Can dogs and cats drink milk or eat dairy?
Many dogs and cats can’t digest lactose, so milk can give them diarrhea.
DogCaution
CatCaution
If your pet ate it: note how much and call your vet or a poison helpline.The ASPCA advises this for every food on its list. This page doesn’t replace your vet.
What the sources say
- Pets don’t have much lactase, the enzyme that digests the sugar in milk (lactose). Milk and dairy products can cause diarrhea or other tummy trouble.
Who to call: the numbers Search something else
What to do now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now, even if your pet seems fine: signs can take hours or days to show.
- Move your pet away from what it ate and take away what's left. If some is still in its mouth, offer a toy so it lets go.
- If the substance is on its fur or skin, wash it off with a mild shampoo and water, then rinse well and dry.
- Keep the packaging, the label or a piece of the plant, or take a photo, and bring it with you.
- Tell the vet what your pet swallowed, roughly how much and when.
What not to do
- Don't make it vomit unless the vet tells you to.
- Don't use salt water: it's extremely dangerous.
- Don't try to treat your pet yourself or give it medicines: some medicines for people and other animals are poisonous to pets.
- Don't wait for signs to appear.
Sources
- ASPCA, “People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- PDSA, “First aid for poisons and toxins” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- RSPCA, “Poisoning in dogs” (checked on October 9, 2026)
- RSPCA, “Poisoning in cats” (checked on October 9, 2026)