How Much Yogurt Is Safe to Give a Dog and What are the Benefits?
Yogurt is a healthy source of vitamins and nutrients that a dog needs for a healthy gut, strong bones, and a healthy immune system. However, there is a limit on how much yogurt is beneficial.
Here you will learn how much yogurt is safe to give a dog, the benefits of feeding this to your pup, the types that are safe, and why you shouldn’t give dogs this tasty treat.
Recommended Amount to Feed Dogs
The amount that is safe to feed dogs varies on a number of different factors. This includes the following:
* Amount of calories the dog intakes daily
* Weight and height of your furry friend
* How active is your pet?
* Preexisting medical conditions
* Is your dog spayed or neutered?
Yogurt is classified as an “occasional treat” because it’s not part of a dog’s daily basic dietary needs. The rule of thumb is that dogs should not have more than 10% of their daily calories in the form of treats. The downfall to this rule is that this is not enough for your pup to reap the probiotic benefits.
There are serving guidelines based on the size of the canine:
* Small dogs-1 teaspoon
* Medium-size dogs- 2 teaspoons
* Large dogs- 3 teaspoons
However, you should take the other determining factors into consideration or speak with your pet’s vet to determine how much is safe. It’s best to start slowly when introducing yogurt to your pup and work your way up to the desired serving size per day.
Types That are Safe for Dogs
When you feed your dog you need to make sure to read the labels. There are certain types that are considered safe for dogs to ingest. This would include:
* Plain or unflavored
* Greek yogurt or other types of active or live culture yogurt
* Little or no fat content
* No additives or sweeteners including fruit.
* Making this snack homemade is perfect for your furry friend because you know what ingredients are in the treat.
Avoid giving your pup artificially flavored yogurt or anything containing xylitol or chocolate. Both of these ingredients can be fatal to your furry friend.
Different Ways to Feed Your Dog
Here are some of the ways that you can give this treat to your pup:
* It can be used as an added ingredient when making homemade doggie treats.
* You can freeze small servings in ice cube trays as a refreshing “occasional” treat.
* It can be given directly to your dog.
* You can mix it up in their food for added texture.
* Add fresh berries to plain, nonfat, or Greek yogurt for a special treat.
* Use this as a substitute to replace fatty ingredients in recipes such as dog-friendly birthday cakes.
* You can spread the treat on a chew toy.
What are the Benefits?
Yogurt is beneficial to a dog’s tissue development, immune system, and digestive system. There are essential vitamins and nutrients such as calcium, zinc, probiotics, and protein. It contains good bacteria which helps to promote a healthy gut and keeps bad bacteria from building up in the GI tract.
When you give this to your canine buddy, the nutrients, probiotics, and protein provide the following benefits:
* Helps prevent and reduce tooth decay
* Aids in digestion and weight loss
* Helps decrease the risk of cancer and diseases
* Strengthens the heart and nervous system
* Promotes healthy skin and coat
* Increases strength in bones and teeth
* This snack can help alleviate symptoms of yeast infections and urinary tract infections, and provide relief from skin rashes and allergies.
Yogurt can also be used as a way to help train and reward your dog. As a training treat it will motivate your canine pal to exhibit good behavior.
Why You Shouldn’t Give This to Dogs
There are several reasons why this shouldn’t be given to your pup and why you should look at other ways to provide the nutrients and probiotics your pup needs. This snack contains sugar and lactose and may have additives that can harm your furry friend.
Here are some hazards and risks of giving this to your dog:
* Increases the risk of obesity and diabetes because of the fat and sugar content.
* Fat content in this snack can lead to pancreatitis
* Some yogurts contain additives and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol are toxic to dogs, because of the buildup it causes in the liver contributing to liver failure.
* The lactose in yogurt is harmful to lactose-intolerant pups making it harder to digest and causing your dog to get sick.
What to Look for When Feeding This to Your Dog
If you are feeding this to your canine buddy for the first time, you need to look for signs of lactose intolerance. This includes the following:
* Gas
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Constipation
* Upset stomach
If these symptoms show after your pup has had dairy products, more than likely the pup is lactose-intolerant. You should continue to monitor your dog for the first 3-7 days to make sure these symptoms or any other adverse reactions do not appear.
Tips
If you decide to give your dog this treat, here are some tips to avoid harming your canine friend:
* Talk to your vet before giving this to your canine buddy.
* Pay attention to your fur baby and look for signs of lactose intolerance.
* Read the ingredients in this snack and opt for plain, unflavored, or yogurt with active live cultures. Be careful of low-fat, nonfat, or diet types because there could be additives such as artificial sweeteners.
* If you are unsure or uncomfortable with giving your dog this snack, look for products containing yogurt that are designed for dogs. Or ask your vet for alternative sources of probiotics, protein, and calcium.
* Try researching recipes to make homemade goodies or treats that contain yogurt and are dog-friendly.
* If you make this treat homemade for your pup look at the ingredients of all items before adding items into the recipe.
* Make sure to check expiration dates on food before feeding it to your dog to avoid food poisoning.