2014-05-22





Maltodextrin is a common ingredient found in sports drinks to help replenish carbs after exercise.

The answer to my question is “I don’t know?”  I can make a guess that it’s fine in limited amounts, but I can’t find any information on the long term benefits or risks of adding this additive to dog food, treats or supplements.

For humans, Maltodextrin “ is found in foods such as salad dressings, canned fruits, weight gainer supplements and a variety of snack foods; it is also a main ingredient in the brand-name sugar substitute Splenda. Maltodextrin is made from corn starch but it can also be made from potatoes or rice, and unlike fructose, it is less sweet than sugar. Maltodextrin does not provide any nutrients, only calories. But, unlike fructose, it also has an important role as a thickening agent to enhance the texture of certain foods.” ~ LiveStrong

When corn or potato starch are boiled down and then combined with acids or enzymes to break the starch down even further, only a white powder remains. This powder is used as a thickener or often times as filler or bulking agent. In the US and Canada, Maltodextrin is always made from corn or potatoes, but in other parts of the world, it is sometimes made from wheat or barley or tapioca. 

Basically its dextrin (a corn or potato starch) containing maltose (a naturally occurring sugar in honey but commercially produced from corn starch to make corn syrup).

I was approached last month by a brand selling coconut water for dogs.  The claims for the product presented:

their product provides essential electrolytes for hydration

it supports a healthy immune system

it supports skin and coat health

it supports healthy bones & joints

it supports fresher breath

I take reviews seriously, because our dogs are going to be ingesting these products, so I do my homework (I didn’t always).

My first question was “Can dogs drink coconut water?”

Yep.  It’s perfectly safe for dogs, has loads of “vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. When coconut water is fed to dogs, it has been shown to clear skin conditions, sweeten dog breath, condition their fur and even ease arthritis.” ~ Paul Ciampanelli, PawNation

Exactly what the brand said.

My next question is “What are the ingredients?”

According to the website, the coconut water product “contains over 90% pure coconut water powder and less than 10% maltodextrin.”

Malto- what?

The brand is using it as a binding agent in their product.  And it’s not the first.  You can find Maltodextrin in Wag Lifetime Joint Care as well.  The joint supplement we give to our dogs daily.

A Google search for “is Maltodextrin safe for dogs” taught me that the jury is still out and that it is an ingredient used when hydrating sports dogs.  We have active dogs, but we don’t have sports dogs.  Do our dogs really need something that has Maltodextrin?

Further questions taught me that brands use it in minimum amounts as a binding agent.  I’ve been assured that the amount used in Wag Lifetime Joint Care is minimal and harmless and after a year of giving this supplement to our dogs, I agree.  But does it need to be in a drink for dogs?

Let’s start asking more questions…

Being a pet blogger is a blessing and a curse.  I get so many opportunities to try new things and the educational opportunities are astounding.  But the curse comes with the frustration I feel when I feel compelled to turn over a product and read the ingredients.  Then I pull out my phone (or boot up my notebook) to have a chat with Google.  It sucks when I’m disappointed.

This post isn’t to say that the product presented to me for review is a bad product, but I felt that it’s important to put more information out there to inspire other dog owners to question “is Maltodextrin safe for dogs?”  Maybe is more of us are asking this question, more brands will publish more information and studies about this ingredient and it’s effect on our dogs.

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