By Carrie Hyde, The Spaw Pet Life Coach | October 20, 2022

For the most part, we don’t believe dairy is a great choice for dogs and cats. Our pets simply do not have the right enzymes to properly digest milk. But there is one exception to this rule.

Goat’s milk, which is different from cow’s milk in many ways, has been shown to support dog and cat health. In fact, its unique makeup makes it effective for treating a number of conditions from allergies to inflammation.

Below, we’ll look at what makes goat’s milk unique and how you can use it to support your pet’s health.

What Makes Goat’s Milk Special?

Goat’s milk has been consumed by humans for about as long as humans have been keeping dogs as pets. These two animals were some of the first to be domesticated and have both shaped human history in their own unique ways.

Cultures that still utilize goat’s milk understand it has more to offer than cow’s milk. This starts with a very different nutritional makeup and extends to unique hypoallergenic features and high probiotic potential.

Nutritional Content

In terms of macronutrients, the differences between goat’s milk and cow’s milk are slight but important. Goat’s milk has a higher fat content and is more calorically dense. The higher content of free fatty acids contributes to the “goaty” taste of this milk while instilling in it a number of additional health benefits. Goat milk also contains more protein and fewer carbohydrates.

The differences between the two are more dramatic when you look at micronutrient content. Here, we find that goat’s milk is higher in many minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and selenium. The difference in selenium content, especially, is an important one. A deficiency in this mineral is correlated with a higher risk of liver necrosis, cardiac issues, and certain cancers(1).

All of these nutritional differences make goat’s milk a better choice than cow’s for supplementing the diet of cats and dogs.

Easier to Digest

One of the biggest problems with feeding dairy to dogs is that many of them do not have the power to digest it. Lactose, which is the main type of sugar in dairy, is broken down by the enzyme lactase. Studies have shown that many breeds, most notably Chinese, primitive northern, and indigenous African breeds, do not create enough lactase to fully process lactose (2).

But even in dogs who have evolved alongside dairy-consuming human populations, lactose digestibility is limited to 60% or less. Adult cats are even worse off, with most completely unable to digest lactose. When lactose is not digested by enzymes in the gut, it moves through to the colon where is broken down by microbe fermentation. This fermentation process can lead to an excess of gas and cause cramping and diarrhea.

Because goat’s milk has less lactose in it than cow’s milk, it is a better option for pets. When fed in small enough quantities, the lactose present can be processed in the colon without causing digestive upset.

Additionally, goat’s milk has the potential to carry more beneficial bacteria than other types of dairy when fermented (3). This is due to its unique physicochemical and nutritive aspects. When fermented, the amount of lactose in goat’s milk drops even more. Together, these characteristics make fermented goat’s milk a powerhouse of digestion-supporting nutrition for cats and dogs.

 

Hypoallergenic

Milk allergies, which are different from lactose intolerance, can also hinder a dog’s ability to process dairy.

Casein and whey are the main proteins in milk and are the components responsible for inducing allergic reactions in sensitive pets. In human studies, goat’s milk has been proven to be a hypoallergenic alternative to cow’s milk (4). This characteristic comes from two unique features.

First, goat’s milk contains less alpha-s1 casein than cow’s milk. This type of casein is most likely to cause sensitization and allergic reactions in humans and other mammals. The second most likely protein to cause a reaction is a type of whey called beta-LG. In goat’s milk, this protein molecule features unique hydrophobic amino acids that are easier to decompose and therefore easier to digest without causing sensitization (5).

But the hypoallergenic properties of goat’s milk go beyond the type of proteins found inside it. This milk also contains a unique profile of nucleosides and nucleotides. These building blocks of genetic information are passed from mothers to their offspring through breast milk and play an important role in enhancing immune function and supporting digestion (6). They are also believed to have powerful therapeutic benefits in preventing allergic reactions (7).

Benefits of Goat’s Milk for Dogs

The unique features found in goat’s milk do more than make it a safer dairy option for your pet. They also have the potential to fight disease. Specifically, goat’s milk has been shown to support healthier digestion, help dogs and cats overcome allergies, and fight inflammation throughout the body.

Healthier Digestion

Raw goat’s milk naturally contains a number of probiotic strains, each with the potential to positively affect the flora in the canine and feline intestinal tract. Studies have shown that fermented goat’s milk, in particular, contains lactic acid bacteria that effectively populate the canine gut, offering therapeutic benefits (8).

Goat’s milk also contains up to six times the amount of oligosaccharides in cow’s milk. These important prebiotics help sustain healthy gut flora by supplying them with food.

Dogs and cats that have been on antibiotics are especially good candidates for fermented goat milk supplementation. But any pet suffering from diarrhea or digestive upset will benefit from the balancing power of raw and fermented goat’s milk products.

Allergy Therapy

As we discussed above, goat’s milk is much less likely to cause allergic reactions in dogs than cow’s milk. But its therapeutic benefits go far beyond not causing allergies.

The unique nucleotide and nucleoside profile of goat’s milk supports proper immune function and helps strengthen the immune components of the gut. Studies have suggested these molecules may have the potential to trigger intestinal T regulatory immune cells. In theory, this could help reduce allergy symptoms, whether caused by topical or food allergies.

One study into the therapeutic effects of nucleotides in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs showed reduced symptoms when paired with a hypoallergenic diet (9). Anecdotal evidence from owners who have given goat’s milk to dogs with food allergies seems to indicate it can be just as effective in reducing these symptoms.

Anti Inflammatory

Many of the same features of goat’s milk that make it helpful in the fight against allergies, also help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Goat’s milk has the power to trigger adaptive and innate immune responses. Specifically, it can inhibit the endotoxin-induced activation of monocytes, a process that is known to cause inflammation. For this reason, goat’s milk has been recommended for those suffering from chronic inflammation disorders (10).

The oligosaccharides found in goat’s milk also have the potential to protect against inflammation, especially within the gut. A study of inflammatory colitis in rats showed that the supplementation of oligosaccharides from goat’s milk reduced symptoms of colitis and prevented the damaging wall thickening associated with the disease (11). This indicates that goat’s milk would be a beneficial supplement for pets that suffer from irritable bowel disease and chronic colitis.

There is also some evidence that fermented goat’s milk products, just like other fermented dairy products, may help protect against arthritis, ulcers, and certain inflammatory brain disorders.

How to Use Goat’s Milk to Support Pet Health

Whether your dog or cat suffers from stomach problems, allergies, or chronic inflammation, goat’s milk has the potential to help them feel better. There are a number of ways to incorporate goat’s milk into your pet’s routine. Some of the easiest are through supplementation and a diet cleanse.

 

As a Supplement

Adding goat’s milk to your pet’s food is a great way to take advantage of its many benefits. The key here is to add it in small enough amounts to assure the benefits outweigh the potential pitfalls of introducing too much lactose into the diet.

For general maintenance, you should feed about 1 oz of goat’s milk for every 10 pounds of body weight per day. If your pet is new to goat’s milk, start small and work up to this dose over the course of a week.

To assure your goat’s milk does all it can to support your pet’s health, look for a product that is:

• Raw (not pasteurized)
• Organic
• From grass-fed goats

For maximum benefits, we recommend a fermented product such as raw goat’s milk kefir or yogurt.

Goat’s Milk Diet Cleanse

A goat’s milk cleanse is a great way to reset your pet’s system after they’ve been on antibiotics or when you start to notice signs of inflammation or allergies. It is also a great thing to do every few months as part of your normal maintenance routine.

Just as with supplemental goat’s milk, we recommend only using raw, organic, grass-fed goat’s milk for cleansing. You can also incorporate some fermented kefir or yogurt as part of your dog’s diet cleanse.

To perform a goat’s milk diet cleanse:

1. Start by reducing your dog’s regular diet by ½ and adding ⅓ cup goat’s milk per 10 pounds of body weight.
2. Do this each meal for 2 days.
3. On the third day, completely remove the dog’s normal food and feed only goat’s milk at a rate of ⅓ cup per 10 pounds of body weight twice a day.
4. Continue with goat’s milk only for three days.
5. Slowly add back your dog’s normal diet (or a new diet if adjusting for allergies) over the following few days, reducing the amount of goat’s milk as symptoms ease.

The goat’s milk should reduce itching and other allergy symptoms dramatically over this period. It will also help rebalance the gut and reset the immune system to prepare the body for a new diet if you are working to remove allergens. Because goat’s milk has all the major elements your pet needs to thrive, it is safe to feed as their sole food source for short periods.

NOTE: If your dog is diabetic or has other major health issues, only perform a goat’s milk cleanse under the supervision of a qualified holistic veterinarian.

Not Your Typical Dairy

Goat’s milk is unique in the dairy world thanks to its macronutrient profile, easily digestible sugars, and hypoallergenic properties. This makes it the perfect supplement for supporting your dog or cat’s digestive tract and helping them overcome allergies and chronic inflammation. With a daily dose of fermented goat’s milk or the occasional raw goat’s milk cleanse, you can help support your pet’s health for a longer, happier life.

By Carrie Hyde, The Spaw Pet Life Coach | October 20, 2022

Written for The Spaw by Sara Seitz, Professional Freelance Writer and Novelist with Pen and Post

Carrie Hyde is the founder, owner, and Pet Life Coach of The Spaw in Tustin, CA. Carrie’s extensive experience and understanding of pet nutrition and coaching enabled her to create The Spawdcast, a podcast dedicated to educating pet parents and pet industry professionals on ALL the options available to their pet. Her mission is to open pet-owner’s eyes to the questions they may not even know to ask, to shine a light on the many myths that have been part of pet care for decades, and to offer whole solutions for their pets. Carrie Hyde is a certified pet nutritionist with the goal of helping pet parents & pet professionals with a new understanding of how to care for pets in a “whole and natural” way.