cow's milk, is it good for puppies?

You might try to give milk to your dog because they think milk might be good for their health. Or sometimes when you are eating ice cream, you give it to your dog who keeps gazing at it with a pained face.

But, is milk really good for your dog? and do dogs really need milk as a nutrient enhancer in their body?

When dogs are small and feed by their mothers, they receive dog milk, which has a different composition from commercial milk (which mostly comes from cow's milk). Dog milk contains a lot of protein, fat and also provides antibodies needed to prevent certain infections.

Puppies can tolerate dog milk well, but may not be able to tolerate cow's milk or other types of milk. This is because cow's milk contains lactose, where most dogs cannot tolerate it. Lactose is a kind of sugar. Not just a single sugar, but in the form of two sugar molecules that are chemically linked together. In order for a dog to digest milk, it must first break down lactose to become easily absorbed sugar. However, the dog's body does not have a special enzyme to break down the lactose. The enzyme is Lactase. And that is what causes dogs to not be able to digest Lactose properly.

As explained above, the reason why dogs should not be given milk is because of the lactose content in it, and many dogs have an allergic reaction to this substance. Symptoms of lactose intolerance or lactose allergy include:

- Rashes on the skin, especially the abdominal area

- Gag

- Diarrhea

- limp

- bloating

These symptoms can be seen after the dog consumes milk or the next day, depending on how high the dog's allergy to lactose. If these symptoms occur in dogs, you should stop giving them milk. You should also avoid other dairy products such as yogurt, ice cream or cheese, which all contain lactose.

If your dog does not show a negative reaction at all, then you can give him milk. However, keep in mind that dogs can develop an allergic reaction to lactose when they grow up, so that your dog may not be allergic to lactose at the age of 2 years, but an allergic reaction or symptoms of lactose intolerance will appear at the age of 5 years. Puppies can develop lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance) from the age of three to six months.

The lower the lactose content, in any dairy product, the more likely it is for your dog to tolerate consuming this food without problems. So, depending on certain foods, it might still be OK to provide some dairy products, of course with sufficient levels. However, still if you see a negative reaction even at a small level, then stop giving.