Yes, dogs can drink milk, but you may not want to. While most dogs will happily lap up a bowl of milk, enjoy a piece of cheese as a treat, or sneak a few licks into an ice cream cone, milk and all other dairy products are not always good for dogs. The reason: Some, but not all, dogs are lactose intolerant, and dogs that aren’t used to milk can have digestive issues after drinking milk, just as they would with any food they don’t. don’t usually eat.
How to tell if a dog is lactose intolerant
Symptoms of lactose intolerance in dogs include:
- Flatulence
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Signs of abdominal pain
“Dogs can develop antibodies against milk proteins, which will make them allergic to milk. This can lead to mild, and sometimes even more severe, life-threatening allergic reactions,” says Huntington Beach veterinarian Dr. Chad Maki, in California.
“Furthermore, most dairy products are high in fats which can cause gastroenteritis and pancreatitis. In addition, the proteins found in dairy products are not essential nutritional elements for dogs. They get all the nutrition they need from a well-formulated and balanced canine diet,” adds Dr. Maki.
Let’s take a look at the amount of lactose in some common dairy products people give dogs. If in doubt, check the brand’s website or contact the company to find out:
| Dairy product | Lactose content |
| Milk | 1 cup = 12-13 grams of lactose |
| American cheese | 1 slice = 1-4 grams of lactose |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz = less than 1 gram of lactose |
| mozzarella cheese | 1 oz = less than 1 gram of lactose |
| Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt | 1/2 cup = 2-6 grams of lactose (varies by brand) |
| Whipped cream filling | 2 tablespoons = less than 0.5 grams of lactose |
| low fat yogurt | 6 oz = 5-12 grams of lactose |
| Greek yogurt | 6 ounces = 4 grams of lactose |
See more lactose content in the list created by the University of Virginia.
The best milks and dairy products for dogs
Currently, there are many dairy products for dogs on the market. Some products do not contain lactose or contain a small amount, which makes them easier for your dog to digest without problems. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Goat milk for dogs: Goat’s milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk. Raw goat’s milk (a Boss Nation brand product) contains about half the lactose of regular cow’s milk. Therefore, dogs that may be sensitive to cow’s milk can usually digest raw goat’s milk without a problem,” says Shea Samuelsen-Russo, Marketing and Support Manager for Boss Nation Brands. Shea recommends pouring goat’s milk over dog food or freezing it in ice cube trays, or Bosspaws Treat Tray, for a tasty treat.
Dog yogurt: “Live, active cultures break down lactose and create the enzyme lactase,” says Matt Meyer, founder of frozen treat company The Bear & The Rat. “Lactase is the enzyme necessary for the digestion of lactose. So, yogurt can actually help most dogs digest lactose. The Bear & The Rat adds In Clover Pet’s Optagest to their yogurt, which provides a serving of organic prebiotics, along with four digestive enzymes. The prebiotics grow the animal’s native bacteria and the enzymes help them better absorb their food, Matt says.
Lactose-free dog milk: K9 Natural Lactose Free Dog Milk is also made with lactase, which helps your dog easily digest dairy products. Milk, which is a supplement and not a meal replacement, contains taurine, flaxseed oil and calcium. Check the website for feeding suggestions.
Dairy chews for dogs: The dairy products in EcoKind’s Yak Chews are made from yak milk, which its maker says contains higher levels of healthy fats, protein, iron, magnesium, and calcium than yak milk. cow. Yak milk is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. The milk is processed to remove lactose, so it’s gentle on sensitive stomachs.
With these products, give your dog only a little the first time (as with all new foods) to ensure your dog does not have a food sensitivity or allergic reaction.
Are human milk or dairy products bad for dogs?
Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and ice cream, contain varying amounts of lactose (see chart above), which can cause gastrointestinal issues. Read the label of any dairy product before giving it to your dog. Most are loaded with calories and if given as a regular snack can lead to obesity. Some low-fat dairy products may contain the artificial sweetener xylitol which is very toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death.
Milk can also cause another condition called food allergy dermatitis.
Is milk safe for puppies?
From birth, puppies depend on their mother’s milk for food. The “key ingredient” in this milk is colostrum, which provides essential nutrition for growth and allows puppies to obtain important protective antibodies from their mother. Colostrum is especially vital in the first days after birth.
Dr. Maki stresses that if you’re adopting a young puppy and canine breast milk isn’t available, never replace it with regular milk, even the lactose-free kind from the grocery store. There are specially formulated puppy milk substitutes that can be purchased from a veterinary practice or online.
“Once a puppy is weaned from its mother at around 6 to 8 weeks of age and can digest regular puppy food, it no longer needs its mother’s milk or a milk substitute. puppy milk,” he adds.
Discuss a young puppy’s diet with a veterinarian who can advise you on the different nutritional stages of the puppy as the dog approaches adulthood. For example, for optimal long-term growth, large breeds may need to stay on puppy food for a longer period of time than a small dog.
Remember, never equate candy or food with love. So resist the temptation to give your dog a regular ice cream cone. This milk-based Instagram moment might give your dog a stomach ache.
