Is Goat Milk Good For Dogs? – 20 Reasons Why It Is

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The quick and easy answer to the question Is goat milk good for dogs? is an enthusiastic yes!

That’s because goat milk is packed with essential nutrients that support dog health in various ways. 

I personally learned about goat milk for dogs after I switched my Boxer mixes from kibble to raw dog food. 

That was back in 2015.

Ever since, goat milk for dogs has been a regular staple in our home. 

So today, I’ll share what I’ve learned about goat milk over the years.

Spoiler alert: It’s not just great for raw-fed dogs! As a matter of fact, it’s particularly beneficial for dogs who eat kibble. 

More on that here in a bit.

What’s In Goat Milk?

But first, let’s look at the nutrient profile of goat milk.

Goat milk is naturally rich in the following:

• Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin D
• Collagen
• Calcium
• Zinc

20 Reasons Why Goat Milk Is Good For Dogs

These nutrients work together to promote dog health one way or another.

1. Goat Milk Is Easy to Digest

For instance, goat milk is known as universal milk because it’s easy to digest by all mammals (including us humans), and it’s a lot easier to digest than cow milk.

That said, it’s gentle on a dog’s stomach and promotes a healthy gut microbiome.

2. High Quality Protein Source

Goat milk is also a good source of high-quality protein, which helps in muscle development and repair.

By the way, the reason why goat milk is so much easier to digest than cow milk is that goat milk contains more A2 beta-casein proteins than it does A1 beta-casein proteins.

3. Supports Dog Joint Health

Beyond that, goat milk also contains collagen.

That’s a protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and strength of joints, tendons, and ligaments.

The naturally occurring chondroitin and glucosamine in goat milk also help maintain healthy joints, which is especially beneficial for senior pups!

4. Goat Milk For Dogs With Diarrhea

Since goat milk is much easier to digest than cow milk, it’s a gentle option for dogs with diarrhea, an upset stomach or gastrointestinal issues. 

Also, the probiotics in goat milk promote a healthy gut, which doesn’t just help with digestion, but it also helps boost your dog’s immune system. 

5. Calcium, Phosphorus & Vitamin D for Strong Bones

The calcium content in goat milk helps support strong bones and teeth in dogs.

Phosphorus works in conjunction with calcium to build and maintain healthy bones and joints in dogs.

Last but not least, the vitamin D in goat milk helps absorb and utilize calcium and phosphorus, which further contributes to bone and joint health!

6. Supports Puppy Growth

Since goat milk helps develop strong bones, it’s particularly beneficial for puppies as it supports their growth and development phase. 

Good to know: When puppies are rejected by their mother, goat milk is often used as a milk replacer for the young pups!

7. Helps Rehydrate Dogs

Goat milk is a natural source of the electrolyte potassium, which helps maintain the balance of fluids in the dog’s body.

Because of this, goat milk is great to help rehydrate dogs after physical activity or illness.

During our hot and humid NC summer, the pups always got a little goat milk after our daily morning walks. 

8. Goat Milk Is Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease

One example of an illness the high water content in goat milk can help with is kidney disease. 

That’s because adequate hydration is crucial for dogs with kidney issues as it supports kidney function and prevents dehydration.

9. Goat Milk For Dogs Skin

Since goat milk increases collagen production, this helps contribute to a healthy skin and coat, and the complex GAG molecules in goat milk also help increase hydration of the skin.

Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3 fatty acids in goat milk contribute to a shiny and healthy coat as well.

10. Goat Milk For Dogs With Allergies

Of course, that also means that goat milk helps relieve itchy, dry skin that’s caused by allergies! 

My pup Wally’s skin allergies have improved tremendously on his raw dog food diet, and goat milk is a part of it. 

11. Reduces Shedding

One last note on the benefits of goat milk for dog skin and coat: The fatty acids in goat milk also help minimize excessive shedding in dogs.

12. Lactose-Friendly

Since goat milk for dogs has lower lactose levels than cow’s milk, it’s more suitable for lactose-intolerant dogs.

13. Energy Boost

The natural sugars in goat milk can provide a quick energy boost to active and playful dogs. 

14. Promotes Healthy Weight

Goat milk can also help underweight dogs gain healthy weight. 

On average, one cup (about 244 grams) of whole goat milk has about 168 calories.

15. Tasty Treat

Most dogs love the taste of goat milk, which is easily turned into a yummy treat.

Just freeze it into ice cubes or fun silicone shaped paw prints for a cool and refreshing summer snack – literally the coolest dog treat ever! 

My Boxer mixes loved it, and so does Wally (he’s a Feist mix).

16. Enhances Food Flavor

If you have a picky eater, try mixing goat milk with dry dog food.

Goat milk has a naturally sweet taste and a creamy texture that most dogs love, so that makes it a great dog food topper for picky eaters!

17. Rich in Antioxidants

Goat milk contains antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in a dog’s body. 

That means they help slow the aging process in dogs.

18. Supports Brain Health

Zinc as well as the Omega-3 fatty acids in goat milk are vital for brain development and cognitive function. 

19. Reduces Bad Dog Breath

Goat milk can also help freshen a dog’s breath when you feed it regularly.

20. Enhances Nutrient Utilization

Last but not least, goat milk can help dogs extract more nutrients from the regular food they eat.

That’s because goat milk contains naturally occurring emulsifiers that can help disperse fats throughout the digestive system.

This process helps in the breakdown and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).

Why is Goat Milk Particularly Beneficial For Kibble-Fed Dogs?

Given all these benefits, you may be able to guess where I’m going with this.

As you may know, the kibble production process involves high heat extrusion.

This process can significantly alter the original nutrient content of the ingredients. 

Because here’s the thing – the high temperatures used in the manufacturing process kill bad bacteria like salmonella.

But they also kill the GOOD bacteria and degrade delicate nutrients like vitamins and enzymes. 

While they’re added back in synthetically, they’re much less bioavailable for dogs in this form.

That means kibble is devoid of live probiotics and enzymes.

And since goat milk is naturally rich in both, it can give kibble-fed dogs a significant nutrient boost, support a healthy gut and help with digestive issues.

How Much Goat Milk Should I Give My Dog?

You can give dogs about 2 fluid ounces of daily goat milk per 20 lb of body weight.

As always when you’re introducing a new food or supplement, start slowly to give your dog’s body time to get used to it. 

My Boxer mixes Missy & Buzz weighed 55 and 75 lb respectively, and my pup Wally weighs just shy of 40 lb.

For Missy, that translated into a ¾ cup of goat milk per day, and for Buzz it was about a daily cup of goat milk. 

Before we moved overseas, Wally got about ½ a cup of goat milk during the hot summer months.

Which brings me to something else I want to cover – goat milk yogurt.

Adding goats milk to raw dog food – the wine is mine!

Is Goat Milk Yogurt Good For Dogs?

Now that Wally and I are in Germany, goat milk is harder to find than it is in the States. 

But plain goat milk yogurt isn’t! 

So instead of goat milk, Wally gets a few teaspoons of the yogurt. 

I either top his raw dog food off with it, or I add it to the homemade plant matter mix I prepare for meal prep day. 

Just FYI, the plant matter makes up 10% of his daily raw dog food, and the rest is a mix of muscle meat, raw meaty bones and secreting organs.

And guess what, I also have some goat milk yogurt because I don’t tolerate yogurt from cow’s milk, but the goat milk kind doesn’t bother me at all.

Adding plain goat yogurt to Wally’s plant matter

Where To Buy Goats Milk For Dogs

This depends on where you are in the world!

In the States, you can buy bottled raw goat milk for dogs from certain dog food brands like Primal and Answers Pet Food.

If you’re more of an Amazon shopper, you can also get frozen raw goat milk from Raw Paws Pet Food on Amazon. 

Other options are goat milk powder, for example from:

• Goat Milk Powder by Hoosier Hill Farm
• The Honest Kitchen Instant Goat’s Milk
• Raw Paws Whole Goat Milk Powder

It’s more convenient as you won’t have to use it up within 10 days as is the case with bottled goat milk. 

The way it works is you simply add some warm water, stir and serve.

If you don’t live in the States and can’t find any goat milk on Amazon or in physical pet retail stores, try to locate local goat farms. 

They usually carry a variety of goat products, including meats, milk and cheese.

Bottom Line

So, is goat milk good for dogs?

Why yes, it is!

Since it’s naturally rich in quality proteins, vitamins and minerals, goat milk is an overall immune system booster for dogs and provides specific benefits for:

• The dog’s gut
• Their skin and coat
• Dog joint and bone health
• Brain development

Additionally, dogs with allergies to cow’s milk usually tolerate goat milk better (and so do humans!).

Thanks to its irresistible creamy consistency and yummy taste, goat milk for dogs also adds more flavor to a bowl of kibble and can help entice your picky eater to enjoy their meals again.

Have you fed your dog(s) goat milk? Let us know in the comment section below this blog post!

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