The Curious Incident of the Dog's Milk

Mother's milk is considered the best nutritional choice for mammalian newborns. The composition of the milk is specifically personalized for the offspring, containing sugars, fats and proteins, as well as antibodies to provide immunological protection. Amazingly, breast milk also contains bacteria that are beneficial for the baby's digestion and development. In an article published in Animal Microbiome, Prof. Omri Koren and his group provide a novel analysis of the metabolites and microbiota of canine mother's milk, based on the milk of 24 dams from 11 different dog breeds. The researchers found that like human milk, canine milk composition changes along with the puppies' development, in a way that correlates with their changing nutritional needs. This study of the metabolic and microbiota profile of dogs' milk provides insights into the neonate's needs. Based on this, in the near future it will be possible to develop high quality, tailored milk substitute or supplement for puppies.