Can dogs drink 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.
Sources
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.
Dog Treat Calorie Budget Calculator → Dog treat calorie calculator: find your dog’s 10% treat allowance and how many of a given treat fit inside it without unbalancing the diet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat cheese?
Small amounts of hard cheese are usually tolerated better than milk. It is very energy dense, so count it against the daily treat allowance.
Can dogs eat yogurt?
Plain, unsweetened yogurt in small amounts is usually better tolerated than milk. Check the label: some low-sugar yogurts are sweetened with xylitol, which is toxic.