# Lactose intolerance in non-human animals

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lactose-intolerance-in-non-human-animals/1016806>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 8, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lactose-intolerance-in-non-human-animals/1016806 "2025-04-08T21:33:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lactose-intolerance-in-non-human-animals/1016806/1 "2025-04-08T21:33:03Z")

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Lactose intolerance causes problems for some folks. AIUI, it’s something that develops as/after one ages into adulthood, the theory being that back in the days of cave men, once you were no longer a nursing infant, there wasn’t a compelling reason for your body to continue producing lactase (the enzyme that helps break down lactose during digestion). OTOH, there wasn’t a strong evolutionary advantage to _ceasing_ production of lactase - so some folks develop lactose intolerance, and some folks never do.

So what’s the deal with non-human mammals? For any given species, do some individuals become lactose-intolerant later in life? What about non-mammals? Are they generally lactose-intolerant, or not, or does it just vary from species to species?

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