Can dogs eat milk?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Milk is only for small amounts, or in certain forms, for dogs. The ASPCA says pets lack much lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so milk can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. A tiny lick is unlikely to hurt, but water is the better drink. Skip it, or give only a tiny taste. The trouble is lactose, the milk sugar. Many cats and dogs cannot digest it well.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why
The ASPCA says pets lack much lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so milk can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. A tiny lick is unlikely to hurt, but water is the better drink.
How to serve it
Skip it, or give only a tiny taste.
Good to know
The trouble is lactose, the milk sugar. Many cats and dogs cannot digest it well.
Watch for: Ice cream, creamy dips and milk-based foods bring the same stomach upset.
Already ate it?
If your pet ate a lot, or you are worried, call your vet. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Milk is only a tiny treat for dogs, and only a grown-up decides how much."
A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the dog, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your dog. Dogs differ.
Sources
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (checked October 29, 2026)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: True or False: Milk and tuna are great foods for cats (checked October 29, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Proper Nutrition for Cats (checked October 29, 2026)