Planning to let your pet have a taste of milk, but not sure of the answer to the question can dogs drink milk? The answer to it depends on your dog’s digestive system.
Drinking milk is very healthy for humans due to its many benefits. But is it the same for dogs?
Milk is not toxic to dogs, yet these dairy products are a constant source of food allergy to them. Not only this, you can find most dogs are lactose intolerant. Hence, it is best to get to the bottom of this, and find out the answer to the question, can dogs drink milk?
1. Different Types of Milk and Their Impact on Dogs
1.1. Cow’s Milk
Cow’s milk is very common, and you can find it rich in protein as well as calcium. But, is this milk okay for your dog?
Typically it is not an issue for many dogs. However, one point of concern is that cow’s milk has high lactose content, and may result in food sensitivities.
1.2. Goat’s Milk
What about goat’s milk? Is this milk bad for dogs? Generally, goat’s milk is not unsafe for dogs, and it is even considered healthier than cow’s milk.
The protein content is high in goat’s milk, whereas speaking of lactose content, you can find it lower.
However, lactose is present in this milk too and has higher calories and fat when compared to cow’s milk.
1.3. Mother’s Milk
You can find the mother’s milk products available in powdered form, and the nutrients present in this milk are the same as a mother’s dog milk.
Mother’s milk also contains colostrum which is very good for your dog’s immune system. Lactose is also present in this milk.
1.4. Lactose-Free Milk
What is lactose-free milk? It is cow’s milk in which you will find the lactose content eliminated. If your dog is experiencing lactose intolerance, you can very well opt for this lactose-free milk.
1.5. Plant-Based Milk
The kinds of milk which fall under this category include soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk. You can opt for this milk for your dogs as it is often considered safe.
There are also lots of ingredients in this milk which neither cow’s milk nor goat’s milk has. Before your dog starts consuming milk, look out for ingredients that may prove harmful. This can be examined on the label of the plant-based milk.
1.5.1. A Little More about Almond Milk
Almond milk is more popular and is not toxic to dogs. However, due to the high-fat content present in this milk, consuming it in large quantities is not advisable as it may result in weight gain and pancreatitis.
If your dog is having pancreatitis, it is best to avoid foods with high fats in your dog’s diet. A good example is whole milk. Instead, you can opt for skim milk.
It is alright to give almond milk to your dog as an occasional treat and ensure you give only a few sips or in small quantities.
1.5.2. A Little More about Oat Milk and Soya Milk
When dogs drink oat milk in small quantities, it is good for their nutrition as they contain additional calories. However, they cannot digest if you give them in large amounts.
When you give your dog soy products, it will be easy for them to digest. You can notice many dog foods that have ingredients of soya.
1.6. What about Coconut Milk?
When dogs drink coconut milk, they get to enjoy numerous benefits too along with the taste of milk. Want to know what are the benefits?
The benefits include your dog obtaining a soft, and shiny coat, and reduced irritation in the skin. But beware, since coconut has oils, if not consumed moderately, this may result in gastrointestinal upset as well as diarrhea.
1.7. Flavored Milk
Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth? Of course, humans have. But are you aware that even your pet dog has sweet tooth?
Yes, they have, and this might be one of the reasons your pet loves milk. However, you have to be careful with flavored milk as it might have high sugar levels.
Not only this, artificial sweetener namely Xylitol which is considered toxic to dogs is present in flavored milk. Hence, it is best not to introduce your dogs to flavored milk.
2. What is Lactose Intolerance?
Many dogs drink milk and it is safe for them to do so in small quantities. However, you can find that some dogs are lactose intolerant. What is this condition in dogs?
Lactose intolerance in dogs means the digestive system of your dog is not capable of producing the required levels of an enzyme called lactase.
This lactase is responsible for breaking down the sugar present in lactose, or milk.
3. What Makes Dogs Lactose Intolerant?
What causes this lactose intolerance in dogs? Lactose intolerance occurs due to undigested sugar molecules that pass down via the gastrointestinal tract.
When this passes into the intestine, water gets absorbed even from the tissue of the colon.
In the absence of this enzyme lactase, when your dog drinks milk, it can result in your dog experiencing an upset stomach, abdominal pain, and various other side effects.
4. Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance in Dogs
Dog owners must be aware of the symptoms of lactose intolerance, and if your dog shows signs of this, you have to take the necessary action and relieve your pet from such suffering.
The symptoms include loose stool, bloating, gastrointestinal upset, decrease in appetite, gas, lethargy, and indigestion.
5. How to Confirm if Your Dog is Lactose Intolerant?
It is not always that your dog will have clear symptoms of lactose intolerance. There may be moments when the symptoms will be very mild. In such cases, you can look out for the following signs:
- If your dog is lactose intolerant, you can notice the occurrence of diarrhea after they eat any dairy foods.
- You might find your dog drooling or licking the surfaces suddenly. This may be an indication of nausea.
- You might find your dog loses sudden weight, and there might be a change in their appetite too.
- Your dog may be more gassy than normal, or it may experience bloating issues.
5.1. How to Distinguish Lactose Intolerance from a Dairy Allergy?
Dairy allergy is a condition in which your dog cannot endure the proteins present in milk. The symptoms of this problem include hives, itching, redness, skin inflammation, and breathing problems.
6. Do Dairy Products Cause Adverse Reactions in Dogs?
VCA animal hospitals state that your dog’s adverse reactions to dairy products may also be known as food intolerance.
How severely your dog reacts is purely dependent on your dog’s digestive tract and its ability to digest lactose. The quantity of sugar present in a particular food also has a part to play.
The sugar levels may not be the same in all dairy products as it depends on how these products are prepared.
7. Safe Dairy Products for Dogs
You can treat your dog to these products which are low in lactose. Products belonging to this category include plain yogurt, cheddar cheese as well as cottage cheese.
If you find your dog suffering from stomach upset, offering them yogurt will be the best as it has prebiotics that helps in reducing gas as well as diarrhea.
8. Why Are Some Dogs Not Capable of Having Milk?
Some dogs are not capable of having milk due to their high sugar content. However, dairy products namely cottage cheese can be endured by dogs due to low lactose levels.
9. How Much Milk Can Your Dog Drink and Can Dogs Drink Milk?
Only lactose-intolerant dogs are not capable to drink milk. If your dog is not lactose intolerant, allowing them to drink a little milk is not a bad idea.
You can give them one or two tablespoons of milk, as dogs enjoy milk. Even you can allow them to have a lick of ice cream, whipped cream, and tiny cheese slices, as dogs eat cheese too.
However, anything in large quantities including milk and dairy products can cause allergy in your dog resulting in side effects.
9.1. What Are the Side Effects?
If you find your dog eats dairy products, cheese, and ice cream in large quantities, then definitely your dog is in trouble.
Due to the fats present in these dairy products, side effects including stomach upset, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea will occur in your dogs even if they don’t have any issues with dairy products.
10. What About Newborn Puppies? Can They Drink Milk?
They can drink milk, unlike adult dogs due to the abundant lactase present in their bodies. This supports the puppies in breaking down their mother’s milk.
Once they stop consuming their mother’s milk, this lactase production will be less. The lesser the lactase, the more they turn into lactose-intolerant dogs.
It is also important to note that puppies should drink their mother’s milk. This is because this milk is rich in antibodies as well as nutrients that help the puppies to turn into healthy one.
11. FAQs
What Are the Various Types of Milk Available for Dogs?
The different types of milk include almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, goat milk, and cow’s milk.
How Much Milk is Alright for Your Dog to Drink?
It is alright for your dog to consume milk in small amounts. Nevertheless, if your dog is lactose intolerant, it is best to avoid milk.
What Are Lactose and Lactase?
Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk, whereas lactase is an enzyme necessary for breaking down this natural sugar called lactose.
Bottom Line
When it comes to your pet dog, it is quite natural for you to have concerns regarding their health, and can dogs drink milk is one among them.
Anything within the limits is always good for your dog including milk. However, if you find lactose intolerance in dogs, treat them to something else. After all your dog’s well-being is all that it matters.
