• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dog Food Genius

What Can Dogs Eat?

  • Can Dogs Eat…
  • Dog Food
  • Breed Info
  • Health
  • Grooming
  • Names

Can Dogs Drink Milk?

Published January 18, 2022 by DFG Staff

While milk and dairy products can have health benefits for humans, many people are asking their vets whether dogs can drink milk. When it comes down to it, dogs can have milk and most canines can drink some dairy without it being harmful or toxic. Although rich in calcium and vitamin D, there are many health issues to consider before determining if you can give them milk safely. Milk is not good for dogs in large quantities or when given frequently over a long period.

To help you learn more, we’ve compiled a guide on milk for dogs. From lactose intolerance to alternatives to cow’s milk, explore below for reasons why milk can be bad for dogs to drink.

Can Dogs Drink Milk

Contents

  • 1 Are Dogs Lactose Intolerant?
  • 2 Can Drinking Milk Lead To Food Allergies in Dogs?
  • 3 Can Dogs Drink Lactose-Free Milk?
  • 4 Is Goat Milk Good For Dogs?
  • 5 Yes, Dogs Can Drink Milk in Moderation

Are Dogs Lactose Intolerant?

The majority of dogs are lactose intolerant. Drinking milk isn’t necessarily going to kill them, but in many cases, too much milk is not good for them either. Being lactose intolerant means that it’s more difficult to break down the enzymes in milk. Although it’s difficult for dogs that are lactose intolerant to digest milk, many dogs can have milk and other dairy products in moderation. However, it is never a good idea to give puppies milk. Puppies have very sensitive digestive tracts, which means it’s not good to introduce this type of food at an early age. Milk is also not good for senior dogs.

It may seem strange to you that puppies shouldn’t have milk since they drink milk from their mothers. They are able to drink mother’s milk because it provides lactase, an enzyme that helps digest milk. Lactase essentially aids in splitting lactose, a disaccharide sugar, found in milk into glucose and galactose. Once a puppy is weaned from its mother, they begin to produce less lactase, and many tend to become lactose intolerant.

Can Dogs Have Milk

This doesn’t mean that all dogs are lactose intolerant. Some dogs can drink lots of milk while others can’t drink it at all. Those that cannot tend to experience gastrointestinal issues, which can lead to quite serious problems in some cases.

Can Drinking Milk Lead To Food Allergies in Dogs?

Dogs that are lactose intolerant can eventually end up with food allergies if given milk or other types of dairy like cheese. You should eliminate milk from their diets if you notice that your dogs have red or irritated skin, scratches a lot, vomits, or has diarrhea after feeding them milk. If the symptoms go away after you stop giving them milk, you’ll know that milk was the source of these problems.

Is Milk Safe For Dogs

Can Dogs Drink Lactose-Free Milk?

You can opt to give your dog milk that is lactose-free but they will also lose out on many essential nutrients that milk provides. Milk is high in vitamin D, as well as other vitamins, minerals, protein, and calcium that dogs need. So, how can they get these nutrients without drinking milk? Many dogs are lactose intolerant to some degree but that doesn’t mean that they can’t have milk altogether. You just need to make sure that you give it to them in moderation.

Although milk is basically a meal in itself, you should not give too much to your dogs. Milk in moderation as part of a whole-food diet can benefit your dogs. Of course, you should immediately eliminate milk from their diets if you notice any of the above-mentioned signs of intolerance. Some of the essential nutrients in milk that dogs do need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle include vitamins D, K, and E, as well as vitamin B complex.

Is Milk Good or Bad For Dogs

Is Goat Milk Good For Dogs?

You might want to consider giving your dogs goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk. Goat’s milk has many of the same nutrients found in cow’s milk but is safer for dogs to drink because it has less lactose. In addition, goat’s milk is easier to digest because its fat molecules are smaller than those found in cow’s milk. Ounce for ounce, goat’s milk has more protein and calcium when compared to cow’s milk.

If you choose to give your dogs goat’s milk, you should keep in mind the source of where it came from. Make sure that the goat’s milk has been pasteurized, which is essentially a process of heating the milk to kill any potentially harmful bacteria. If you give your dogs unpasteurized fresh or raw goat’s milk, you run the risk of it leading to potential health problems because of these bacteria. If you can’t buy pasteurized milk from your store, you can get rid of the bacteria yourself by bringing it to a boil (around 165 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 seconds. Afterward, allow the milk to cool before storing it in your refrigerator.

Yes, Dogs Can Drink Milk in Moderation

If you are still unsure about whether or not to give your dogs milk, you should talk to your vet and ask for their recommendation. Like any new food, it is best to introduce milk to your dogs in very small amounts. Watch your dogs after drinking milk to see if there are any signs of gastrointestinal distress. It is perfectly safe for you to include milk in your dogs’ regular diets in moderation if you don’t notice any symptoms of lactose intolerance. Alternatively, you can give them pasteurized goat’s milk, which has many of the same benefits but is easier to digest.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky

Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky?

Most of us love to chew on beef jerky once in a while, but is beef jerky bad for dogs? After all, it is made with beef, ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Celery

Can Dogs Eat Celery?

As a vegetable with many health benefits, dogs can eat celery. As a healthy safe treat that is low in calories, fat and ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Ketchup

Can Dogs Eat Ketchup?

We love putting ketchup on our french fries and burgers, but you may be wondering if ketchup is good, bad, or just okay ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Cilantro

Can Dogs Eat Cilantro?

You should be careful when feeding your dog herbs as many of them can be harmful to your dog's health. In fact, some ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Bread?

When it comes to popular foods, bread is at the top of the list. While you may enjoy this amazing staple, you may be ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Beets

Can Dogs Eat Beets?

Beets are a healthy and delicious vegetable with many benefits for humans. But you might be wondering if dogs can eat ... [Learn More]

Famotidine For Dogs

Pepcid AC For Dogs

Just like humans, dogs can be susceptible to an upset stomach as well as a number of gastrointestinal issues. In some ... [Learn More]

Melatonin For Dogs

Can I Give My Dog Melatonin?

Is your dog or puppy having trouble sleeping? We don’t tend to think about it, but dogs often have a lot of the same ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter

Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?

Ever wonder if peanut butter is good or bad for dogs? While some people are under the impression that canines shouldn't ... [Learn More]

How To Bury A Dog

How To Bury A Dog

Figuring out how to bury a dog legally can require some research. Beyond just exploring where you can bury your dog ... [Learn More]

Primary Sidebar

Popular

Best Dog Food For Yorkies

Best Dog Food For Yorkies

Best Dog Food Brands

Best Dog Food

Best Dog Food For Boxers

Best Dog Food For Boxers

Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach

Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach

Best Dog Food For Chihuahua

9 Best Dog Foods For Chihuahuas

Things You Need For A New Puppy

Puppy Supplies: Things You Need For A New Puppy

Best Dog Food For Pitbulls

Best Dog Food For Pitbulls

Search

Recent

Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers

Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?

Can Dogs Eat Kiwi

Can Dogs Eat Kiwi?

Can Dogs Eat Papaya

Can Dogs Eat Papaya?

Smart Dogs

20 Smartest Dog Breeds

30 Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can’t Eat

Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat

50 Human Foods Dogs Can and Can’t Eat

Beautiful Dogs

10 Most Beautiful Dog Breeds

Can Dogs Eat Sausage

Can Dogs Eat Sausage?

Can Dogs Eat Eggs

Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

Can Dogs Drink Tea

Can Dogs Drink Tea?

Can Dogs Eat Figs

Can Dogs Eat Figs?

Can Dogs Eat Ginger

Can Dogs Eat Ginger?

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?

Copyright © 2023 Dog Food Genius | About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Information |