Whether it’s right or wrong, it is a fact: dogs’ diet tends to include a lot more than just dog food. How many times have you seen a dog on its hind legs asking for human food? I bet countless! But what about milk? Can dogs drink milk safely?
There are some human foods that our dogs can really benefit from, and some foods that can be toxic to them.
The first step is discriminating those nutritious meals that are good for our dogs from those emptied-calorie meals we should avoid. In this blog, we have already written about asparagus, but there is a long list of toxic foods you should avoid, like raisins, grapes, nuts, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, among others.
On the other hand, some products are really good for dogs’ health. Bananas, carrots, apples, rice, cucumber, and chicken, to name a few.
Can dogs drink milk?
What about dairies? Can dogs drink milk? This question doesn’t have a straight answer. Even though no evidence shows milk is bad for dogs, just like humans, dogs can be lactose intolerant. This means your gut can’t digest lactose, and as a result, it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach ache. Even though cheese is also dairy and as such it contains lactose, it is usually easier to digest than milk.
However, it is a high calory food which doesn’t contain many nutrients, so, if possible, avoid it.
Dogs vs Puppies
Naturally, puppies do have the ability to digest their mother’s milk, since it is the only source of food they need. They develop an enzyme named lactase which helps them digest milk. However, as they grow up, they stop producing this enzyme, since their body ‘understands’ they won’t be needing it anymore. Hence, they can become lactose intolerant.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance you should pay attention to:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Pain
- Weakness
- Dehydration
- Bloating
- Weight loss
‘But I give my dog his medicine hidden in a slice of cheese!’ Don’t worry.
Milk is not recommended as food or drink after puppies’ first 8 weeks. However, we are referring to large quantities, but dogs can have milk in small doses. If your dog licks an ice cream or has a sip of milk, there is nothing to worry about.
‘I give my dog milk because it is a source of calcium’ Nowadays, there are plenty of dog foods containing all the calcium your dog needs to have proper muscle building and function, a strong heart, and a healthy nervous system. Our Multifunctional Dog Chews are specially formulated to fill your dog’s nutritional gaps. They contain calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, together with vitamin B12, A, E, and D3.
So, can dogs drink milk?
Dogs can have milk in small quantities. Even though milk is not recommended, some dogs can tolerate lactose just fine. So, if you want to feed them milk, all you have to do is pay special attention and read his signs carefully. To know your dog is to love him!