Obi is now 12 weeks, he still loves his evening milky feed, all my other pups had gone off it by this stage.  Should he be taken off this feed now, even if he is growing well and not too podgy? :)

Hayley

Dogs do not need milk.

Hi Hayley

The only milk that dogs (mammals) need is from their mothers before they are weaned.  After weaning humans are the only mammals that consume milk.  Puppies do not need it if they are getting a good diet as they should be getting their calcium etc from other sources

So how comes all breeders I have used give a diet sheet including some form of milk, in Obi's case evaporated, is it merely a filler or a comforter?  I will give him another Naturediet meal before bed tonight instead of the milky feed, not sure how impressed he will be! :)

Thanks for the advice

Hayley

Just another one of those things that have "always been done" :D.  As Christine says, no animal apart from man consumes milk post weaning.  Canids in the wild would be weaned straight onto meat regurgitated by their mum.

As far as I am aware they don't pop down to the local supemarket to get any weetabix either.  :D

Puppies have very good teeth and very good digestions which are ready for tearing raw flesh at weaning; can't see any possible reason why on earth anyone would want them eat "unnatural" foods which at best are useless and at worst could trigger food intolerance :D

No mammal requires milk once they are through weaning, but that does not mean dairy products in moderation are not good foods at any age.  Milk, especially the skimmed or low fat variety, is a good source of protein and calcium.  Humans are the only mammals that consume milk after weaning - but then again wild candids would have found it awkward to milk a passing cow, suckle from a member of their pack that was nursing a litter, or set up the facilities to make yogurt or cheese. 

Just because Candids in the wild do not have milk available post-weaning does not make it a bad or an "unnatural" food.  I do not know if you agree, but a number of posters recommend probiotic yogurt as a food additive.  More acceptable than the "natural" means candids add probiotics to their diets, eg, eating herbivore dung. 

By the way, milk is a common source of food allergy or intolerance in people, not just dogs.  My local supermarkets are packed with milk substitute products. 

A moderate amount of dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt) are perfectly healthy food for most dogs (and people).

Stacey

Yoghurt is a little different to milk as it is already "pre digested" and indeed it is the one dairy product I do give to my dogs.

It can be "bad" for a lot of dogs as they generally lack the enzymes to process lactose,the sugar in milk, and you are correct milk is a common form of allergy in humans, hence why mothers are encouraged to breast feed!

Lots of breeders also recommend things like wheatabix and ready break - more unsuitable foods for dogs I can't imagine.

Puppies are quite capable of chewing and digesting chicken bones by the age of 6 weeks athough this should not be their sole food.  Therefore there is no reason to feed them the types of food you would give a toothless human baby.

I don't often contribute to anything on feeding, I know what suits my dogs, they are rarely ill & usually live to 15-16yrs. However, I'm one of those awful breeders who give my young puppies Weetabix & milk, they enjoy it, they don't have upset stomachs, it's cheap, easily obtained & doesn't do them any harm! As adults, they are fed on raw tripe & mixer. The only intolerance they have is a strong Lack-of-Food-Intolerance!

Hi Anwen,

I've had breeders recommend adding skimmed powdered milk to a puppy's meal and another who suggested morning toast, but the "toast" was listed as optional.  :-)

Agree neither does any harm in moderation, unless there is an unlucky puppy that is intolerant of milk or wheat. 

Stacey

Murph had goats milk,weetabix and a nightacap of goats milk and honey up to about 16 weeks. he loved it and he's grown into a fine dog.
I don't see any harm in it....they may not need it but most certainly enjoy it!

TTFN

Dogs also enjoy chocolate!

....... and, I understand, Antifreeze

I will add, just in case anyone is innocent or daft enough to give antifreeze that it is very, very poisonous to dogs and other animals and should be kept well away from them

**antifreeze** ROFL!

Dizzy cut out her morning Weetabix herself as soon as she twigged I'd give her scrambled eggs instead :rolleyes:  Now she eats her eggs raw on her Burns complete and loves them :P

I'm very much letting her dictate the feeding schedual at the minute - didn't see the point in waking her for a mid afternoon feed when she happily copes with 3 feeds a day.

I think once you are doing the best you can and (try to) relax it's a bit like having kids and even the youngest can let you know what they need. If he loves it and he's not got any problems keep him on it a while longer. If he eats it because he's hungry or greedy then offer him something else.

Just my opinion :)

Thanks all
Obi has a sniffle at the moment so I have used this time to cut out the milky feed as hopefully it will stop him getting too mucosy (sp?) He is very happy to have an extra portion of NatureDiet, and is growing very well
Hayley

Was going to say as soon as they are weaned, 3 to 4 weeks. Cows milk and cereal would be better replaced by the dogs normal food. Eat the cereal yourself and give the dog some dog food or if you must give a breakfast food try a raw egg.

bailey is now 11 weeks. in the eveing he waits for his milk. and taz helps him drink it. both are doing fine.

They may tolerate it, but don't need it. Some dogs will develop intolerance to milk, which is only likely to happen if it is given on a regular basis. If given on an odd occasion and in small amounts it will not trigger tendency to diarrhoea, given regularly it might.

If you are going to give milk, give Goats as it is much more easily absorbed by dogs as it has smaller fat globules.  Sorry, but I would NEVER give low fat dairy products to a puppy, restricting the fat in dairy products also restricts the calcium uptake, the last thing a puppy needs is less fat especially in winter. 

One of the reasons that brreders give milk to puppies is that they are prone to severe constipation once they have come off the mothers milk, so by giving them goats milk (or condensed etc) it is an easy way to get fluids into the pups.  I think also it is done as someone else siad - because it has ALWAYS been done - but this is not the only reason.

I also give my puppy untreated milk from the local farm and this never gives any of the dogs the runs, although pasteurised milk does - now what does that have to say?!

A very good example of how heat treatment can alter the molecular structure of food and the way it is digested :D  Hence why some of prefer to feed raw :)  No need to give milk then as the fat on meat and the calcium on the bone provide these very nutrients without the lactose (milk sugar) and plenty of moisture so that they have enough fluids (along with water to drink of course).

Is tea and toast while watching Trisha in a morning bad too? I must say my dog will upset lol. :D

p.s I meant the tea/toast not Trisha

My office manager is called Trisha. Where have you installed the secret camera?

Must admit (hadn't thought of it before) My puppies always had untreated milk - always came all the way from the farm on the other side of the road. Can you still get untreated milk? We can get unhomogenised, but not untreated.

Look like we will all have to add a cow or goat to our animal collections :)