goats used in the production of your pet's supply of goat's milk should be pasture-fed and free of antibiotics. It is also critical that the milk is raw, not pasteurized.

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Some products have added ingredients, but can also be good options as long as they are healthy, natural foods (and your dog has no allergies to any of them).

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In addition to fresh milk, goat’s milk is available as a powder.  However, powered milk may lack many of the benefits of its fresh counterpart. For instance, the probiotics in powered milk may not be alive or they may be easily destroyed by the stomach on the way to the gut.  This renders the probiotics useless.  In addition, due to the fact that the milk is processed, your dog’s digestive system could react to it differently.

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What about Kefir?

Kefir is a type of fermented goat’s milk. The process of fermenting the milk causes even more probiotics to form, thereby increasing the health benefits of the milk. These extra probiotics are especially helpful for dogs with skin conditions and recurring allergies. You can purchase kefir or make your own using raw goat milk.

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Start soon!

Start providing your dog with the benefits of goat’s milk as soon as possible.  Give her a small amount to begin with and see how she responds.  Most dogs react to the milk well. If this is the case for your pet, you should begin feeding her a portion of goat’s milk on a regular basis.  If you want to give her an occasional treat, consider goat's milk cheese and Bearded Billy Farm Goat Milk Pet Ice Cream.  Keep in mind that the higher fat content means that cheese should never replace raw milk or kefir.

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In a nutshell.

Following is a rundown of the great benefits noted above and some additional detailed information pertaining to the benefits of goat's milk and goat's milk products:

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1. Suitable for Lactose Intolerant Dogs:
   Dogs may struggle to digest cow’s milk because of pasteurization. Among other things, the process removes the lactase enzyme. Dogs who are lactose intolerant lack the lactase enzyme in their bodies and unable to cope with the lactose content in milk. Unlike cow's milk, raw goat’s milk still has the lactase enzyme because it is unpasteurized.

2. More Digestible:
   Goat’s milk is also more digestible than cow’s milk for a couple more reasons:

   • Firstly, the fat particles are smaller than those of cow’s milk. Your dog’s stomach turns these particles into a soft curb, which is easy for the intestines to break down. This allows your dog to digest the milk in just 20 minutes.

   • Secondly, goat’s milk is packed with probiotics and enzymes, which improve the balance between good and bad bacteria. This means that if your dog has a naturally sensitive gut, goat’s milk will aid her digestion as a whole. It also means that goat’s milk is useful during and after antibiotic treatment.

3. Lower Risk of Allergies:
   Your dog may respond badly to cow’s milk due to an allergy rather than lactose intolerance. This is because milk contains the protein alpha-S1 casein. The protein is present in a much smaller quantity in goat’s milk — usually too little to trigger an allergic response.

4. High Amounts of Beneficial Fatty Acids:
   With high levels of short- and medium-chain fatty acids, goat’s milk provides your dog with energy without causing her to store more fat on her body. These lower bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol — essential for preventing heart disease. The milk also has fewer calories and unhealthy fats than cow’s milk.

5. Lessens Symptoms of Certain Diseases:
   Goat’s milk can help your dog recover from a number of conditions, including:

   1. Kidney disease and kidney stones

   2. Heavy metal poisoning

   3. Diarrhea

   4. Urinary tract problems

   5. Liver disease

   6. Gastrointestinal disease

   7. Diabetes / improved sensitivity to insulin

6. Natural Anti-Inflammatory:
   If your dog is suffering from inflammation, feed her goat’s milk in her next meal. The enzymes in goat's milk can reduce the bacteria causing inflammation in her gut. They also reduce inflammation elsewhere in the body, relieving discomfort. For this reason, goat’s milk is also ideal for dogs suffering from food or environmental allergies.
   
   Another way goat’s milk benefits dogs is by repairing gaps between the cells in the gut caused by previous inflammation. This prevents leaky gut syndrome — where pathogens and bad bacteria are able to enter the body and cause an array of health problems.

7. Gain Weight:
   Dogs who have suffered malnutrition (such as rescue dogs) recover more quickly when they receive goat’s milk. This is thanks to the high amounts of protein in the milk. The delicious flavor is also appealing to even the pickiest of dogs, including dogs who are sick, old, or, weaning puppies who are initially resistant to eat solid food.

8. High in Essential Nutrients:
   Goat’s milk allows your dog to receive a daily intake of some essential vitamins and minerals, including:

   • Calcium — For bone health

   • Riboflavin (B2) — To metabolize fats and carbohydrates

   • Phosphorus — For healthy bones and teeth; for synthesizing proteins; for using carbohydrates and fats; and for repairing cells and tissues

   • Potassium — For muscle and nerve function

   • Vitamin B12 — To maintain the pancreas

   • Magnesium — For almost all bodily functions, including mood

   • Iron — For red blood cell production

   • Selenium and zinc — For thyroid function and the immune system
     
     Note:  All of the above nutrients are present in goat’s milk in a natural form, which means they are more easily available to your dog’s body than synthetic versions. For this reason, goat’s milk can prevent conditions like malabsorption, anemia, and bone demineralization.

9. Effective Antacid:
   The high levels of potassium is another benefit in goat’s milk. making it a great antacid. Therefore, goat's milk helps your dog achieve the right pH throughout her digestive system.