While milk is not necessary to a dog's or cat's diet, it can be a treat if given from time to time. However, some pets cannot tolerate milk because they do not produce an enzyme called lactase. Lactase helps with the digestion of lactose, which is found in milk. After weaning, the level of lactase activity falls to about 10 per cent of its peak activity. In some animals, diarrhea will occur if more lactose
Lactose intolerance, a fairly common digestive disorder in companion animals, is caused by an inability to digest lactose (a sugar found in milk), because the animal lacks the enzyme “lactase” in the small intestine. The clinical consequences of this disorder are intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Dog and cat owners should be aware of these clinical signs so they can remove dairy products from their pet’s diet if they suspect that lactose intolerance might be a
Lactose intolerance, a fairly common digestive disorder in companion animals, is caused by an inability to digest lactose (a sugar found in milk), because the animal lacks the enzyme “lactase” in the small intestine. The clinical consequences of this disorder are intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Dog and cat owners should be aware of these clinical signs so they can remove dairy products from their pet’s diet if they suspect that lactose intolerance might be a