Can Dogs Drink Human Breast Milk? Nutrition & Health Facts
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View 2 More +Many pet owners consider their dog to be their baby, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, there are some things that we shouldn’t be sharing with our pets, and breast milk is one of them. In addition to being a tad unconventional, to say the least, human breast milk provides your dog with no nutritional or immunological benefits, and if anything, may give them an upset stomach.
Want to know more? You’re in the right place.
Why Can't Dogs Drink Human Breast Milk?
Like virtually all mammals, dogs lose their ability to effectively digest lactose as they age. While an occasional nibble of some dairy products such as cheese might not hurt them, human milk and cow’s milk contain a significant amount of lactose that can wreak havoc on their digestive systems.
Even though puppies may not be lactose intolerant, they shouldn’t rely on human breast milk for growth and development. The nutritional needs of dogs and humans are totally different, as are our immune systems. Puppies who regularly drink human breast milk instead of canine milk or formula made for dogs may have developmental issues.
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Is It Ever Okay for Dogs to Drink Breast Milk?
You might be wondering if human breast milk could be a reasonable substitute in an emergency. A few years ago a Colorado woman made international headlines when she breastfed a starving foster puppy who’d lost its mother.1 She credited her actions with saving its life, noting that the puppy who had formerly been the runt but now was bigger than its siblings.
If you found yourself in a situation with a starving puppy that couldn’t eat solids and you were unable to access any other substitutes, then human breast milk might do in a pinch. Physically breastfeeding a puppy however? Not only is it a pretty unsettling scenario, it also exposes both the puppy and lactating female to the risk of zoonotic disease and unhealthy attachments.
If breast milk is all you have, it can act as a one time stop-gap until puppy formula or low-lactose goat milk can be obtained.
Milk Alternatives for Puppies
If you're fostering a young dog who urgently needs milk, a formula or milk replacement that’s made for dogs is the safest choice that'll meet their dietary needs. However, there may be cases where the local pet store is out of stock or closed, and you have a screaming, starving puppy on your hands.
For emergency situations, you can try goat’s milk. There are a number of different recipes you may find to create a puppy formula using goats milk. However, many of these include raw egg, which is not recommended due to the risk of pathogen contamination. You can mix some goat’s milk with some full fat greek yogurt, or just give it on its own, but remember, this is only a temporary solution until a proper puppy formula that contains the right balance of nutrients can be obtained.
We recommend steering clear of cow's milk because it can upset your dog's stomach.
Final Thoughts
Despite the fact that all mammals are raised on milk, there are distinct nutritional differences between species that mean that puppies shouldn’t be fed milk from other species – including humans – unless there is no other option. If you have a starving puppy on your hands, giving them a milk replacement that’s formulated for dogs is the safest option. If you’re out of commercially manufactured puppy formula, goat’s milk is the most appropriate alternative.
Adult dogs don’t need to consume milk, particularly not human breast milk. Most dogs will develop gastrointestinal upset if they ingest dairy as their lactase levels (the enzyme needed to digest lactose) diminish once they have been weaned.
It’s okay to think of your pup as your baby, but keep the breast milk for the human baby please!
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Featured Image Credit: Nor Gal, Shutterstock
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Brooke Norris has 2+ years experience as a freelance writer. She graduated from University of North Georgia with a B.S. in Media Studies, and is intrigued by the idea of storytelling across different mediums. Currently she lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and four pets. When she isn’t writing, you’ll probably find Brooke petting her dog, Tuggles, or one of her three cats, Satura, Rosie, and Demelza. They follow her around the house as she gardens, cooks, brews coffee, and otherwise makes their house a home.
