Dogs and Dairy Consumption

While dairy might be innocuous to many humans, it’s not a good idea to feed it to dogs. Canines often experience diarrhea and other symptoms of stomach upset when they consume dairy, particularly in big amounts. This also applies to cats. Play it safe and keep all dairy products such as milk away from your pet. Pets don’t have a lot of lactase, which is an enzyme that is essential for the deconstruction of lactose. This, in turn, often leads to troubles in dairy digestion. When dogs are unable to digest dairy products properly, the undigested components head over to their large intestines. When they get to their large intestines, bacterial fermentation occurs. This fermentation frequently leads to an array of tummy woes in canines. Note, however, that some forms of dairy contain less lactose than others. Cheese, for example, isn’t as high in lactose as milk is.

Dogs generally adore the taste of dairy, so it can be tough to keep these yummy products away from them. If your dog stares at you enviously as you devour a plate of ice cream, however, stand your ground. Dairy can indeed offer your dog minerals such as phosphorus and calcium, but it can also make him feel extremely bad. If your pet experiences runny stools, stomach pain or flatulence, dairy could be the culprit. Notify your veterinarian about your pet’s symptoms just to be sure. Remember, too, that not all dogs necessarily experience problems with dairy consumption.

For the sake of your precious dog, refrain from feeding him anything new or unfamiliar until your veterinarian confirms to you that it’s totally safe. Whether your pet is begging for cheese, fruit, yogurt, vegetables, meat or anything else on the table, keep it out of his mouth if you aren’t 100 percent sure that it’s canine-friendly.