As a youngster, I loved going with my dad to McDonald’s to get a fruit and yogurt parfait. The fruit. The granola. The yogurt. It all combined to confront my taste buds with tasty flavor. Nowadays, I keep some Oikos stocked in the fridge to satisfy my yogurt cravings, and I often notice my fur baby eyeing me whenever I eat it. Perhaps your furry friend does this, as well, and you think to yourself, “Can dogs eat yogurt?”
Yes, dogs can eat yogurt. But you should know by now that the answer is never as simple as it seems.
Why Can Dogs Eat Yogurt?
Yogurt is non-toxic for your fur baby, so they technically can eat it. The dairy snack also contains high amounts of protein, calcium, and probiotics to benefit your furry friend’s health.
The protein and calcium make your pup grow stronger, while the probiotics help keep their digestive system at maximum strength.
However, I did mention that yogurt is a dairy snack. Meaning yogurt contains a little substance called lactose. The problem with lactose is that some dogs are lactose intolerant, which potentially leads to tummy aches or diarrhea if dairy is consumed.
If you’re wondering, the signs of lactose intolerance are as follows:
- Bloating
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
A dog showing any of these symptoms requires a trip to the vet for a little check up. The vet will tell you, for sure, whether or not your pup can eat dairy products like yogurt.
Can Dogs Eat Yogurt Everyday?
As long as your pup doesn’t show any symptoms of lactose intolerance, a couple spoonfuls or last licks of a yogurt cup should be fine for them.
While some websites tell you to feed your dog low-fat or fat-free yogurts, the danger there is these kinds of yogurt typically contain added sugars or sweeteners. And the yogurt you feed to your dog needs to contain zero added sugars or sweeteners. Added sugars harm your dog’s health and some sweeteners, like xylitol, are very dangerous for dogs to consume.
The best yogurt to eat, for yourself and your canine companion, is Greek yogurt. This yogurt style contains higher amounts of probiotics, lower levels of lactose, and zero added sugars. The lactose in Greek yogurt is strained out before the yogurt is packaged. So dogs with lactose intolerance should be able to have a couple of safe bites.
Even Mr. Moderation Man would have trouble telling you to use moderation with Greek yogurt. But, of course, he’s been placed in prison for destroying my home. Although I don’t believe he’ll stay there for very long, due to his penchant for breaking through walls.
My Big Fat Greek Yogurt
So, can dogs eat yogurt? Yes, but consider feeding your pup Greek yogurt over anything else. The low amounts of lactose, high amounts of probiotics, and zero added sugars make it a perfect match for your furry friend.
And for fans of a certain Greek Wedding movie, don’t worry. That Greek yogurt shouldn’t have any Windex in it.
Happy Trails!
