What happens if you give yogurt to a dog?

Life with a puppy in the family It quickly becomes a wonderful adventure full of discoveries. For us who chose him to be part of the family. And for him, who looks at us and studies us with very fine attention.

And we are to him how we behave. Our laughter. Our games. Our cuddles to the new arrival. The walks. And we are also what we eat. He knows what time we get up. Who do we sleep with? When we leave, when we arrive. And he knows, sees, smells, what we eat.

And which house isn’t there? yogurt in the refrigerator? Where is whole or skimmed milk missing, which steams in the morning and afternoon with the burning of toast? And the cheese cut on the cutting board for the snack. It must be confessed: the human species is clearly adapted to dairy products. But can dogs eat dairy products? Can they eat yogurt?

We’ll see if he does. Let the puppy, little by little, learn about some foods in which we put milk. Another with a few cubes of natural cheese. Or yogurt without sugar or human additives. But first it doesn’t hurt to review lactose intolerance, which may happen to some dogs.

Lactose is the natural sugar of the animal’s milk. It is not added. And mammals, during the breastfeeding period, generate an enzyme called lactase, which allows us to break down lactose into easier-to-digest elements, such as glucose and galactose.

Here we will find two problems. One is that the puppy, once it has stopped breastfeeding, no longer has that defense lactase enzyme. And then it can deteriorate or decompose when drinking or eating dairy products. So, if we have to give him yogurt, we have to give it little by little, together with the food, mixed, so that he gets used to it.

But the other problem we face when we want to give yogurt to our beloved companion is that most supermarket yogurts are sweetened. And andl sugar (like salt) eIt is a forbidden food in the life of dogs. It will hurt them.

Graciela Castillo, registered veterinary surgeon 5169, tells us that “a natural yogurt, without sugars or chemicals, such as Greek yogurt, can be a good dairy option to add 2 times per week as an optional part of the natural food ration. But we have to try slowly. Like a prize. So yes, we can add it to some recipes we prepare with chicken livers, fiber and vegetables, for example.”

Benefits of yogurt for dog health

The specialized website I Miei Animali specifies the benefits that yogurt, always administered under particular conditions, can generate on the dog’s health. And he lists among them:

1. It is a food that provides vitamins B, C and E and also minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus that help it grow.
2. The lactic acid present in probiotic yogurts contributes to dog health.
3. Yogurt facilitates the digestion process, helping to improve symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation.
4. Strengthens the immune system, producing more white blood cells.

It is always good to distinguish that the yogurt that we can give to our dog is not the one that contains sugar, nor those sweetened with strawberry or chocolate, which could cause a great indigestion. Flavorless, natural, in the style of pure Greek yogurt.

And another difference with the table set by their guardians is that the portion of yogurt, not being an essential food for the dog, must be small.

The I Miei Animali website specifies in its article on yogurt that we can give you the following measurements:

1. Dog weighing between 14 and 18 kilograms: a spoonful of yogurt, three times a week
2. Dog weighing between 20 and 28 kilograms: two tablespoons of yogurt, three times a week.
3. Dog weighing between 30 and 38 kilograms: 3 tablespoons 3 times a week.