Milking

BY SUE MAKEPEACE

Lots of people ask whether it’s a good thing to add goat’s milk to a dog’s diet.

I actually love goat’s milk as a healthy addition to a Westie’s meal as it adds lots of yummy goodness, my dogs slurp it up and ask for more. Believe it or not goat’s milk is the number one milk (after cow’s milk) that is consumed the world over.

When not to feed goat’s milk

We will start with the negative aspects of goat’s milk. Firstly, you need to ascertain whether or not your dog can deal with lactose. Occasionally dogs just cannot tolerate it, they can really struggle to digest the milk sugars. Some dogs have low digestive enzymes, especially older dogs, and they struggle to digest lactose. This can lead to sensitivity and maybe allergies to dairy products.

Lactose intolerance is generally easy to spot, if your dog is suffering from a bloated tummy, very loose stools, stinky gas, painful tummy, sickness and refusing to eat are generally clear signs.

Goat’s milk has a higher fat content than cow’s milk, so if your dog has a history of pancreatitis it’s best to avoid it. I wouldn’t recommend the low-fat versions as it’s highly processed to remove the fat content.

Goat’s milk is calorific and if fed on a regular basis can cause weight gain. You can adjust the dog’s food intake to avoid feeding too many calories.

Goat’s milk is also best avoided if your dog is suffering from skin issues as there is a chance it can cause inflammation.

So to sum up, goat’s milk is best avoided if you have a dog that’s suffering from cancer, skin issues, pancreatitis, is overweight, has digestive problems, or is sensitive to lactose.

Positive reasons to feed goat’s milk

There are plenty of positives for feeding goat’s milk to your dog. It contains many beneficial fatty acids, enzymes, minerals, and protein, and is absolutely delicious to your Westie.

In a healthy dog, goat’s milk is actively easier to digest and very gentle on the stomach. It contains plenty of proteins that make it easier for the body to process, which is very beneficial for your Westies. It can also help your dog absorb beneficial nutrients.

Goat’s milk contains plenty of good bacteria that can improve your Westie’s gut health and its immune system. The immune system is around 85% in the gut. This bacterium travels through the gut and then ends up colonising in the dog’s colon. It also has a larger proportion of natural probiotics.

If you have a healthy Westie and you want to add a delicious additive to their diet, then goat’s milk is wonderful. I would suggest 3-4 times a week and just a small bowl full.