The dog's diet is one of the factors to which we must pay more attention if we want to guarantee that we offer the best care. Regardless of the type of food we give it, including natural foods in it is more than recommended for its nutritional value. Thus, giving meat, fish, fruits and vegetables to the dog will not only allow him to enjoy delicious foods, but will also bring him great benefits such as the quality of the products, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and much more.
Especially if we have just adopted a puppy, during the process of choosing the best foods for our dog it is common for us to have doubts and ask ourselves things, such as, for example, if puppies can drink milk. In this article on our site we will talk about this drink that is widely consumed around the world, we will explain if dogs can drink milk and, if so, how.
Is milk good for dogs?
At birth, dogs feed exclusively on mother's milk for the first few weeks of life. As they grow and the first few months pass, weaning occurs, which should occur naturally when the mother deems it appropriate. So, in this first stage of the puppy's life, milk is essential to guarantee its correct development. Now, why on numerous occasions do we hear that milk for adult dogs is bad?
In the composition of milk we find lactose, a type of sugar present in milk produced by all mammals. To synthesize lactose into glucose and galactose, all babies, including puppies, produce an enzyme called lactase in large amounts. This enzyme sees its production reduced as the puppy grows and acquires new eating habits. The digestive system of most animals is constantly changing because it adapts to the different stages of growth. For this reason, when you stop drinking milk, the body considers that it does not need to produce as much lactase, and may even develop lactose intolerance as part of the natural adaptation process and this is the main reason why it is not recommended to give milk. to an adult dog.
Now then, not all puppies stop producing it in the same way and, therefore, not all are lactose intolerant. Especially those who continue to drink cow's milk after weaning may continue to produce a certain amount of lactase in order to digest that lactose. Therefore, it is possible to see dogs that drink milk without it affecting them negatively. So is milk good for dogs? It all depends on the organism of the animal itself, whether it tolerates it or not. If so, drinking milk can be positive as long as it is offered properly, in moderation and taking into account that can be given as a supplement to the diet, but not as its main basis.
Can the puppies drink milk?
Puppies can drink mother's milk without any problem. In general, weaning begins to occur naturally after 3-4 weeks of life, at which point we can introduce solid food intake so that they get used to it. However, during this period they continue to drink breast milk, so it is not until they are approximately two months old that breastfeeding does not end. In this way, it is not recommended to separate the puppies from their mother before 8 weeks, and not only because it hinders lactation, but also because during these first weeks the puppies begin the socialization period. A premature separation will hinder these first relationships and can cause behavioral problems in the future.
Can you give a puppy cow's milk?
Occasionally, it may happen that the bitch does not produce enough breast milk or that we find a litter of orphaned newborn puppies. In these cases, can the puppies drink cow's milk? The answer is NO It is necessary to purchase milk for lactating dogs, specially formulated to meet the needs of this animal species, since, although all mammals produce milk, the composition is different because not all animal digestive systems are the same. Cow's milk provides half the calories of bitch's milk and, therefore, the nutritional needs of puppies are not met with it. The problem with giving a puppy cow's milk as his only food isn't that he can or can't digest it properly, it's that it isn't enough to feed him.
Now, if it is not possible to go to a veterinary clinic to buy the milk, there are some recipes for emergency formula that can be prepared to offer food to the little ones until the time of visiting the specialist. These recipes may include cow's, sheep's or goat's milk, in addition to other ingredients to simulate the nutritional value of dog's milk. Check out this article to review them all: "Emergency Puppy Formula."
How long to give milk to a puppy?
Ideally, start introducing solid foods from 3-4 weeks, alternating with milk feeds for lactating puppies. As they grow older, milk intakes will decrease and solid food intakes will increase. In this way, at two months of age they can eat only solid food.
It is important to highlight that to promote chewing it is recommended to moisten solid food in water until two or three months of age.
And if the puppy is already eating solid food, can he drink milk?
If you don't have symptoms of lactose intolerance, you can drink milk from time to time. In any case, it is always advisable to opt for lactose-free milk or vegetable milk with a low sugar index.
Can dogs drink milk?
Adult dogs produce little or no lactase enzyme, so they may have developed lactose intolerance, making it totally counterproductive to give milk. However, if the animal does not present symptoms that show the appearance of this disorder, it is possible to give it milk as a food supplement.
Lactose intolerance in dogs
To know if a dog can really drink milk, it is necessary to know a little more about this disorder. When the dog's small intestine stops producing the enzyme lactase, the lactose in milk cannot be broken down, so it automatically passes into the large intestine undigested, a fact that causes a fermentation of it and, as a consequence, develops a series of reactions in the body to expel it. Thus, in these cases, the body is not able to digest lactose, does not tolerate it and shows the following symptoms of lactose intolerance in dogs:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Gases
- Abdominal swelling
Lactose allergy in dogs
Intolerance and allergy are different pathologies, so it is necessary to learn to differentiate them. Intolerance only affects the digestive system, while allergies affect the immune system. This is so because an allergy is caused by a hypersensitivity of the body to contact with a certain substance. In this way, when penetrating the body, a series of reactions such as the following are triggered:
- Respiratory distress
- Cough
- Itching and redness of the skin
- Otitis
- Inflammation of the eyelid and muzzle area
- Urticaria
Food allergy dermatitis is usually one of the first symptoms, along with respiratory distress, so if any of these signs appear, it is necessary to withdraw the milk and go to the vet.
Benefits of milk for dogs
If the dog tolerates milk without problems, there are many benefits that this drink can bring to its body. Cow's milk is rich in proteins of high biological value, carbohydrates, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin D and lipids. However, if there is something that makes the nutritional composition of milk stand out, it is its high calcium content The consumption of this mineral is very important in all stages of the dog's life, but it becomes even more relevant during the puppy stage, since it promotes the proper growth of the bones. Likewise, as the milk of all animal species is rich in fat and sugar, it promotes proper development in general.
Puppies need to eat those fats, sugars, vitamins and calcium that their mother's milk contains. At weaning, if the little one tolerates cow's, sheep's or goat's milk, he can drink from time to time to take advantage of its benefits. During adulthood and old age the same thing happens, as long as the dog does not show signs of intolerance or allergy, it can drink milk moderately.
Can dogs drink soy, oat or almond milk?
Vegetable milks do not contain lactose, so they are a good choice when giving milk to a dog. Now, what kind of plant-based milk is better? Those that contain less sugar and, therefore, are less caloric. Thus, soy milk, rice milk, oat milk and almond milk are the most recommended, provided that "no added sugar" is indicated on the packaging. So can dogs drink coconut milk? This is one of the most caloric vegetable milks, so it is not one of the most suitable for dogs. However, introduced in a recipe or offered very occasionally, it does not produce negative effects. The problem lies in its abuse.
How to give milk to a dog?
Once the question arises about whether dogs can drink milk, it is time to know how to give it to them if they can. Well, the first thing is to choose the type of milk. For puppies, the whole milk is not a problem because the fats and sugars that they make up are good for them. However, when we talk about adult or elderly dogs, it is best to opt for skimmed or semi-skimmed milkThis type of milk does not contain less calcium, in fact the amount is the same as that offered by whole milk, the difference between them lies in the fats and fat-soluble vitamins. During the milk skimming process, the fats found in it are eliminated and, as a consequence, the vitamins dissolved in these fats, which are D, A and E. In the market we also find skimmed milk enriched with these lost vitamins.
If we have adopted an adult or elderly dog and prefer not to take risks, we recommend the use of lactose-free milk or any of the the vegetable milks mentioned in the previous section. As for ways to give a dog milk, the easiest and fastest way is to pour a little milk into his bowl and let him drink it. The amount of milk will vary depending on the age and size of the dog, but it is always good to observe and start with small doses.
Are you one of those who usually prepare recipes for your dog? Then we encourage you to make homemade ice cream, cakes or cupcakes. Through these recipes, the dog consumes milk and other foods that are good for him while he enjoys eating. Especially during hot weather, ice creams are highly recommended and are a delicious natural snack. Check out these items and cook for your best friend:
- Homemade ice cream for dogs
- Dog Cupcakes
- Dog Cakes
Are dairy products good for dogs?
We have already seen that dogs can drink milk if they tolerate it, but what about yogurt or cheese? Dogs can eat yogurt perfectly because it is a derivative of milk with a very small amount of lactose. In addition, it is one of the best foods for dogs thanks to its composition, since natural yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics, which favor the flora and regulate intestinal transit. Of course, it must be natural yoghurt without sugar.
For its part, cheese is also beneficial as long as it is fresh. Hard, semi-hard or blue cheeses are not recommended. Thus, a good breakfast for a dog can be natural yogurt mixed with a teaspoon of oat flakes and pieces of fresh cheese, complete, nutritious and delicious!
On the other hand, milk kefir or kefir milk is another dog food highly recommended by canine nutritionists. This product contains even more probiotics than natural yogurt and its properties are even better. Kefir is good for puppies as well as adult and elderly dogs.
