Is Yogurt Good For Dogs?

Is Yogurt Good For Dogs?

As with us humans, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural foods and supplements to enhance nutritional balance in dogs. One food that comes up often is yogurt, and there are many who sing the praises of yogurt as a nutritional supplement.

What Yogurt Contains
In addition to being a natural source of calcium, yogurt contains a strain of lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) which is a “probiotic,” or healthy bacteria. L. acidophilus naturally inhabits both the intestinal tract, and it does several good things for dogs (and us, as well). First, it assists in both folic acid and niacin production, which are both necessary for good health, especially in pregnant dogs. It also helps remove amino acids (protein building blocks) from bile acids in the digestive system. Perhaps the most notable benefit of L. acidophilus, however, is the protection it provides from other “bad” bacteria. As it breaks down nutrients, L. acidophilus releases both hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, which can destroy or inhibit harmful bacteria. Additionally, since many bad bacteria feed on the same nutrients as L. acidophilus, a healthy digestive culture can simply starve off other bacteria.

There are other reported benefits as well, including reduced cholesterol levels, a reduction in the intestinal population of E. coli (a very common and harmful bacteria), improved immune function, and even a reduction in the occurrence of yeast infections. While there does need to be more study before these benefits can be convincingly proven, there are quite a few dog owners who sing their various praises of yogurt and L. acidophilus.

Yogurt and Antibiotics
Many people first hear about yogurt as a beneficial supplement after they or their dog are prescribed an oral antibiotic. Antibiotics will kill good bacteria in the intestine, including L. acidophilus, which can lead to diarrhea, sensitive stomach, gas, etc., so yogurt is an excellent source for replenishing your digestive system’s natural, healthy bacteria after a course of antibiotics.

What Yogurt to Feed
Probably not the yogurt you like to eat! Flavored yogurt contains quite a bit of sugar, and it’s definitely more sugar that your dog should consume. Even “light” yogurt, which contains artificial sweeteners, should be avoided, as dogs can be extremely sensitive to a variety of sugar substitutes. It’s important to use only plain, unflavored yogurt, and to check the label to be sure it contains active yogurt cultures (active L. acidophilus).

If you are considering giving your dog yogurt as an occasional supplement, definitely check with your vet to determine how much to give. Dogs do need calcium, but overfeeding high-calcium foods is believed to increase bone abnormalities, so ask your vet to help you set up a yogurt supplementation schedule. Your dog is likely to thank you!