Can dogs drink milk?

Milk is a popular drink for many people, not only children but also many adults. Milk belongs in muesli as well as in cocoa or is sipped as hot milk with honey for cold symptoms. For many dog lovers, however, the question often arises: Can dogs drink milk? Find out in this article whether cow's milk should also be consumed by our pets and how milk consumption could affect your dog.

Ingredients in milk - healthy for dogs?

Milk is a natural all-rounder with lots of healthy nutrients. It is known for its high protein content and also contains minerals such as calcium, chloride, potassium and phosphorus. Milk also contains vitamins B12 and B2 and has a supportive effect on blood formation.

However, milk contains the most milk sugar (lactose), for which milk is also known. And it is precisely this ingredient that can lead to problems in dogs. In order to break down lactose, the enzyme lactase must be present. While most dogs still produce this enzyme when they are puppies, they lose it as they grow up. The result is that lactose can no longer be broken down and a lactose intolerance develops, similar to that in humans.

Side effects when dogs drink milk

Whether dogs are allowed to drink milk depends largely on their tolerance. Due to the lack of the enzyme lactase, dogs can react to the consumption of milk with numerous side effects. Digestive problems are among the most common reactions of the body.

Side effects:

• Discomfort
• constipation
• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps
• vomiting

Dogs can also develop a milk allergy to the milk protein, which can manifest itself as itching of the ears and paws as well as chronic inflammation. If the dog is fed milk over a long period of time, the diarrhea can also become chronic.

Puppies, on the other hand, can digest milk well and hardly react with any physical side effects.

How to tell if your dog is allowed to drink milk

Basically, you can say that dogs are allowed to drink milk. It is not poisonous for the four-legged friends, but is not recommended due to intolerances. You can test whether your dog tolerates milk by giving him small amounts of it to drink, a maximum of one tablespoon per day, halving the portion for smaller dogs. Before testing, however, bear in mind that your four-legged friend may react with side effects.

If you want to feed your dog dairy products despite lactose intolerance, it is better to choose lactose-free products or products with a very low lactose content.

Products that contain little lactose and are good for your dog:

Cottage cheese provides plenty of protein, contains little fat and also has a low lactose content.

Curd cheese contains valuable sour milk bacteria and is a tried and tested snack in your dog's bowl - here too, the lactose content is very low.

Yoghurt is also a popular addition to dog food and also contains very little lactose.

Buttermilk can also be fed, but the lactose content here is significantly higher. Buttermilk should therefore only be given to dogs in very small quantities.

Cheese - Almost all varieties naturally contain hardly any lactose and can be given to dogs as a small snack between meals.

Althoughcow's milk is not recommended for dogs, there are plenty of alternative dairy products for four-legged friends so that dogs are not dependent on the ingredients in milk.

Dairy products that dogs should not drink

In addition to pure cow's milk, there are other dairy products or milk-like products that dogs should not eat or drink:

• Whole milk
• Condensed milk
• sour cream
• kefir
• Cat's milk
• Baby milk
• Kefir
• Goat's milk
• Buttermilk

Plant-based alternatives such as soy milk, almond milk etc. can also trigger an allergic reaction in dogs and should perhaps not be tested on them.

Conclusion

We can answer the question: Can dogs drink milk with a yes, but consumption is usually associated with intolerances and digestive problems. Cheese, quark and yoghurt are good alternatives and generally contain little lactose.