As a pet owner, you want your pet to relish and devour all sorts of food cuisines. The very first thought to cross your mind after tasting something might be; how would my dog find this? It is understandable. The love and adoration you have for it pushes you to think so. Isn’t that what brought you to this article as well?
Can dogs eat any yogurt?
We know you love your dog more than life itself. For this reason, we are going to walk you through all that you need to know regarding dairy foods and your canine fellow. Before the question of what kind of yogurt a dog can eat is integral, we go over whether dogs can eat yogurt at all? The answer to this question would be yes. You can let your dog dig into some yogurt if it is looking at you with those puppy dog eyes. None of us can resist them, can we?
Cons of eating yogurt for your dog
Your dog might be a strong and buff boy or a complete cuteness who would melt your heart. When it comes to their appetite, they are no different from a newborn child. Your dog will eat whatever is fed with joy. Therefore, it is your responsibility to determine a hard line between what is healthy for them and what might cause them agony.
Where it is true that yogurt is not snow white’s apple for your dog. It is also not the best choice of food for your four-legged fellow. Most pet owners tend to feed their dogs yogurt with the idea that it will be a source of nourishment for the pet. It is the healthiest of dairy foods for you but not for your dog. To put it simply, dogs can be deemed lactose intolerant. They tend to digest lactose till they’re not fully grown. Afterward, the situation turns upside down. After eating yogurt, a dog might undergo symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach ache. There are several other factors of yogurt being unfavorable for your dog, such as the content of fat. We suggest, if your dog hasn’t had the taste of yogurt, you feed it in very minimal amounts and then observe for any symptoms. In case there are no red signals, you are free to provide this goodness of food once in a while.
Is yogurt healthy for your dog?
As we mentioned above, yogurt has countless benefits packed into it. The tricky part is identifying which one of them your dog requires and when. It is advantageous for the dog’s stomach due to the probiotics it contains. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, and no suggested treatments seem to do what they claim, yogurt will be like a medicine to it. It is still not advisable for your dog to be fed yogurt in a stomach-filling quantity or multiple times a day in the provided state of affairs. We don’t want to fall from one miserable situation to another now, do we?
What kind of yogurt can dogs eat?
Having gathered all of the previous information. It is time we move on to further details. Yogurt, no matter how healthy or enriching, are not all made for the wellbeing of your dog. Vets, as well as animal specialists, are of the view that Greek yogurt or plain yogurt should be your go-to dairy product as a dog parent. The probability of these being harmful to your lovable pet is extremely minute (if fed the right quantity). When you walk into the grocery store and then onto the dairy products aisle, the ingredients of the yogurt must be read carefully. It won’t be wrong to deem this step in buying yogurt for your dog to be as important as checking the expiry date.
We know the question that has recently and almost immediately found its home inside your head; what am I looking for in the ingredients? Give yourself a tap on the shoulder for asking the right and significant questions. Your doggo would be so proud of you! We will do all that is within our power to ensure any query that pops up in your head is answered.
A sweetening agent in the yogurt, xylitol is a BIG no-no for a dog. If you see these listed in the ingredients, put the yogurt back in the aisle, and never look back. Artificial sweeteners can be toxic to dogs. In extreme cases such as the dog being fed flavored yogurt in striking amounts, fatalities have been reported. Similar is the case with chocolates. While you may be someone with a sweet tooth for chocolate, we are afraid you would not be able to twine with your best friend on this one. Chocolate-flavored yogurt might do the dog worse than it would do well. It contains a chemical (theobromine), which is equally noxious. The intake of chocolate can, therefore, lead to a horrifying illness. A box of sweet wholesomeness is undoubtedly not worth the trouble it can bring alongside.
Furthermore, yogurts, even if unsweetened but with considerable fat content, are not your dog’s best pals. It can not only be fattening for the dog but also be the basis of a digestive or pancreatic disease. It would be in the best of concern to consult a vet or a dietary expert before incorporating yogurt in your canine friend’s diet plan.
What is xylitol?
It is vastly used as a substitute for sugar in artificially prepared food items. It is preferred by diabetic patients and others who tend to avoid sugar intake in their day-to-day lives. One of the many reasons for its frequent usage is that it diminishes tooth decaying bacteria and indirectly protects ear infections. You are likely to find xylitol in the ingredient lists of chewing gums, mints, etc., and other household items. In humans, it is known for its qualities on a large scale. On the contrary, amongst dog parents, it is identified as no different from a villain.
Why is xylitol considered so dangerous to dogs?
Recent researches show that xylitol is the fundamental cause behind most of the cases reported of dog poisoning. It can cause hypoglycemia in dogs during the unforeseen period of an hour at most. The dog’s body confuses xylitol for sugar, for which reason the pancreas releases insulin. This unasked for and most dreaded release of insulin causes sugar levels in the bloodstream to drop. At this point, the dog might have symptoms such as vomiting, uncontrollable movement in their body, extreme loss of appetite. If you observe any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia in the slightest, ring up your vet immediately and rush your dog to any nearby clinical.
Hypoglycemia, if left untreated for even a couple of hours, can be fatal to your dog. The amount of xylitol consumed is never a topic of negotiation when it comes to the distress it can lead to. A piece of chewing gum containing xylitol is enough to take the life of a healthy dog from a smaller breed. Consequently, paws should be kept off anything containing harmful ingredients – including sweetened yogurt.
Are there any substitute dairy products you can give your dog?
First and foremost, dog food contains all the nutrients and supplements that your canine best friend will need to grow into a healthy, handsome good boy. It would be best if you are seldom worried about providing it with external sources of proteins etc. As yet, if you are a cautious and loving parent, you still feel the need to feed your dog enriching dairy products. There is no harm in Greek yogurt (unsweetened), which you can purchase from any local store. Over and above that, you can prepare yogurt for your dog yourself. This will ensure both the quality and hygiene of the food that goes inside the stomach of your precious. Keeping in mind the low tolerance dogs have for lactose, you may also let it indulge its taste buds in cheese (low fat) and milk.
Conclusion
Let us put together the crux of the article in a concise form for you. Yogurt can be fed to your little doggo in the minutest of quantity. It will not do any harm to your dog as long as it is fed only as a treat and thin on the ground. It is also obligatory to ensure your dog is not lactose or dairy product intolerant to avoid it going through any misery. Furthermore, sweetened or fruit yogurt is highly inadvisable to give to the dog. If the last thing left in the grocery store is sweetened yogurt containing xylitol, simply walk out without giving it a second thought.
We wish your dog the best of health! You are doing a remarkable job at taking care of it (having read the article up till this point is the evidence of the stated).