Neutral · Dairy protein

Milk and dairy ingredients

Also appears on labels as: milk, cheese, dried cheese, goat milk, dried whey, dried cultured whey

Milk solids, cheese, whey, or cultured dairy, usually dried.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

Where it comes from: Dairy processing, often as a by-product stream of cheese making.
Why it's in the product: Palatability, calcium, and high-quality protein. Whey in particular is a very digestible protein.
Safety and toxicity: Safe, with a caveat that matters: most adult dogs and cats have reduced lactase activity, so milk sugar can cause loose stool and gas. Cheese and yogurt are lower in lactose than fluid milk, and whey varies by fraction.
Interactions and who should be careful: Dairy is one of the top three reported food allergens in dogs. Lactose intolerance and dairy allergy are different problems that look similar from the outside.

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.