Can My Dog Eat Yogurt?
Is yogurt a regular part of your diet? If so, then you've probably eaten it in different ways. You must have eaten this nutritious snack plain, sweetened, or as an addition to your meals. Yogurt is one of the healthiest dairy products on the market. At some point, you might have thought of treating your dog to this sweet, sour, and creamy snack.
While this food is healthy and beneficial to humans, you should be cautious about feeding it to your dog. It should be a habit to check the safety of every human food you tend to feed your dog, just like yogurt.
So, Can my Dog Eat Yogurt?
The answer is yes. However, be cautious not to give your dog sweetened yogurt, and only feed them small portions. Yogurt containing an artificial sweetener called xylitol is harmful to dogs. While it is safe for human consumption, xylitol may cause hypoglycemia, or liver failure in your furry friend. However, that doesn't mean that all yogurts are bad dogs.
Is Yogurt Good for Dogs?
Absolutely. It can be as beneficial to dogs as well as humans.
High in Calcium and Protein
Like most dairy products, plain or low-fat yogurt is rich in calcium and protein. Calcium keeps your dog's bones and teeth healthy and strong. Protein helps in repairing and building your dog's muscles and tissues.
Lots of Vitamin B12
Nutrients such as vitamin B12, potassium, riboflavin, thiamine, and phosphorus are vital to your dog's health.
Good Cholesterol
Yogurt can help increase HDL cholesterol, which helps remove bad cholesterol from the blood and improves heart health.
Appetite Control
Yogurt contains peptide, an appetite-regulating hormone that prevents your dog from eating more than they need.
Probiotics
Yogurt also contains probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that all dogs need for digestion and other functions. For breeds that are prone to infections, yogurt can help balance bacteria present in their body.
Best Yogurt Type for Dogs
Since you should not give sweetened or flavored yogurt to your dogs, go for plain, low-fat, or non-fat yogurt. Ensure that you are feeding them yogurt without artificial sweeteners. Even natural sweeteners can be harmful to dogs. It pays to check the label to ensure that you do not give your furry friend yogurt with preservatives, as these can be harmful to your pup's health in the long run.
What Do Labels Show?
On average, you can mix a tablespoon of plain or non-fat yogurt in your dog's kibble. As a rule, yogurt can take up 10% of Fido's meal. However, it's essential to exercise caution when serving this snack. To find out how much yogurt to give your furry pal, consider these factors:
- Level of activity
- Health issues
- Neuter status
- Weight
- Daily calorie intake
- Size
How Much Yogurt Should My Dog Take?
On average, you can mix a tablespoon of plain or non-fat yogurt into your dog’s kibble. As a rule, yogurt can take 10% of Fido’s meal. However, being careful is more important. To find out how much yogurt to give your furry pal, consider these factors:
- Level of activity
- Health issues
- Neuter status
- Weight
- Daily calorie intake
- Size
greyCan My Dog Have Greek Yogurt?
Definitely! It's more advisable to feed him Greek yogurt than plain yogurt. The absence of preservatives and sweeteners makes Greek yogurt the safest variety for dogs. Also, Greek yogurt contains probiotics that are healthy for a dog's stomach. There's even low-fat Greek yogurt that is best to feed overweight dogs.
Are the Probiotics Present in Yogurt Good for Dogs?
Of course. Probiotics are essential for your dog's digestion, mood, and more. If your dog lacks these good bacteria, they can suffer from more frequent infections and poor gut health.
What Do Probiotics Do in My Dog’s Body?
Probiotics do the same things to a dog's body as they do to humans.
- Boost the dog's immune system by inducing the growth of good bacteria.
- Protect your dog against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
- Support brain development.
- Aids in proper digestion.
- Produce more B vitamins.
Reasons Not to Feed Yogurt to My Dog
Although yogurt can be beneficial to dogs, there are reasons why yogurt is more appropriate for humans than canines
Bacteria Levels
Yogurt that is safe for human consumption has been pasteurized, meaning it was heated to kill bacteria and pathogens. However, the process itself may not completely eliminate all bad bacteria. Or, the temperature may be too high that the good bacteria get killed in the process.
Pasteurization Destroys the Digestive Enzymes Needed to Digest Milk.
If your dog is lactose intolerant, they will have an extra hard time digesting yogurt. Gastrointestinal issues are inevitable since yogurt does not contain enzymes your dog's body needs to digest milk.
Most Yogurts Have Artificial or Natural Sweeteners.
Sweeteners are terrible for your dog, even natural ones. Sugar can lead to obesity and an upset stomach. The artificial sweetener xylitol is incredibly toxic to dogs and can make your pet very ill.
Dangerous Substances in Some Yogurts
Like any treat, you should only feed your dog yogurt in moderation. Although this yummy snack provides plenty of nutrients, it carries some risks as well. Here are some of the components of yogurt that can potentially harm your dog.
Lactose
Like any other dairy product, yogurt contains lactose. Except when puppies are still feeding on their mother's milk, their bodies are not supposed to digest lactose. It upsets the dog's stomach and may cause flatulence, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Fat Content
High-fat content irritates the stomach and leads to high cholesterol, which reduces blood flow.
Xylitol and Other Sweeteners
Xylitol is toxic and causes fatal attacks like liver failure and hypoglycemia. Also, be cautious with fruit-flavored yogurt because most types contain sugar syrup.
So, Does Yogurt Help Dogs in Any Way?
Yogurt is very healthy for dogs when consumed in moderation! Here are some of the perks this tasty dairy delight has to offer:
- It's a good source of protein and calcium.
- It also contains Vitamin B12.
- It's also healthy for your dog's heart.
- It helps with weight management.
- It supplies probiotics to dogs.
Human Foods That Dogs Can Eat
If you love sharing food with your dog, here are some human foods that dogs can eat. But remember to keep these foods unsalted, unseasoned, and free of sugar and preservatives. And only serve small portions!
- Bread
- Cashews
- Some types of cheese (for dogs without problems with lactose)
- Corn
- Coconut
- Cooked eggs
- Cooked fish
- Honey
- Unsalted peanut butter
- Pork
- Cooked shrimp meat
- Wheat and grains
Now that you're aware that yogurt is safe for dogs, start checking the labels on your fridge. See if there is some safe for your pup's tummy!