Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk?
Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk? While the myth that cats drink milk is more prevalent, you might also ask yourself if dogs are able to have milk. But, similar to cats, giving milk to your pup isn’t the best idea. Here’s what you need to know about milk and what dogs and puppies can consume safely.
Is Milk Good for Dogs?
Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk? Milk has more dangers than advantages for the typical dog, but a small amount should be safe for a dog that is not sensitive to milk products. Milk does have some nutrients, such as protein and calcium, but these are what a dog receives from the balanced commercial diet that it is consuming already. Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk?
Milk has a huge quantity of fat, natural sugars, and calories; it can cause obesity, pancreatitis, and a host of other issues if eaten in big quantities. It can also cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain, even when consumed in moderate qualities. After repeated exposure, dogs can become allergic to the proteins present in milk too.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Lactose Intolerant
Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk? Dogs may have anything from mild to severe degrees of lactose intolerance; some may develop only minor symptoms, but in others the condition may be worse. The most frequent signs include:
Most owners don’t realize their dogs are lactose intolerant until they give them milk. It is also difficult to figure out if your dog is lactose intolerant if your pup has had a lot of milk; that can also cause vomiting and diarrhea even for dogs who are not lactose intolerant. But if your dog displays these symptoms after consumption of a little milk, you need to look for an alternative treat. Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk?
Always talk to your veterinarian first before adding something new to your dog’s diet. And learn more about more foods dogs can and can’t eat.
Here at the AKC, we receive a lot of questions from worried dog owners regarding what is and isn’t safe for their furry friends to have as food. Questions vary from straightforward (“Can dogs have steak bones?”) to hipster (“Can dogs have quinoa?”) Read more “Can dogs eat…” stories on AKC.org to learn which foods are and aren’t toxic to your dog. Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk?
Can dogs have milk, or are dogs lactose-intolerant?
Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk? Most dogs can safely eat a little milk, but others are lactose-intolerant, which means that their digenstive system doesn’t have high enough levels of an enzyme called lactase that’s responsible for breaking down the milk sugar, or lactose.
Dairy foods are the biggest source of dogs’ adverse food reactions, say VCA Animal Hospitals. The intensity of each reaction varies with the ability of the dog’s digestive system to metabolize lactose and how much sugar there is in the particular food or drink, since amounts vary according to how the dairy item is processed. Certain dogs are unable to consume milk as the sugar levels are extremely high, although they will digest other forms of dairy (like cottage cheese) just fine because of the comparatively much lower amount of lactose. Can Dogs Drink Milk? Can Dogs have Milk?
Why do dogs become lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is a result of undigested sugar molecules passing through the GI tract since they are unable to produce sufficient enzymes to digest the nutrients for absorption into the bloodstream. When it reaches the colon, water is then attracted to the undigested sugar molecule, causing water retention loss in the tissue walls, inflammation of the large intestine, and diarrhea in the form of loose, watery stool – a condition otherwise referred to as colitis in dogs.
Is Milk Bad for Dogs? 3 Health Risks of Milk for Dogs
Don’t feed your dog cow’s milk as it can lead to the following health problems:
- Digestive issues: Your dog’s stomach cannot process high quantities of fat, so whole milk and foods rich in saturated fats and natural sugars can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, bloat, and other issues. Overeating high-fat food long-term may result in increased risk for heart disease and pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.
- Lactose intolerance: Similar to humans, most dogs may not have the digestive enzyme lactase and thus may not be able to digest milk products (such as cow’s milk, cheddar cheese, and ice cream). Milk product intolerance is one of the most prevalent dog food allergies. Symptoms of dog lactose intolerance are bloating, gas, upset stomach, abdominal cramps, loose stool, and diarrhea.
- Weight gain: Dogs need fewer calories daily than humans, and with calorie-rich beverages such as milk, calories are added very rapidly and can surpass your dog’s optimal daily intake. Although surplus calories won’t be the cause of issues promptly, the health consequences in the long run involve gaining weight and obesity.
Are Dogs Lactose Intolerant?
If you’re a lactose-intolerant fur parent, you know exactly how your body responds when you treat yourself to milk, cheese, or ice cream. But did you know dogs are unable to digest lactose like we do—making them all the more sensitive to milk? It’s a fact: Our furry companions can be lactose intolerant, as well!
Cow milk has more lactose and less nutrients compared to dog milk. That, combined with the fact that as dogs mature, their ability to lactase (the enzyme that ruptures lactose) diminishes, explains why dogs find it harder to digest non-canine milk.
Your dog is probably lactose intolerant if you observe any of the following signs:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss