give it yogurt al cane it can be a tasty and nutritious snack but, since it is a food purely developed for humans, you need to pay attention to the doses, the type of yogurt and the nutritional intake possibly already ensured by the diet that our dog follows.
So let’s find out together if dogs can eat yogurt and which types are suitable for our four-legged friends!
Can dogs eat yogurt?
Yes, your dog can eat yogurt, but you have to be careful about the type of jar you choose.
Which yogurt to give to the dog?
The yogurt you can give to Fido must have the following characteristics:
- skinnyTherefore low in fat;
- unflavoured to any fruit;
- That doesn’t contain too much sugar;
- that is not sweetened with lo xylitoltoxic for dogs (read the label carefully!).
Dog probiotic yogurt
Probiotic yogurt has certain inside it microorganisms which, in the right quantities, provide a series of benefits to the body, rebalancing the intestinal bacterial flora.
It is quite simple to imagine what a dog’s bacterial flora could be different from the human onetherefore probiotic yoghurts studied and produced for humans could not be suitable for animals. It will therefore be appropriate to avoid, in the most absolute way, the “do it yourself” by sharing ours with Fido, certainly in good faith.
If we want to give probiotic foods to our dog too, we can choose specific ones for animals.
In any case it is good to know that the bacterial flora of the dog has very important characteristics and functions, such as that metabolicthat immune and the one that serves as barrier against infection.
It is our job, therefore, through the food we choose for our four-legged friend, take care of its bacterial flora; in this sense, it has been demonstrated that the dog’s natural diet ensures a greater variety and quantity of bacterial species in the intestinal flora, thus resulting healthier for Fido.
Where can you find probiotic foods for dogs?
You can purchase probiotic preparations for dogs such as pastes, capsules and powders from online stores or from a veterinarian.
It is important to choose one that has been proven to work in dogs, so it will be wise to opt for a product that has been scientifically studied. If you are not sure which one to choose, you can ask a vet to help you.
Is yogurt good for dogs or bad for them?
There are some clarifications to be made: yogurt is a relatively food rich in calcium and proteinnutrients that the dog already takes in the measure adequate to its diet, through commercial food.
Therefore, if your dog has a diet based on commercial kibbles or wet products, it is advisable to avoid overloading his digestive system with food that “is not necessary for him”.
Nonetheless, if your dog follows a homemade diet or one based on fresh and natural products, it will yogurt will be able to provide him with that extra protein and mineral intake that he does not receive with commercial food, but doses and frequency of intake will have to be agreed with the vet.
Constipated dog and yogurt
In case of constipation in dogs, an addition of fiber can help regulate intestinal transit. Try offering your pet oat flakes enriched with a little kefir or natural sugar-free yogurt.
The latter will also help rebalance the intestinal flora of your four-legged friend.
How much yogurt can I give my dog?
There is no evidence to give specific guidelines on how much yogurt to give to dogs, however, as mentioned above, the doses and frequency of intake must be indicated by the vet.
In general, the things that must be taken into account to adjust to the best are the following:
- yogurt shouldn’t make up a large portion of your daily caloric intake, so it can always be considered one snack e never a full meal.
- Due to its nutritional characteristics, yogurt can cause stomach ailments and induce overweight in the dog, therefore use moderation!
- The amount of yogurt your dog can eat also depends on his measure: certainly a large breed dog will be able to take more than a toy breed dog, without having harmful effects on the body.
Ultimately, while it’s safe to give your dog yogurt every day, it’s appropriate to reserve it as occasional tasty treat and in any case in small quantities.