Can Dogs Drink Milk? Milk, Yogurt And Ice Cream

A little is usually fine, but milk is not a good drink for dogs. Most adult dogs lose much of the enzyme that digests lactose, so a bowl of milk often ends in gas and loose stools. Plain, unsweetened yogurt is the better dairy treat, and ice cream is best left to people: it is sugar plus dairy, and some flavors hide chocolate or xylitol.

Milk, Yogurt And Ice Cream, Ranked

Can Dogs Drink Milk?

Puppies make plenty of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar. After weaning, most dogs make much less. Undigested lactose pulls water into the gut and feeds bacteria that make gas, which is why the usual result is loose stools, gas or vomiting within hours. Some dogs handle a splash with no trouble. Many do not.

A cup of whole milk has about 150 calories and about 12g of lactose, which is a lot of both for a 20 lb dog. A few laps from a cereal bowl is not an emergency. A bowl as a regular drink is a poor idea, and water is the only drink a dog needs. Aged cheese is much lower in lactose than milk, which is why some dogs tolerate it better.

Orphaned puppies should not get cow’s milk either. Use a puppy milk replacer and follow your vet’s guidance.

Can Dogs Drink Skim Milk?

Skim milk is not easier on the gut. Removing the fat leaves the lactose behind, and a cup of skim has about the same 12g as whole milk. What it does cut is calories, roughly 85 per cup instead of 150, and fat, which matters for dogs prone to pancreatitis.

So is skim milk good for dogs? It is not harmful in a small splash, but it offers nothing a complete dog food does not already provide. If you want to share a little milk, lactose free milk is the gentler choice. Goat milk is often sold as the dog friendly option, but it has only slightly less lactose, and the evidence that dogs digest it better is weak. Treat it the same way.

Can Dogs Eat Yogurt?

Yes, plain and unsweetened, in small amounts. The live cultures break down part of the lactose, and strained Greek yogurt loses more of it with the whey, so many dogs that cannot handle milk do fine with a spoonful of yogurt. It is a handy way to hide a pill or fill a lick mat.

The probiotic claim is weaker than the label suggests. Yogurt cultures are chosen for making yogurt, not for dog guts, and there is little evidence that a spoonful changes much. If your vet wants your dog on a probiotic, a product made for dogs is the reliable route.

The rule that matters: never a sugar free or “light” yogurt. Some are sweetened with xylitol, which can drop a dog’s blood sugar dangerously within an hour. Fruit and flavored yogurts are out too, for the sugar.

Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream?

A lick of plain vanilla will not hurt most dogs, but ice cream is the worst of the three. Half a cup of vanilla is about 140 calories of sugar and fat, plus the same lactose problem. The flavors carry the real risk: chocolate, coffee, rum raisin and macadamia are all toxic, and sugar free versions can contain xylitol.

Candy mix ins, from peanut butter cups to chocolate chunks, add more risk, and they are especially common in seasonal flavors around Halloween. If your dog has eaten a chocolate or sugar free ice cream, call your vet now, or one of the US poison lines (both charge a consultation fee):

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.

For a frozen treat that works better, freeze slices of banana, or freeze plain yogurt in an ice cube tray. Many dog ice creams in the freezer aisle are lactose reduced, but some use regular dairy, so check the label and keep them occasional.

How Much Yogurt Or Milk

Treats of every kind should stay under 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Plain whole yogurt is about 9 calories per tablespoon, so calories are rarely the limit. Lactose is, which is why these amounts sit well below the 10% line:

Milk, if you share it at all, follows the same idea: a couple of tablespoons for a medium dog, not a bowl. Start with half the amount and check the next day’s stool. Gas or soft stools mean your dog is one of the many that do not tolerate lactose, so stop. Our guide to easing an upset stomach covers what to do next.

Which Dogs Should Skip It

• Dogs with a history of pancreatitis, because of the fat in whole milk, yogurt and ice cream
• Dogs that get loose stools or gas from dairy
• Dogs with a food allergy, since dairy is one of the more common food allergens in dogs
• Overweight or diabetic dogs, especially when it comes to ice cream and sweetened yogurt
• Dogs on a prescription or elimination diet, unless your vet says otherwise
• Young puppies, which need a puppy milk replacer, not cow’s milk

Milk And Yogurt In Dog Food

Dairy turns up in some dog foods as dried milk, whey, cheese or yogurt. Of the 3,184 published US dog foods in our catalog, 46 list yogurt as an ingredient. The brands that use it most are Wysong (13), Royal Canin (11), Answers Pet Food (6), Wellness (3) and Unconditional (3). In a complete food it is a small, measured part of the recipe, so it rarely causes the trouble a bowl of milk does. If your dog has a confirmed dairy allergy, though, read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the bag, since whey and dried milk count as dairy too.

For any other food you are tempted to share, check the food checker first.