Can Dogs Drink Milk?

It depends.

Wikipedia describes milk as “a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals.” A source of nourishment, this is fed to young animals before they can eat solid food. Milk comes from animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep. But aside from these, the nutritious liquid can also come from plant-based sources such as almonds, soybeans, and oats.

PetMD reports that dogs can generally drink cow’s or goat’s milk in small quantities. However, the problem arises if your pet is allergic or intolerant to lactose. The latter holds true as they get older and do not produce the enzyme that can break down milk properly.

Almond milk, on the other hand, may be consumed by dogs occasionally. Compared to cow’s milk, it is lower in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

What to do if your dog accidentally drinks milk: Nothing bad should happen if your dog manages to take a lick or two of plain cow’s milk or almond milk. But if he drank a substantial amount in one sitting, keep an eye on him over the next 12 hours or so. An upset stomach, vomiting, and/or diarrhea may manifest.

If a dog that’s allergic or intolerant to dairy consumes animal-derived milk, he may develop gastrointestinal distress. Also, watch for skin irritation (redness and itching), vomiting, and diarrhea.

Be wary of letting your dog drink milk that contains harmful ingredients such as sugar, chocolate, and the lethal xylitol. Similarly, avoid milk products with artificial sweeteners and flavourings.

In summary: Any type of milk should be given to dogs only with the explicit consent of their veterinarian. A dog’s well-being may be affected as certain types of milk can cause gastrointestinal issues. These may result in long-term complications such as weight gain, obesity, and pancreatitis.

Browse through our “can dogs eat” category to learn which human foods you can safely give your canine pet.