Is Colostrum Good for Dogs? What the Research Says

November 12, 2026

Short answer: bovine colostrum (the first milk cows produce after giving birth) is generally considered safe for dogs, and a 40-week study in 24 adult dogs found that adding it to food was linked to higher gut antibody levels, a longer-lasting vaccine antibody response and a more stable gut microbiome. The evidence is promising but limited: it is one small study, funded by a pet food company, so colostrum is best seen as daily support for healthy dogs, not a fix for any condition.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk a mammal produces after giving birth. It is rich in antibodies (immunoglobulins such as IgG and IgA), growth factors and proteins that help newborns build their first defenses. Supplements for dogs use bovine colostrum, collected from cows and dried into a powder.

What does the research say about colostrum for dogs?

The best-known study in dogs was published in 2013 in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Satyaraj and colleagues). Researchers fed 24 adult sled dogs the same food for 40 weeks, with half of them getting 0.1% bovine colostrum mixed in. Compared with the dogs on food alone, the colostrum group had:

Higher fecal IgA, an antibody that is part of the gut's own defenses, at week 40.
A longer-lasting vaccine response: after a distemper booster, antibody levels in the control group fell back to baseline by week 16, while the colostrum group's stayed higher until the end of the study.
A more diverse and more stable gut microbiome, including after hard exercise: 82% similarity before and after a 10-mile run, against 46% in the control group.

Food intake, body weight, stool scores and blood tests did not differ between the groups, and no side effects were reported. A 2021 study in kittens by an overlapping research team found similar results in cats.

What the research doesn't show

It is a small study: 12 dogs per group, all of one breed type.
It was funded and run by a pet food company that makes the test diet.
It measured immune markers, not whether dogs got sick less often.
Research on an ingredient is not research on any specific product, including ours.

Is colostrum safe for dogs?

In the 2013 study, colostrum caused no differences in health markers over 40 weeks. Because it comes from cow's milk, dogs with a known dairy sensitivity may not tolerate it. As with any new supplement, start with the label amount and ask your vet first if your dog has a health condition or takes medication.

When to see your vet

Colostrum is a daily supplement, not a substitute for veterinary care. See your veterinarian if your dog has frequent infections, ongoing skin or ear problems, or digestive changes that don't settle, so the cause can be found.

Colostrum in a daily chew

Oliver's Gut Allergy & Immune soft chews include 200 mg of bovine colostrum per serving (2 chews), with wild Alaskan salmon oil, quercetin and a 6-strain probiotic blend. They are formulated to support normal immune function and skin comfort during seasonal changes in healthy dogs. The study above tested colostrum on its own, mixed into food, so its results do not show what these chews will do for an individual dog.