Dog Advice - Milk: Yes or No?

Dog Advice - Milk: Yes or No?

This is a very good question! Few dog owners know that most dogs tend to be lactose intolerant. Dogs and cats do not have the proper enzymes to properly break down the sugar in milk which is called 'lactose.' Here are few point that will give you a proper insight to the issue -

• Dogs that lack this enzyme end up with a lot of undigested sugar in their intestinal tract, which creates a wonderful breeding environment for bacteria. When a lot of bacteria grows in the intestinal tract it can irritate the stomach and intestine and cause vomiting and diarrhea. These are the same problems that occur in lactose-intolerant people.
• While many dogs are lactose intolerant, some are not. Some dogs love the taste of milk and other dairy products and won't have any stomach or intestinal problems when they get some as a treat.
• Milk is a food and not a substitute for water. As a food, milk is incomplete and does not provide a balanced diet. It can be useful as a treat for some dogs, however, large quantities of milk may not be well tolerated.
• Most dogs will react in some way by incorrect feeding and apart from allergic reactions one can expect flatulence and inconsistent stool quality and large smelly motions. Incorrect feeding can cause failure to put on weight and certainly if the balance of the food is not correct a display of hyperactivity or indeed low activity can result.
• Most animals can be assessed by their coat and skin vitality. There is always a possibility that the protein is being utilised for energy with a subsequent loss of health and vitality. Many owners give far too many vitamins and one should remember that a well balanced diet should not have to be supplemented.

The bottom line is, it may be okay to give your dog a small amount of milk if it doesn't cause her any vomiting, diarrhea, or other discomfort. Check with your veterinarian first to be sure it won't cause your pooch any health problems or interfere with his diet. Better to give your pet one of the special cat or dog milks on the market that has had the lactose removed.

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