By DogLovely Team
Goat’s milk has risen in popularity as it is believed to be healthier than cow’s milk. A lot of dog owners use goat’s milk in homemade diets as it contains a plethora of nutrients and is easier to digest than cow’s milk.
As adult dogs can drink goat’s milk, you might have wondered whether it is safe for puppies too.
Is It OK To Give My Puppy Goat’s Milk?
Goat’s milk contains a good amount of nutrients and contains less lactose than cow’s milk, so it is safe for puppies to consume.
Newborn puppies who have not yet been weaned onto solid food should ideally be given dog milk or a reputable commercial canine milk replacer. Goat’s milk can be given to newborn puppies in emergencies when nothing else is available, but only temporarily.
Goat’s Milk Vs Evaporated Milk For Puppies
For newborn puppies, neither goat’s milk nor evaporated milk is ideal on a long-term basis. Newborn puppies require dog milk or a commercial canine milk substitute (if they are orphaned) to thrive. However, in emergency circumstances when you do not have access to either, then goat’s milk or evaporated cow’s milk will suffice.
A female dog’s milk contains 35.5% protein, 43% fat, and 15.4% lactose. In contrast, cow’s milk consists of 26.6% protein, 30.6% fat, and 37.9% lactose. Goat’s milk contains 25.4% protein, 34.6% fat, and 30.8% lactose. As cow’s milk and goat’s milk has a lot less protein and fat than dogs’ milk, it is not ideal for newborn puppies long-term. Additionally, both cow’s milk and goat’s milk contain a lot more lactose than dogs’ milk. The high amount of lactose in either can cause diarrhea or loose stools in puppies.
Evaporated milk contains a high amount of sugar, which can also upset your puppy’s stomach.
A common emergency puppy formula recipe uses 3-parts evaporated milk to 1-part water. Another emergency recipe from Maddie’s Fund calls for 1 cup of cow’s milk, 3 eggs yolks, 1 drop high-quality multivitamin solution (if possible), 1 tablespoon of corn oil, and a small pinch of salt. You could use goat’s milk to substitute cow’s milk if you prefer.
If you are unable to get your hands on ingredients other than evaporated milk or goat’s milk, then either one mixed with water will be enough to keep your newborn puppy fed and hydrated on a temporary basis.
For older puppies, goat’s milk can be given as a treat. Evaporated milk should be avoided due to its high lactose and sugar content, but it shouldn’t hurt your puppy if they consume a small amount of it. If your puppy is intolerant to cow’s/goat’s milk or drinks too much of it, then they might get an upset stomach, so this is something to bear in mind.
Raw Goat’s Milk For Puppies
Like with all raw products, raw goat’s milk can contain pathogenic bacteria that can harm your puppy. Raw milk can contain germs like Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, Brucella, and more. If you give your puppy uncooked food or unpasteurized (raw) milk, then there is a possibility that they will consume a pathogen. As puppies, especially newborn ones, have incredibly sensitive digestive and immune systems, it’s a good idea to only give them pasteurized goat’s or cow’s milk to be on the safe side.
