The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution
  4. Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Can dogs be lactose intolerant?

  • 4 Replies
  • 3514 Views
  • 2 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline smart (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2459
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 38 times
    • Website
Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« on: 30/11/2017 12:20:32 »
I use to give small amounts of cheese to my dog and he seems to enjoy it. However i'm not sure if its safe to give dairy products to dogs. Can someone share a bit of advices?



Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 



Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 31103
  • Activity:
    9.5%
  • Thanked: 1291 times
Re: Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« Reply #1 on: 30/11/2017 20:20:51 »
I suspect that most animals- even mammals- are lactose intolerant as adults.
The on line advice seems to suggest that dogs can eat cheese but to be aware that it can be  very high in fat and calories and also to avoid cheeses with garlic or herbs.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 
The following users thanked this post: smart

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 11036
  • Activity:
    9.5%
  • Thanked: 1486 times
Re: Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« Reply #2 on: 30/11/2017 20:24:31 »
All mammals are lactose intolerant as adults (except for some populations of humans).

In nature, the enzyme to digest lactose (lactase) is essential for life in a newborn that survives only on milk.
However, this enzyme turns off around the time of weaning, and the young then need to survive on solids.

Some groups of humans are unusual in that they retain the ability to digest lactose as adults - this seems to be more common in groups whose ancestors were herders (cows, buffalo, horses, sheep, llamas, etc).
However, a small amount of lactose in the diet probably won't hurt your dog; and yoghurt and cheese have slightly reduced levels of lactose because of their manufacture.

See:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactase_persistence
Logged
 
The following users thanked this post: smart

Offline smart (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2459
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 38 times
    • Website
Re: Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« Reply #3 on: 30/11/2017 20:27:39 »
Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate. :)

tk

Logged
Not all who wander are lost...
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 8061
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 306 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: Can dogs be lactose intolerant?
« Reply #4 on: 03/12/2017 09:31:39 »
Contrary to the claims about "cats that got the cream", felines are not terribly gastrointenstinally inclined towards milk products, as we discussed on this recent mythconception: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/mythconception-do-cats-milk
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: dogs  / lactose 
 
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 1.222 seconds with 44 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.