5 Benefits of Goat Milk for Puppies and Kittens

This post is written by guest author, Britt Kascjak, from Shed Happens.

Whether you are caring for an orphaned litter or looking to assist a mother who is unable to provide enough milk for her young, bottle-feeding a litter of puppies or kittens is a big commitment. There are so many different factors to consider including which products to use, how to properly bottle-feed the litter, and more. Today, we’re going to look specifically at the health benefits of goat milk for puppies and kittens.

Having a litter of new puppies or kittens in the house is an exciting experience. However, it can also be a stressful one. Especially if the mother is unavailable, unable, or unwilling to nurse their young.

The good news is that the young puppies or kittens can grow up healthy and happy with proper care!

While the best option is obviously to have young puppies and kittens nurse from their mother, there are high-quality milk replacers available to provide for their needs.

Consider, for a moment, the large number of human mothers who struggle with producing enough milk to provide for their new babies. Baby formula for newborns and infants can be used as a suitable substitute for their nutritional needs.In the same way, you can give these young ones all that they need nutritionally.

But wait! Before you purchase a milk replacement product, you need to know that they are not all created equally.

By looking closer at the ingredients, you can select the best nutritional option.Let’s take a look closer at 5 health-related reasons why you should consider feeding a milk supplement with a goat milk base.

5 Important Health Benefits of Goat Milk for Neonatal Puppies and Kittens

Easier on the Digestive System

The composition of goat milk makes it easier for your young puppy or kitten to digest than a cow milk alternative. This is largely due to the fat particles found within the milk.

The fat particles in goat milk are smaller in size than those found in cow milk. They also form a softer and looser curd formation in the stomach. This makes it easier for the digestive system to break down these curds, releasing and absorbing the many nutrients found within the milk at a faster rate.

By breaking down the goat milk faster, your puppies or kittens will experience less irritation during the digestive process.

Provides Higher Nutritional Value

baby puppy feeding

When providing for the nutritional needs of your puppies or kittens, you want to ensure that they are getting all of the vitamins and minerals that they need for good health.

Given they are limited to a single source of nutrition at this stage in their lives, the milk or milk replacer, you want to find a product that is going to provide as much nutritional value as possible.

Most milk replacers are fortified in some way, but why not start with a base that is already packed with necessary vitamins and minerals?Studies show that goat milk is the better choice in terms of nutritional content.

Compared to cow milk, it has been found to be a better source of calcium, potassium, phosphate, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin C than whole cow’s milk.

Improves Nutrient Absorption

In addition to containing higher amounts of several vitamins and minerals, goat milk has also been found to aid in nutrient absorption and utilization.

This is one of the benefits of goat milk for puppies and kittens that is often overlooked.

Cow milk has been found to interfere with the body’s absorption of copper and iron. However, studies in rats have shown that those drinking goat milk showed similar absorption rates to those that hadn’t ingested milk at all.

It has also been found to improve the body’s ability to digest magnesium and phosphorus.

By improving nutrient absorption and utilization, it allows your puppies and kittens to get more nutritionally out of their food, improving its overall quality in terms of their health and well-being.

Hypoallergenic

Caseins are a protein group found within various types of milk, including cow milk and goat milk. They make up approximately 80% of the proteins found in most mammal milk.While this is a natural protein, some forms have been found to contribute to allergies in both cats and dogs. Most people associate dairy allergies and intolerance with the presence of lactose, but there is also a condition known as ‘casein sensitivity’.

More specifically, dogs and cats generally develop a sensitivity to Alpha S1 casein. Goat milk contains a significantly lower amount of this protein, comprised instead of Alpha S2 casein.

This means that you are far less likely to encounter any complications from casein sensitivity by choosing a milk replacer with a foundation of goat milk.

Fuels the Body

Not only is goat milk packed with several great vitamins and minerals, but it also provides your puppies or kittens with the energy that their bodies need as they grow and develop.

Goat milk contains more medium-chain fatty acids than cow milk.

That may sound like a concern, after all, we are always told to avoid fats. Right? However, these fatty acids aren’t stored in the body as fat. Instead, they are used by the body as a quick source of energy.

Tailspring Puppy and Kitten Milk Replacer

Now that you have read about all the health benefits of goat milk for puppies and kittens, you are likely wondering where to purchase a reliable goat milk-based milk replacer.If so, we highly encourage you to check out the Tailspring line of milk replacement products.

Tailspring offers both powdered and ready-to-feed milk replacer for both puppies and kittens. Each product is scientifically formulated by a professional neonatal pet nutritionist with over 30 years of experience to closely match the mother’s milk.With the shortest and cleanest ingredient list on the market, their products provide a balanced source of the vitamins and nutrients needed for the health of your puppies or kittens.

All products are made from human-grade quality ingredients and are free from preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial flavors.

Tailspring's milk replacer products are available on Amazon and directly on their website. The product availability on Amazon allows animal shelters and pet rescues who care for neonatal kittens or puppies to easily add it to their existing Amazon Wish List.Plus, both the powdered and liquid milk replacers have a two year shelf life, so rescues can easily keep product on hand for any unexpected litters of kittens or puppies that might need a milk replacement.

If you are in the process of searching for the best milk replacement option for your puppies or kittens, look no further. Tailspring’s goat milk-based milk replacers will provide the nutrition needed to help them thrive!

Have you ever used a milk replacer to raise a puppy or kitten? If so, tell us all about your experience in the comments.

About the Author: Britt is a proud pet mom, sharing her heart (and her home) with her ‘pack’ which includes her husband John, their 2 dogs Daviana and Indiana and their 2 cats Pippen and Jinx. She has been active in the animal rescue community for over 15 years, volunteering, fostering and advocating for organizations across Canada and the US. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the country camping, hiking, and canoeing with her pets.