A lot of us enjoy drinking milk. We love it so much we put it in our cereals, coffee, desserts, smoothies, and even dunk our cookies in it! It wouldn’t come as a surprise if our pups love milk as much as we do, but is milk safe for your dog? Let’s find out in this blog post.

Why is Milk Good for Dogs?

Milk contains a lot of nutrients that dogs need. These include: 

• Protein - Our pups need protein for their bodies to function properly. It should always be part of your dog’s healthy and balanced diet. Protein supplies the amino acids that build hair, skin, nails, tendons, muscles, and cartilage. 
• Calcium - Like in humans, calcium is essential for the formation of teeth and bones. It’s especially important for young, growing pups. 
• Vitamin A - This essential vitamin is necessary for skin health, vision, reproduction, and proper growth. 
• Vitamin D - The “sunshine” vitamin helps in regulating the balance and retention of calcium and phosphorus. 

What Kind of Milk Can My Dog Drink?

When milk is mentioned, the first thing that usually comes to mind is cow’s milk. But there are different types of milk, including other dairy and non-dairy milk, that are good for dogs. Most dogs are able to drink cow’s milk without any problems. However, there are some pups who have difficulty digesting lactose and can’t drink cow’s milk. This means considering milk alternatives such as goat’s milk, almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk. 

Can Puppies Drink Milk?

Ideally, puppies should be drinking milk from their mothers. However, there are situations when a mother’s milk is not always available such as when a newborn puppy is orphaned. Even if the cow’s milk is raw and organic, a commercial milk replacer for nursing puppies is still a better choice. 

Can Dogs Drink Oat Milk?

Oats are a breakfast staple among hoomans, but can dogs eat oatmeal or drink oat milk? As oats are not toxic to dogs, the answer is yes, our pups certainly can! Oats lower cholesterol levels and supports digestion. Oats are also rich in B vitamins that help in the production of healthy skin cells. 

Is Almond Milk Safe for Dogs? 

If your vet diagnosed your dog as lactose intolerant, you’ll probably be on the market looking for plant-based milk you can give to your pup. One of the more popular choices is almond milk. But is it safe for your pup? Certain nuts like Macadamia are toxic to dogs. Although almond nuts are not as toxic, experts would still warn against feeding almonds or almond milk to dogs as they’re high in fat, and dogs also don’t digest almonds well.

Can My Dog Drink Goat’s Milk?

Goat’s milk is a good alternative to cow’s milk because it’s the safer and healthier choice. Compared to cow’s milk, goat’s milk actually has lower lactose content, higher in nutrients like calcium and potassium, and lower in vitamin B12 and folate. Goat’s milk is also easier to digest and dogs with allergies are least likely to experience an allergic reaction. 

How Much Milk Can I Give My Dog?

Although milk is safe for dogs and many pups love the taste of milk, it’s still best to give them in small amounts. Some dogs are also lactose intolerant and may have a hard time digesting milk, even if they usually can handle dairy products like cheese and plain yogurt. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include loose stools, vomiting, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. So, the next time you see a hungry pup, don’t give it a big bowl of milk as it can cause diarrhea and vomiting even if they’re not lactose intolerant. 

Homemade Milk Dog Treats Recipes

Now that you know how much milk you can give your pup, here are some mouthwatering dog treats with milk as an ingredient that you can make at home. 

Copycat Milk-Bone Dog Biscuits

This copycat recipe is a must-try if you find the brand name on the pricey side. These smell and taste a lot like Milk-bone and you can even add other ingredients to add some variety to your pup’s snacks. 

Ingredients

⅓ cup butter or margarine 

¾ cup hot water

⅓ cup non-fat dry milk 

1 beef, chicken or veggie stock cube

3 cups whole wheat flour or flour of your choice 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper 
2. Cut the butter up into pieces and place in a large bowl. Add non-fat dry milk and stock cube. Then, pour the hot water and mix until the butter is melted. 
3. Add the flour and mix well until it forms into a dough you can roll. 
4. Lightly flour the surface and roll out the dough into ¼ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Prick with a fork and place on baking sheets. 
5. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let the biscuits stay there until completely cool. 

*Makes 24 to 30 biscuits, depending on the size of your biscuits.

Better Than Milk-Bones

This healthy alternative to commercial doggy snacks has the real meaty taste doggos are looking for in their treats. 

Ingredients

1 ½ cup whole wheat 

1 cup all purpose flour

½ cup oat flour (can be substituted with steel-cut oats)

½ cup wheat germ 

¼ cup nutritional yeast (you can also substitute with brewer’s yeast)

1 cup warm oatmilk (or whatever milk your dog loves best)

2 bouillon cubes (any flavor but choose a low or no sodium option) 

1 egg

Optional Ingredients, divide into three and color with: 

1 chlorophyll capsule for green cookies

1 tbsp turmeric for yellow cookies

1 tbsp tomato, beet, or pomegranate powder for red cookies

Natural food coloring to boost the colors 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, combine the flours, wheat germ, and nutritional yeast. Stir with a fork to break up lumps. 
3. Heat up the oatmeal milk in a small bowl and add in crumbled bouillon cubes. Stir or whisk well until the cubes are dispersed. Add the egg and whisk a bit to combine. 
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix well until a dough forms. 
5. Divide the dough into 3 parts and add the food coloring.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness and use your cookie cutter to cut out the bones. 
7. Bake for 20 minutes and bake until the bottom is beginning to brown. 
8. Turn off the oven, but leave the cookies to cool inside. 

Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Goat Milk

Looking for a dog treat that’s going to be a sure hit with your furkids? This recipe from Meyenberg Goat Milk calls for peanut butter, a classic favorite among our furry pals. What’s more, there’s goat’s milk, a great dietary supplement for dogs! 

Ingredients

½ cup Meyenberg goat milk 

½ cup smooth peanut butter

¾ cup whole wheat flour 

¼ cup rolled oats 

½ teaspoon baking powder 

½ tablespoon honey, to taste 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. 
2. Mix in the flour, oats, and baking powder. Add in the goat milk, peanut butter, and honey (optional). 
3. Mix well until a dough forms. Lightly flour your work surface, then roll out the dough to ⅓ inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape. 
4. Add to lined baking sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the biscuits are solid and golden. 
5. Take the cookies out and allow them to cook before serving to your pup. 

Best of Breed Dog Biscuits

Vegetarian dogs will love this recipe! It’s non-meat, yummy, vetted by a vet, and nutritious! And even if your pup loves meat, they’ll surely snap these mouthwatering treats instantly. 

Ingredients

2 cups King Arthur white whole wheat flour 

1 cup rolled oats, old fashioned or quick-cooking

1 tablespoon dried parsley (2 tablespoon) chopped fresh parsley

½ cup dry milk or nonfat dry milk 

½ teaspoon salt 

2 large eggs

1 cup peanut butter, crunchy or plain

½ cup + 1 tablespoon cold water, just enough to make a cohesive dough

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Prepare your baking sheets by lightly greasing them or lining them with parchment paper. 
2. Mix dry ingredients (flour, oats, parsley, dry milk, and salt) together in a bowl. 
3. Add eggs and peanut butter. Stir to combine. The mixture should be crumbly. 
4. Add enough water to bring the dough together. You may need to add more during winter, and a bit less during summer. 
5. Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut with a cookie cutter of your choice. You can also drop the dough in walnut-sized balls onto your baking sheets, then flatten them to about ¼ inch. 
6. Bake the cookies for 40 to 60 minutes. Bake smaller cookies for a shorter amount of time. Cookies will be dark golden brown, dry and crisp all the way. 
7. Remove cookies from the oven and cool right on your baking sheets. 

Easy No-Bake Strawberry Yogurt Dog Treats

Yogurt is a dairy product that dogs usually love. And, of course, there’s more to love when you incorporate yogurt into your dog treats. 

Ingredients

1 ½ cup oat flour (you can DIY your own by pulverizing rolled oats in the food processor)

1 coconut flour 

1 cup plain nonfat yogurt 

⅓ cup strawberries 

1 tbsp coconut oil 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

2 tbsp dry pomegranate seeds 

¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes 

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in your food processor and pulse until combined. 
2. Form balls according to what size works best for your dog. Make sure to squeeze tightly! 
3. For best consistency, chill before serving. 
4. You can roll them in more coconut flakes for a fluffy effect. 

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. While thorough research was done to write this, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian before feeding or introducing new food to your dog.