any other food stuff, speak to a veterinary professional for reliable advice specific to your dog.

Have you encountered problems letting your dog drink almond milk? Please tell me about it, or ask a question, in the comment section at the end of this page.

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