Mary Allen
According to the laws of nature, a dog only takes milk when it is a puppy. Dog babies are suckled by their mothers in the first few weeks of life. This mother’s milk is specially designed for puppies.
So dogs are mammals. Then it would only be logical if the four-legged friends could drink milk all their lives. After all, they did it that way when they were puppies.
Unfortunately, this myth has persisted for far too long because dogs are not allowed to drink milk.
How long do dogs drink milk?
For the little dog to be able to digest its mother’s milk, the body produces the enzyme lactase.
This enzyme splits the lactose contained in the milk into two other substances, which can then be absorbed through the small intestine. Lactose is also known as milk sugar.
However, dogs are only suckled in the first two months of life. From the third week is usually fed. After the end of the breastfeeding period, the dog’s body produces less and less lactase. As soon as there is no more milk or milk products to be digested, the production of lactase stops.
If you still feed milk and milk products, that does not mean that the dog’s body is still producing the enzyme lactase.
It is therefore quite normal that sooner or later every dog will no longer be able to tolerate milk. In this case, one speaks of lactose intolerance.
As with any mammal, only infants have the necessary enzyme, lactase, to digest milk.
Only we Northern Europeans have a special position because many people here can tolerate milk. In Asia and Turkey, it looks completely different.
Viewed in this way, milk is only known to us as high-quality food. We have replaced the milk with cow’s milk because it is rich in protein and contains many vitamins, trace elements, and minerals. However, that is currently changing.
Can my dog drink lactose-free milk?
In our circle of friends, I often hear the diagnosis of lactose intolerance. More and more people are suddenly allergic to milk and have to do without it.
This is normal for our dogs, although some four-legged friends tolerate dairy products quite well.
There are also numerous dogs among dogs that should completely avoid dairy products. The reason for this is lactose, which is contained in milk.
How do you recognize milk intolerance?
Similar to us humans, intolerance is usually shown by diarrhea or flatulence. Dogs react with different symptoms when they cannot tolerate milk or milk products. Vomiting can also be a sign that your dog does not tolerate milk.
- Diarrhea
- gas
- vomit
- stomach pain
A bit more difficult to recognize is abdominal pain, which the four-legged friend can suffer from. They usually appear colicky. In this case, the dog is restless, howls lie down, gets up immediately, or makes movements as if it were stretching.
Why does the rumor persist that dogs can drink milk?
From this point on, every dog owner should know that dogs should not drink milk. However, I often hear from people who feed their dog milk or dairy products.
On the one hand, it is simply an old tradition that cow’s milk is so healthy. Because no adult dog needs milk to be fed a healthy and balanced diet.
Perhaps the rumors persist because dairy products such as yogurt or cheese are popular treats for healthy dogs. Normally you don’t have to do without it as a treat. And your dog can eat hard cheese or low-lactose milk products from time to time.
Are dairy products good for dogs?
In any case, whole milk is difficult for the dog to digest. Even homogenized milk or skimmed milk has a high lactose content and is therefore not easy to digest. The same applies to sour milk.
Dogs should also not drink these types of milk:
- whole milk
- condensed milk
- sour cream
- kefir
- cat milk
- baby milk
- goat milk
- buttermilk
Sour cream is not suitable as dog food due to its high-fat content of more than 20 percent.
Dog owners should eliminate kefir as food. Although kefir is rich in vitamin B, the added mushrooms produce lactic acid, alcohol, and carbonic acid.
On the other hand, some feed also contains milk sugar (lactose), which is not recognizable at first glance. So the dog may eat a certain food for years. Suddenly the lactose leads to intolerance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a dog drinks milk?
Milk contains important proteins and vitamins that are not only healthy for us humans but also for dogs. However, milk contains a lot of milk sugar (lactose), which dogs often do not tolerate well and which can lead to severe diarrhea.
Which milk is suitable for dogs?
There are alternative products to conventional cow’s milk that are easy on your dog’s digestion and which your dog will be just as happy about: Goat’s milk: has a low lactose content. Yogurt: is low in lactose and many dogs love to eat it. Diluted, it can be fed as a drink.
What can a dog drink besides water?
Dog-friendly beverage alternatives such as non-alcoholic dog beer, dog wine, dog prosecco, or health drinks and herbal teas for dogs (without caffeine) are among the treats.
Is lactose-free milk good for dogs?
Dogs are allowed to drink lactose-free milk, but we advise against it. Many dogs will also vomit or have diarrhea if you give them lactose-free milk. The lactose-free milk also has no health benefits for your dog.
Can dogs drink still water?
By the way, dogs do not need special mineral water. Of course, you can drink it. However, carbonic acid irritates the dog’s stomach and is perceived as unpleasant by many four-legged friends. In that case, still, water is the better choice.
How often are dairy products for dogs?
In principle, dairy products are tolerated by most dogs, provided they are fed in moderation. However, some dogs react to small amounts of yogurt or cheese with diarrhea. This is due to the lactose it contains, which can cause unpleasant stomach pains and cramps.
Is yogurt good for dogs?
The probiotics in yogurt support your dog in building a healthy intestinal flora. Minerals: The minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in yogurt help build and maintain your dog’s muscles and bones.
Which yogurt is best for dogs?
Use pure natural yogurt. It is particularly important with yogurt that you use natural yogurt. All other yogurt mixtures are not suitable for dogs because they contain a lot of sugar. You should avoid this. Instead, you can always add some fruit to the yogurt.