The Secrets of Raw Goat’s Milk

When I first heard about raw goat’s milk for dogs and cats I’ll admit I was skeptical.  But once I learned more about it and started researching its benefits I was convinced that I needed to try it for my Miniature Pinscher, Bandit.  Bandit has several small tumors, poor digestion and allergies.  I couldn’t believe there was actually something out there that could tackle all of his ailments, but I figured it was worth a shot.

The consumption of raw goat’s milk dates back to 2000 BCE and throughout history it has been proven to cure many diseases.  Goat’s milk contains more than 60 enzymes, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, protein and fatty acids.  Nutritionally, it delivers 13% more calcium, 25% more vitamin B-6, 47% more vitamin A, 134% more potassium, 27% more of the antioxidant selenium and three times more niacin than cow’s milk.  And because it is not pasteurized, it retains all of these nutrients and provides the benefits of their consumption.

Goat’s milk has been documented to treat and even cure many chronic conditions including asthma, liver disease, malnutrition, kidney disease, diabetes, gastric disturbances, poor digestion, diarrhea, constipation, heart disease and urinary tract infections.  As Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”.  There is no better example of that than goat’s milk and according to the Journal of American Medicine, goat’s milk is “the most complete food known.”

Adding goat’s milk to your dog or cat’s diet is a great way to add both prebiotics and probiotics.  It also acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory so it’s wonderful for treating allergies, both internally (food related) and externally (environmental allergies).  One of the most astounding benefits of raw goat’s milk is its cancer fighting properties.  It contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which has been linked to lowering the risk of cancer by up to 60% and has been shown to shrink tumors.

One of the most common questions I get when I talk to people about goat’s milk is, “I thought dogs couldn’t have milk?” While this is true of cow’s milk, dogs and cats can easily digest goat milk because it contains lactase, the enzyme used to break down lactose.  During pasteurization, heat destroys the lactase enzyme making store bought milk ingestible for our pets.  But this is not the case with goat milk.  In fact, the body can digest it in only 20 minutes, making it the most easily digested food on earth.

I also get a lot of questions on the safety of feeding unpasteurized milk to dogs and cats.  It is important to understand that today’s certified raw milk has stricter standards than pasteurized milk, and less bacteria is allowed in raw milk then pasteurized milk.  Although store bought milk is pasteurized due to government regulations, research shows that pasteurization destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin content, denatures milk proteins, destroys vitamins, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes pathogens and is associated with many health problems.  In comparison, raw goat’s milk not only contains less bacteria than pasteurized milk but it also retains nutritional and healing properties.

I’m happy to say that over the year I have been giving Bandit goat’s milk, I have seen a significant reduction in the size of his tumors, his allergies have completely disappeared and aside from the occasional upset stomach he gets after a trip to grandma’s house (where she loads him up on human food despite my years of protest) his diarrhea and vomiting are no more!  Goat’s milk is an easy way to deliver raw nutrition to your pets and I know that every dog and cat will benefit from the addition of goat’s milk to their diet.  Even the pickiest eaters love the taste and you will love the results!  Come to Dirty Dogs today to pick up raw goat’s milk and learn more about how it will help your four legged friends!
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Lexi Bunney grew up in San Francisco and has been living in San Diego for seven years. She’s worked in the pet care industry for 10 years and she is obsessed with all kinds of animals. When she’s not teaching people about healthy pet care at Dirty Dogs she enjoys reading, horseback riding and traveling as often as possible!