Can dogs eat milk?
Risky. It is not toxic, but most adult dogs do not digest lactose well and a bowl of milk usually means diarrhea.
How much is dangerous?
No threshold is published, and tolerance varies a lot between individual dogs. Small amounts of plain yogurt or hard cheese are usually better tolerated than milk.
Why it does harm
Not a toxicity. The ASPCA notes that pets do not have significant amounts of lactase, so undigested lactose ferments in the gut and causes digestive upset.
What to look for
- Loose stool or diarrhea
- Gas and abdominal discomfort
What to do
- Nothing urgent. Stop offering it and the upset resolves.
- Count any dairy you do give against the daily calorie budget — cheese in particular is very energy dense.