1. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability of adults and children to digest lactose, a
sugar found in milk and to a lesser extent dairy products,
 Lactose intolerance inMammals
We have plenty of this enzymein our systems atbirth, and it helps us thrive on
our mother’s milk.
But as we grow up, it’s normalfor people and cats to begin producing less
lactase. Less lactase means less ability to digest lactose. The result may
eventually be lactose intolerance.
There is actually a transition phasein mammalian development to adulthood,
whereby an animal stops being able to digest lactose (milk sugar) if no longer
exposed to it. Milk is the only common foodstuff to contain this sugar.
 lactose intolerance inpets(dogs)
Lactose intolerance causes mild to severediscomfortin our young pets when
they are given standard milk replacement products, and can causesevere
diarrhea.
 Lactose intolerance incats;
cats can be lactose intolerant. And although wetend to think that’s a problem,
it’s actually completely normal.
When a lactose-intolerant cat drinks milk, the undigested lactose passes
through the intestinal tract, drawing water with it.
But Bacteria in the colon also ferment the undigested sugars, producing
volatile fatty acids.
 Itshould be stated that neither boiling milk nor the use of skim milk
affects an animal's ability to tolerate milk, since the lactose content
remains unchanged in either case

2. Causes
 Itis due to a lactase deficiency, or hypolactasia. In some(rare) cases,
individuals have congenital alactasia, a total absence of lactase caused
by a genetic defect, which prevents them from being able to digest
lactose frominfancy.
1. Primary hypolactasia is genetic, only affects adults, and is caused by the
absence of a lactase persistenceallele. Itis the mostcommon causeof
lactose intolerance.
2. Secondary hypoalactasia or acquired hypoalactasia is caused by an
injury to
the smallintestine,acute gastroenteritis,diarrhea, chemotherapy, intestin
al parasites, or other environmentalcauses.
 Most mammals normally cease to producelactase, becoming lactose
intolerant, after weaning. After weaning, the level of lactase activity falls
to about 10 per cent of its peak activity.
 human populations havedeveloped lactase persistenceto digest the
milk of farmanimals.
 Research reveals intolerance to be more common globally than lactase
persistence,
 Lactose intolerance is not an allergy.
 Sometimes, a dog will drink excess amounts of water when suffering
fromlactose intolerance, since the diarrhea and vomiting associated
with the condition can cause dehydration and consequentthirst.
 puppies and kittens who have well-tolerated their mothers’ milk can
develop lactose intolerance – especially to cows’ milk, which has higher
lactose levels than does the milk from a bitch (female dog) or a queen
(female cat).
 cow and goat milk contains 4.5% to 5% lactose, compared to 3.1% in
dog’s milk and 4.2% in cat’s milk. The high level of lactose in cow's milk
can overpower a dog's ability to digest it. This is why many pups often
get diarrhea fromdrinking cow's milk.

3. Different dairy products canaffect different dogs indifferent ways.
 Cheese, for example, can causeconstipation in someanimals with
lactose intolerance. This can causethe dog or cat to strain while trying to
defecate, producing only small, hard, dry feces.
Signs
signs of lactose intoleranceinyour pet?
 Abdominal Pain
 Bloating
 Vomiting
 Diarrhea
 For instance, if a dog or cat licks its paws or rubs its face on the floor, its
skin can become irritated and itchy
Why diarrhoeais causeddue ti lactose intolerance?
 Bacteria in the colon can metabolise lactose, and the
resulting fermentation produces copious amounts of gas (a mixture
of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane) that causes the various
abdominal symptoms. Theunabsorbed sugars and fermentation
products also raise the osmotic pressureof the colon, causing an
increased flow of water into the bowels (diarrhea).
Signs in other animals
abdominal bloating
cramps
flatulence
diarrhea
nausea
borborygmi, and vomiting (particularly in adolescents).
 These appear one-half to two hours after consumption.
 The severity of symptoms typically increases with the amountof lactose
consumed.

4.  common symptomof lactose intolerance in cats is diarrhea, usually
within eight to 12 hours
Diagnosis
1. Blood test measuring blood glucose level every 10 to 15 minutes after
ingestion.
2. Stool acidity test
Management
 Lactase supplementation
 Best rule of thumb for a dog or cat owner is to limit or simply eliminate
dairy products fromtheir pet’s diet if lactose intolerance is suspected.