Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance means the body cannot easily digest lactose; a type of natural sugar found in milk products from cows, goats and sheep. This can begin at birth or develop at any age. It is caused by a reduced or non-existent level of active lactase, an enzyme which splits lactose into two sugar molecules called glucose and galactose. The splitting of lactose helps a person to digest and absorb the lactose they consume.

Dogs and cats cannot digest milk or milk products which can cause them digestive distress and skin irritations as they lack lactase in their digestive system.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Stomach rumbling

These symptoms can last from 30 minutes after consuming lactose until around two hours later. Many processed foods contain milk and milk products, so labels should be checked. To find out if the cause is actually due to lactose, try eliminating the following for 14 days to see if symptoms subside:

WARNING: Some medications contain lactose but should only be eliminated under the supervision of the doctor who prescribed them.

Lactose-free alternatives 

Goat’s milk contains far less lactose than cow’s milk, so may be more agreeable to some people with a mild lactose intolerance.

Related subjects

• A-Z of Natural Foods and Remedies
• A-Z of Nutrients
• A1 casein protein sensitivity
• Milk
• Yoghurt
• Cheese