Can Dogs Have Milk Products?
Yes, dogs can typically have dairy in small amounts. As you may already know, many dog owners find that their dogs love dairy items such as cheese and ice cream. The key here, as always, is moderation.
For example, your dog can probably handle a few spoonfuls of milk but can’t handle a full bowl. Likewise, it is okay for dogs to eat dairy products once or twice a week, but eating them daily may cause problems.
Remember that, depending on how well your dog digests lactose, they may experience gas, vomiting, or diarrhea after consuming milk, cheese, or ice cream.
The following sections will discuss some common questions about feeding dogs dairy and answer the question: Can dogs have milk products?
Why is it important to determine the answer to the question: can dogs have milk?
These questions are especially pertinent as more chain restaurants have begun offering dog menus with supposedly “dog-friendly” treats such as whipped cream, custard, and ice cream.
Of these menu options, the most well-known is Starbucks’ Puppuccino, but others include the Dunkin’ Donuts puppy latte, Dairy Queen’s Pup Cups, Shake Shack’s Pooch-ini, etc.
Before allowing your dog to indulge in these sweet treats, understand the risks and benefits of feeding dogs dairy.
Looking beyond “Can Dogs Have Milk Products?”
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is very common in dogs. Dogs with lactose intolerance don’t have enough of the lactase enzyme to break down the sugar in milk, which is called lactose. If you are feeding your dog a dairy product for the first time, share a small amount and observe how they react to it.
If a dog has a dairy allergy, they may show many of the same signs as intolerance but with a more severe reaction.
How do you know if your dog is lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance differs between dogs. Some dogs may be able to handle dairy products such as cheese and plain yogurt, but they only experience symptoms with milk. Other dogs will have symptoms with all dairy products, with varying levels of severity.
The most common sign of lactose intolerance is diarrhea. Other common symptoms if your dog is lactose intolerant include gastrointestinal issues such as passing gas, bloating, abdominal pain, or a sudden change in appetite.
Can feeding dogs dairy contribute to other allergies or health conditions?
When lactose intolerance or dairy allergy symptoms worsen, secondary complications, such as skin and ear infections, can occur. Once you have narrowed down the allergy to dairy, eliminate it from the dog’s diet.
Does dairy have any probiotic benefits?
Both plain, Greek-style yogurt and goat’s milk have probiotic benefits.
Probiotics support healthy digestive and immune systems while inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria. Good bacteria can help remedy chronic conditions like liver and kidney disease, diabetes, GI diseases, and indigestion.
That said, the amount of dairy a dog would have to consume to have significant probiotic benefits would likely be more dairy than most dogs can handle.
Can dogs have milk products on restaurant menus?
If the serving size of these menu items is small enough, they can safely be shared with your dog as an occasional treat. That said, at Yitto Paws, we believe dogs are sweet enough and don’t need any added sugars.
But if you’re willing to break that rule on occasion, look for lower-sugar items like Starbucks Puppuccino (which is whipped cream sweetened with sugar served in an espresso cup) instead of larger, more sugary, higher-calorie treats.
What are the best options when feeding dogs dairy?
- Yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein for your dog! Plain yogurt with no added sugar can be used in homemade dog treat recipes or served on its own in moderation.
- Greek yogurt would be a good choice because it is a lower-lactose food, containing about a third of the amount of lactose in a cup of milk.
- Goat’s milk is another good option for dogs. It may be easier for dogs to digest than cow’s milk due to the enzymes and smaller fat molecules it contains.
- Additionally, the forms of protein in cow’s milk (alpha-s1-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and alpha-lactalbumin) are more likely to be associated with allergic reactions.
- As always, choose organic grass-fed dairy! Organic, grass-fed milk is more nutrient-dense and higher in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy type of fat.
- Like humans, dogs cannot produce omega-3s independently, but adding them to your dog’s diet will support body and brain function.
- By choosing organic, grass-fed milk, you can also be sure that the cows have not been given recombinant bovine growth hormone or antibiotics.
Dairy products to avoid:
- While the answer to “Can Dogs Have Milk Products?” is technically yes, many dairy products are unsafe for dogs.
- Dairy products to avoid include those containing fats, sugars, and preservatives. All of these are not healthy for dogs, especially in large amounts. Diets high in fat can contribute to the development of pancreatitis.
- Like humans, dogs can become addicted to sugar, so it is important not to give them products that contain added sugar!
- Sugar can also cause health complications, such as obesity and diabetes, or destroy their teeth.
- If you want a special treat, choose naturally sweet foods like fruit!
- Ice cream is especially high in fat and sugar. For an easy ice cream swap, try frozen dog treat recipes using healthy, dog-friendly ingredients like Greek yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter!
- Yitto Paws is committed to making products free from any added sugar.
- Avoid overly processed treats, which contain a long list of ingredients. When dogs consume heavily processed foods, they risk consuming harmful toxins and chemicals.
- Stick to the basics and choose products with short and simple ingredient lists or make your own! It is easy to make healthy frozen treats with whole ingredients you recognize for your dogs.
- Most importantly, beware of products that contain xylitol! Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free foods.
- For humans, too much xylitol can have adverse digestive system effects. For dogs, it is extremely toxic and potentially fatal.
- Many human foods, including some yogurt and ice cream brands, contain xylitol as a sugar substitute, so it’s critical to read product labels before sharing foods with your dogs.
Three healthy recipes to try feeding dogs dairy:
Check out our founder’s recipes for frozen dog treats with a plain yogurt base! The recipes, Blueberry Banana Frozen Dog Treats and Frozen Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats, each have only 3 ingredients.
These recipes are perfect for incorporating fruits into your dog’s diet, a topic covered in our post, The Complete List of the Best Fruits Dogs Can Eat Plus Tips & 2 Simple Recipes.
Coming soon: Our recipe for a Healthier Pumpkin Frappuccino filled with ingredients we love, like pumpkin and oats! This recipe is a nod to Starbucks’ classic pumpkin spice latte but will make your dog happy all year round. Keep an eye out for a more detailed post on the benefits of feeding dogs pumpkin.
P.S. These recipes sound so tasty you may want to try them out for yourself, too!
