- Lactose is the primary sugar present in the mammalian milk. Infant mammals produce an enzyme called as ‘lactase’. This enzyme is created with the sole purpose of breaking apart the lactose molecule so that the body can use the nutrients.
- As the infancy passes, in the vast majority of mammals, including many humans, the body cuts production of this enzyme to the minimal levels.
- When this shift occurs, lactose stops being effectively broken down by the mammalian digestive system and causes the gastrointestinal symptoms of lactose intolerance.
- Lactase is an enzyme that is required for the digestion of the naturally occurring milk sugar lactose. Most dogs lose the ability to break down the lactose in milk shortly after puppyhood.
- Undigested lactose cannot be soaked up, so it remains in the intestinal tracts and triggers stomachaches, bloating, queasiness, diarrhoea and vomiting. Extreme dehydration can likewise happen to dogs. Some of the dairy products can impact canines in various methods.
Causes of Lactose intolerance in dogs:
- Food intolerance:
- An intolerance to a food type, like milk, has no immune system involvement and is more likely to cause a gastrointestinal response than allergies do.
- Changes in the colour or consistency of the stools, gas and gurgling sounds from the digestive system are common with a food intolerance.
- These symptoms can be exaggerated in cases of lactose intolerance, progressing to vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Food allergy:
- An allergy to food is a response by the body’s immune system to defend itself against a threat.
- An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time an individual is exposed to the allergen but rather after repeated exposures. Dogs who continue to be exposed to milk proteins after showing evidence of intolerance may be more likely to develop an allergy later.
Symptoms:
- The symptoms of lactose intolerance are not generally life-threatening unless they prolonged for periods of time. One can see he symptoms within 30 min. to 2 hrs. from the ingestion of the dairy product.
- The concentrations of lactosein a female dog’s milk isabout 3%, while cow’s milk contains 5%, so even puppies may not produce enough lactase to digest cow’s milk properly, and may show signs of lactose intolerance, though they would be reduced in intensity.
- Uncontrolled toileting in the house
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Accumulation of the gases
- Dehydration due to loss of the electrolytes
- Diarrhoea and weakness
- Excessive thirst
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Diagnosis:
- Primitive diagnosis: based on timing and symptoms
- Physical examination: to check extent of dehydration
- Abdominal palpation: to check the sounds
- Details of the feeding and the diet: to know the inclusion of dairy products
- Lactose tolerance tests: to verify the amount of sugar in the patient’s blood after consuming lactose. The rise in blood sugar will not be as significant in intolerant canines
SOLUTIONS
Dairy itself is not required in a dog’s diet, so treatment is generally the removal of dairy products from the diet. There are options for the pet parent that wants to find dairy or dairy-similar products:
- Lactose-free milk and dairy products:There are a number of milk and dairy product that are designed for the lactose intolerant, that may be appropriate for the pet.
- Soy milk products: Is generally a safe food for most of the canines, but disproportionate amounts have been shown to increase estrogenicactions and can lower the thyroid levels.
- Almond milk products: This is another option that can be utilised by lactose intolerant dogs, at least in small amounts. Larger amounts may cause gastrointestinal disturbances due to the fat content in the milk.
- Sweeteners or flavouring agents: We have to ensure that, there are no such agentswhich can have negative impact on the health of the dog. An eye must be kept on the ingredients label to check for artificial sweeteners and other dangerous additives that may be blended in for sweetness. For eg. raisins, cocoa, or even xylitol. These additives can be lethal to the pet, thus should be dodged at all the times.
- Alternative is to look for dog food that is made of limited ingredients, and lactose free. Milk and other dairy products are considered as an allergen, so hypoallergenic dog foodswill usually not contain these ingredients. By switching to a limited ingredient diet or hypoallergenic diet, one can avoid the negative impacts of lactose intolerance in dogs altogether.
- Use of the probiotics for the correction of gastro-intestinal disturbances.
- Cow or goat milk contains around 4-5% lactose, while dog’s milk contains around 3% lactose. The high levels of lactose found in cow and goat milk can be overpowering for dogs if they aren’t able to digest it. This is typically what leads to the negative reactions and upset stomach.
Recovery of Lactose intolerant dogs:
- Many dog foods are made with the help of dairy ingredients. Unless the pet is severely intolerant of lactose, a small cheddar dog treat or pet served with cone here and there are unlikely to do any damage.
- On the other hands, untreated lactose intolerance which occurs due to chronic malabsorption issues leads to the progressive weight loss and severe dehydration, particularly if vomiting and diarrhoea are occurring on a regular basis.
- If the dog is showing signs of lactose intolerance without any dairy products consumption,we can check the ingredients list on the dog food. Here, cheese flavours or milk fats present in the diet may be the culprit.
Dr.Akshay J. Wankhade M.V.Sc (Animal Nutrition) Fine Organics Industries Limited 8657580179
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