The Benefits of Goat Milk for Puppies and Kittens
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your home is an exciting time! Young puppies and kittens start off drinking their mother’s milk, but they will have to wean eventually. The important thing is that you’re making sure they get the proper nutrients they need during the process.
Whether you’ve adopted a young pet or you’ve found a litter and are caring for them, goat milk is a great addition to their diet. There are several benefits to incorporating goat milk, or goat milk powder into their diet such as easier weaning and improved hydration.
Goat Milk has a High Nutritional Value
To start, goat milk powder is full of nutrients that will be beneficial to your puppy or kitten. If you compare it to cow’s milk, data shows that goat milk is a better source of:
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Phosphate
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
Keep in mind that very young puppies and kittens are limited to one source of nutrition which is likely milk or a milk replacement. You want to make sure that they are getting enough of what they need through that feeding.
Improves Nutrient Absorption
Goat milk has also been shown to improve nutrient absorption and utilization. This is especially important for growing puppies and kittens! If you are using cow’s milk, it could potentially interfere with absorption. Goat milk is also known to improve digestion of magnesium and phosphorus.
Supports Hydration
Did you know that goat milk is about 85% water? If you’ve been having trouble keeping your furry baby hydrated, adding goat milk powder to their diet can be an effective way to encourage proper water intake. It can be added to food or water for added nutrition and a way to make sure they are drinking enough.
Gentle on Delicate Digestive Systems
Young puppies and kittens often have very delicate digestive systems. That means that you may have trouble getting them to eat, or absorbing nutrients. Goat milk is known for being easy to digest due to smaller fat globules and a protein structure that is gentler on the stomach. So, if you’re dealing with a puppy or kitten with a fussy stomach, goat milk powder can help.
Goat Milk Can Help With Weaning
Goat milk is also an excellent transitional food when you’re in the process of weaning your puppy or kitten. WIth a goat milk powder such as Pure Paws, you can slowly introduce them to the flavor to get them used to it in their mother’s milk.The palatable taste encourages them to accept solid food. This can help puppies and kittens smoothly transition from their mother’s milk into a more solid diet.