Can Cats and Dogs drink milk?
One of the most common stereotypes that we all grew up with is the belief that cats enjoy drinking milk. Every cartoon and every grandmother that fed cats, and sometimes dogs too would set a bowl of milk out. But can Cats and dogs drink milk? Is it food that they can digest? On National Milk Day, let’s take a look at the facts.
It is estimated that up to 50% of dogs and 50-90% of cats are lactose intolerant. Of these, a large number of dogs tend to be completely intolerant, while the rest can tolerate dairy in small amounts. Most cats, however, tend to be fully intolerant.
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest milk sugars. As puppies and kittens, dogs and cats produce high amounts of an enzyme called lactase. This is the enzyme that breaks down lactose sugars present in milk. In their youth, while they’re being fed by their mothers, puppies, and kittens can digest milk. As they wean off the mother and grow into adults, their capacity to digest lactose sugars decreases. This means that adult cats and dogs are very likely lactose intolerant. While some dogs might not experience discomfort from consuming milk, most cats and dogs usually do.
What happens in the gut?
Milk is digested when lactase enzymes digest the lactose sugars, however, when the sugars don’t get broken down, they remain in the system. Intestinal bacteria then begin to act upon these sugars, which become fermented. The fermentation of sugars causes intestinal cramps and diarrhea in dogs and cats.
What to look out for?
While we have established that adult cats and dogs are better off not being fed milk, some pets and strays like milk products. If you’ve found that your pet, or a stray you feed has shown a liking to milk here are some things you can look for.
Vomiting: Cats and dogs that are unable to digest lactose may end up vomiting it. Dogs may also drool excessively, or lick surfaces if they feel nauseous.
Diarrhea: This is the most common sign of an intolerance, and shows itself within 12 hours of milk consumption. Cats tend to look for grass to give themselves that extra fiber to fix the discomfort.
Bloating and flatulence: Bloating and flatulence are likely to be seen in dogs rather than cats, as cats tend to hide pain and discomfort. Dogs will either be a little bloated due to gas, or flatuent.
Loss of appetite: Both dogs and cats that experience gastric distress tend to avoid eating food until they begin feeling better.
Knowing what symptoms to look for helps identify if your pet is suffering from lactose intolerance. This goes a long way in ensuring that you, as a pet parent, provide the best care for your furry buddies.
Alternatives to milk
Some alternatives to regular milk are goat milk, unpasteurised milk, and yak milk. Goat’s milk and unpasteurised milk tend to be easier to digest. They do not cause discomfort or gastric issues in your pets, because of this. Yak milk, on the other hand, contains low fat and also has low lactose content. This is an ideal solution for a dog that like the taste of milk but can’t consume it. Dogs can chew on Yak cheese to savour the taste, it also makes for a healthy treat.
These alternates are only useful as treats or additional food that you may choose to feed your pets. The key point is that both cats and dogs need a well-balanced, and nutrition-packed diet to remain healthy and energised through every life-stage. You can find the best pet food at Carniwel, where we offer a wide range of of nutritious food made from premium ingredients. What’s more, all this is available at affordable prices.