Goat Milk For Dogs: A Natural Probiotic & Prebiotic

For dogs with stomach issues, adding a prebiotic and probiotic to their diet can be beneficial. Adding goat milk for dogs to your furry friend’s food can be an easy way to boost good gut bacteria and help reduce stomach issues. Feeding goat milk to your dog has many benefits, so let’s dive in and explore why adding this supplement can be a smart move.

 

1. Goat Milk Is Easily Digestible

We don't recommend serving cow’s milk to your dog, but goat milk has smaller fat globules and a different protein structure compared to cow’s milk protein, making it easier for on your dog’s digestive tract. It is less likely to cause digestive upset or lactose intolerance symptoms.

 

The enzymes in goat milk aid in digestion and can help soothe gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea or constipation. In addition to switching to a dog food for a sensitive stomach, adding goat milk can be highly beneficial.

 

2. It’s Rich In Nutrients

Goat milk is packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins A, D, and B, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients support overall health and well-being.

 

3. It Has Probiotic & Prebiotic Benefits

Raw goat milk contains natural probiotics and prebiotics, which help support a healthy gut microbiome. This can improve digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and boost the immune system. We’ll dive deeper into probiotics and prebiotics later on in this article, but if you have a dog with stomach issues, goat milk (and a sensitive stomach dog food) can be a great option to help resolve these problems.

 

4. It’s Anti-Inflammatory & Supports Joint Health

Goat milk for dogs contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the body, benefiting dogs with conditions like arthritis or allergies. The calcium and phosphorus in goat milk contribute to strong bones and teeth, while other nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin support joint health.

 

5. Goat Milk Provides Hydration

Got a dog that never seems to want to drink water? Goat milk can be a great source of hydration, especially for dogs that are reluctant to drink water. Most dogs love the taste of goat milk, and this can be a particularly good supplement during hot weather or after exercise.

 

6. It Boosts The Immune System

The high levels of vitamins and antioxidants in goat milk help strengthen the immune system, making dogs more resilient to illnesses and infections. Goat milk for dogs also features natural detoxifying properties that can cleanse the liver and remove toxins from the body, which contributes to overall health. With liver issues, which are quite common in older dogs, a dog food for liver disease combined with goat’s milk can reduce or even eliminate these problems.

 

7. Goat Milk Promotes A Healthy Coat & Skin

The essential fatty acids and vitamin A in goat milk support healthy skin and a shiny coat, reducing issues like dryness, itching, and dandruff. So many dogs these days suffer from skin issues, and switching to a holistic dog food and adding goat milk can be a huge factor in reducing these issues.

 

Probiotics Vs. Prebiotics

You’ve likely heard of probiotics, but prebiotics are also crucial for intestinal and gut health. Let’s take a look at each of these and why they are important for your dog’s diet. Both of these substances can be found in goat milk, as well as in other foods and supplements. Both help your dog’s body either maintain or boost a healthy level of good bacteria in the gut.

 

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components, typically sourced from fiber and natural sugars. These might not be digestible, but they do stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Probiotics, on the other hand, are live microorganisms that help to maintain or restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. This aids in digestion, reduces gastrointestinal distress and improves the immune system.

 

As you can see, ensuring that probiotics and prebiotics are part of your dog’s diet can go a long way toward reducing stomach issues and maintaining good health. If you choose not to use goat milk, we encourage you to ask your veterinarian to recommend a probiotic/prebiotic supplement, especially if your dog is prone to stomach issues.

 

Raw Goat Milk Vs. Pasteurized

While there’s some controversy surrounding a raw versus pasteurized dairy product, raw products, especially when it comes to goat milk for dogs and goat milk for puppies, contain far more probiotics and prebiotics, so while pasteurized goat milk might be fine, raw goat milk packs a much more powerful punch – nutrition-wise.

 

In addition to the higher probiotics and prebiotics, raw goat milk does a better job of providing hydration and also can help boost your dog’s appetite. If you have a picky eater, most dogs love the taste of goat milk, so this can ensure that your dog is finishing their meals and taking in all of their much-needed nutrients. Raw goat milk also can be easier to digest than pasteurized goat milk.

 

Keep in mind, that goat milk is meant for supplemental feeding, and not meant to make up the bulk of your dog’s diet. All dogs need a complete and balanced diet with the right mix of vitamins and minerals as well as a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Goat milk alone will not provide your dog with enough calories or nutrients.

 

Of course, some dog parents may worry that raw milk could be dangerous, but this is rarely the case if you purchase raw goat milk from a reputable source and ensure that the milk is stored properly. It’s important to note that even pasteurized milk can become contaminated, as can most foods if stored improperly.

 

How Much Goat Milk Should You Feed A Dog?

This depends upon the dog’s weight. We recommend just one or two ounces per day for dogs under 20 pounds. For dogs weighing between 20-40 pounds, you can feed them up to four ounces per day. Dogs weighing 40-60 pounds can enjoy four to six ounces, and, for dogs 60 pounds or heavier, six to eight ounces per day is our recommended option. Again, this is a supplement, and should not make up your dog’s entire diet plan.

 

What Should My Dog Eat?

 

 

While goat milk can be an excellent supplement, it’s also important to find a meal plan that addresses all of your dog’s nutritional needs as well as addressing any health problems. At Chi Dog, we have developed five unique dietary plans, each of which follows the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and the Five Elements theory.

 

These five plans – Wood Diet, Fire Diet, Water Diet, Earth Diet & Metal Diet – each were designed to address specific dietary needs. For instance, if you’ve been searching for a dog food for kidney disease or a kidney diet for dogs, our Water Diet can be an excellent option.

 

This diet also is a good match for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease, urinary incontinence and ear infections. It’s also a great option for picky eaters, as most dogs will enjoy the taste of the lean pork, sweet potato and green peas in this recipe.

 

We invite you to complete our dog health questionnaire, which will lead you to the best diet option for your sweet dog. All of our low carb dog food recipes are lightly cooked to aid in digestion and we use the highest quality human-grade ingredients. However, you can certainly create your own recipe based on our recommendations and the advice of your veterinarian.

 

Raw food is a popular choice these days, but for many dogs, raw pet foods can be difficult to digest so we don’t recommend raw meat or raw veggies for older dogs and dogs with stomach issues. Raw goat milk, however, is suitable for dogs and easy to digest.

 

If you do decide to make dog food, we highly recommend using the best organic, non-GMO ingredients and adding a supplement to ensure that your dog has all of their necessary vitamins and minerals. We do sell a vitamin and mineral substitute on our website, or you can ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

 

Goat milk for dogs can be added to any of our five diet options. When it comes to goat milk for puppies, we typically recommend mixing goat milk into our Wood Diet. This is a gentle diet, ideal for puppies as well as for dogs that need liver support or have a sensitive stomach. Keep in mind, we only ship goat milk with our food and not by itself. If you need to find a source for raw goat milk, some health food stores and online stores sell raw goat milk.

 

We hope this has provided you with some helpful information about goat milk for dogs. If you’d like to try our holistic dog food, you can determine which meal plan is the best fit for your dog by clicking on the Get Started tab on our homepage. If you have any questions about our goat milk or any of our meal plans, please get in touch with us at any time.