Your dog and lactose

Whilst some humans have no trouble digesting dairy products, others can experience intestinal distress. This is the same for dogs. Some can handle digesting milk, cheese etc. without repercussions while others will have diarrhea, vomiting or bloating etc. The ability to cope with these foods comes down to how well an lactose-splitting enzyme ‘lactase’ is produced in each individuals system. The absence of lactase can mean digestive discomfort. But the amount of lactose consumed will also play a part in how your dog responds.

Cheese is usually considered a high value treat for dogs. 30 grams of a standard cheddar cheese only delivers around 0 to 1 gram of lactose. A cup of full cream milk delivers around 10 grams of lactose. A cup of yoghurt is somewhere approx. 5 grams. Your dog may be ok with small portions of cheddar.

Keeping an eye on your dog’s bowel movements is one way to monitor how they are doing on their current diet. If you are gradually introducing diary products, do so around a standard routine to help pinpoint what has triggered any changes. Products for young dogs such as ‘Puppy milk’ usually contain between 0 and 1% lactose. There is a degree of lactose in a bitch’s milk but the amount of lactase a pup produces declines as they age.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)