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<p>^^You fell for the incorrect and misleading statement used by the anti-milk crowd to brainwash others. My cats are big fans of milk, and they are way past weaning. My dog is a senior citizen, and he will never pass the opportunity to lick the cats’ milk dish clean.</p>
<p>I would be careful with soy milk, since it is a well-established fact that soy contains estrogen-like compounds.</p>
<p>The ice cream products made with coconut milk are FANTASTIC. I especially love the ice cream sandwiches.</p>
<p>Any of the substitutes work fine in cooking. Almond and rice milk are quite good on cereal or in hot chocolate (I’m a skim milk person, so soy milk is unpleasantly thick to me).</p>
<p>Bunsen, those animals would not seek out milk past the age their mothers wean them. That’s a human inflicting their own preferences on them. As far as the dog, they would drink just about anything in a bowl-even antifreeze.</p>
<p>My vet told me not to give my cat cow’s milk.</p>
<p>But I’m not anti milk. I put it in my coffee every day. But we don’t need it.</p>
<p>Actually the more I think about it, I wish I would become lactose intolerant. Then I couldn’t eat cheese, and maybe I’d lose that last 10 lbs. once and for all.</p>
<p>Hello RebelCats:</p>
<p>There are many delicious alternatives to dairy these days. As a 17 year vegan (no meat or dairy products) I can tell you that the options have improved dramatically over the years. Silk is very good tasting, and many cow-milk drinkers that I know actually enjoy the taste of it. Good luck with your search, and I think you’ll find that you’ll actually feel alot better overall after making the switch. And it’s not as hard to cook without eggs as you’d think. Often times, recipes and dishes will come out just fine leaving the eggs out without any kind of replacer. However, if you’d like some tips on replacing eggs just let me know, and I’d be happy to share more info with you. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4, animals would also not seek many other foods vegan humans declared heathly and edible. That’s a pretty weak argument. With the help of scientific and medical breakthough discoveries we have been selecting the genes and the corresponding traits that in the past led to premature death and have not been passed onto the future generations. Should we avoid treating the people who have these conditions to let the natural selection take over? I do not think so. Should humans stop eating dairy products? I do not think so either.</p>
<p>RebelCats, sorry for taking your thread off its track a bit. I think you need to talk to your doctor about the implications of your tests, and possibly look into getting a second opinion. A trip to a nutritionist might be helpful as well.</p>
<p>Point taken, BB, but still most cats should not have cow’s milk. Some can tolerate it, though, as your own prove.</p>
<p>And I agree we shouldn’t have to stop eating dairy unless we are intolerant. I do. But we don’t NEED to, which was my original point in response to the OP.</p>
<p>I have been informed by Dr. Peter Rowe (specialist at Johns Hopkins), that if a person is highly allergic to milk, you have to eliminate ALL forms of milk & milk product from the diet for many weeks BEFORE you can see if there is any improvement, Reducing just won’t cut it.</p>
<p>In my personal experience, I am allergic to some shellfish. I can tolerate small quantities before I notice itching and hives (tho don’t of course know what’s going on under the skin). For me, the quantity of allergen ingested does affect the strength and duration of my reaction. </p>
<p>The point is, with elimination diets at least some experts say that ALL traces of the suspect food must be totally removed from the person’s diet for weeks to KNOW if that is the substance and whether there is any improvement.</p>
<p>Hope you’re now as confused as all the experts on this topic. :)</p>