Yogurt is one of the dairy products that is loved by many people because of its taste and health benefits. Yogurt is made by heating the milk and then combining it with bacteria known as yogurt cultures. These bacteria ferment the milk and turn it into a nutritious and creamy yogurt.
Fortunately, dogs can eat yogurt, even flavored varieties like strawberry yogurt. Strawberry yogurt is a powerhouse of probiotics that help maintain a healthy digestive system and as well as strengthen the dogs’ immune system. Plus, strawberry yogurt is a good source of calcium and protein.
Today is all about the nutritional goodness of strawberry yogurt. We’d share with you the surprising benefits of strawberry yogurt for your dog and how much is safe for your pooch to consume.
So, can puppies and lactating mothers have it, too? What about Greek strawberry yogurt? Let’s learn more about strawberry yogurt and how your dog can benefit from it.
Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Yogurt?
Yes, your dog can enjoy the delicious taste of strawberry yogurt but only in moderation. Strawberry yogurt is beneficial for your dog because it is rich in probiotics, dietary protein, calcium, and other minerals. Plus, it helps prevent diarrhea during the intake of antibiotics and for oral health.
Probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that improve our dogs’ gastrointestinal systems. Like us, our dogs’ intestines contain billions of bacteria called microbiomes that assist in food digestion and break down toxic food compounds.
An imbalance in the microbiome leads to problems like loose stool, bloating, obesity, allergies, bad breath, and flatulence. This is where the power of probiotics comes in, maintaining a healthy balance of microbiome in the gastrointestinal system to resolve the effects of microbiome imbalance.
Good thing, probiotics are found in strawberry yogurt which can be eaten by our dogs in the right amount. We’ve listed below the benefits of probiotics for your fur baby:
- Improved digestion
- Weight loss
- Strengthened immunity
- Reduced risk for cancer and other canine diseases
- Reduces stress and prevents anxiety
Dietary Protein
Protein, being the major component in our dogs’ diet, plays a major role in their overall health. Protein builds and repairs muscles and body tissues. It also gives our dogs energy and keeps their immune system in healthy shape.
Protein deficiency leads to health issues like anemia, anorexia, and reduced milk production for lactating bitches. One way to add protein to our dogs’ diet is by moderately feeding them creamy and great-tasting strawberry yogurt.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral that strengthens bones and teeth. Lactating mothers and growing puppies need more calcium for milk production and bone and muscle development. This makes strawberry yogurt okay for them to eat.
Weakness, muscle tremors, and body twitching are some of the signs of calcium deficiency. Fortunately, there is a delicious way to add calcium to our dogs’ diet, and it is through the consumption of strawberry yogurt.
Plus, strawberry yogurt is a good way to add essential minerals to our dogs’ diets, like potassium.
Prevents Stomach Upset During Antibiotic Use
We know that the 7-day course of antibiotics can disrupt our gut system. This is also true for our dogs. It’s not uncommon to see dogs go through bouts of diarrhea while under antibiotic medications.
Strawberry yogurt is rich in good bacteria that can counteract the side effects of antibiotics.
Protection From Tooth Decay
For as long as you choose strawberry yogurt with low levels of sugar content, it can give protection against tooth decay because it contains casein peptides. These peptides are bacteria-neutralizing agents that cause tooth decay in dogs.
Also, casein peptides found in strawberry yogurt demineralize tartar and plaque leading to healthier oral health.
Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Safe For Dogs?
Yes, it is safe for dogs to consume strawberry Greek yogurt, but again, in moderation. Strawberry Greek yogurt is a better choice than plain strawberry yogurt because it has higher levels of protein and lower lactose and sugar levels.
So what’s the difference between plain strawberry yogurt and strawberry Greek yogurt? The main difference lies in the whey protein content.
Whey is the watery and cloudy liquid that you see on top of plain strawberry yogurt, which is strained off in Greek yogurt. This method of straining makes Greek yogurt thicker and richer in protein content than plain ones.
How Much Yogurt Can I Give My Dog?
If your pooch is not lactose-intolerant, you can give it daily but a moderate serving of strawberry yogurt.
When it comes to plain or Greek strawberry yogurt, the ideal serving should only be one teaspoon for small dogs, two teaspoons for medium-sized dogs, and three teaspoons of strawberry yogurt for large dogs.
Can You Give Dogs Any Kind Of Strawberry Yogurt?
No, it’s because some of them contain xylitol. We will discuss this question more thoroughly in the next section. In the meantime, let’s talk about what are the ingredients to look for when buying strawberry yogurt for dogs.
When reading the label, look for the ones that contain live cultures because these have less lactose compared with pasteurized strawberry yogurts. The pasteurized varieties are not the better choice because pasteurization kills the essential probiotics that do wonders for our dogs’ gut systems.
Also, choose low-fat or fat-free strawberry yogurt because high-fat consumption may lead to pancreatitis.
Are There Risks Of Feeding Strawberry Yogurt To Dogs?
Yes, regardless of whether it’s plain or Greek strawberry yogurt, fur parents should carefully read the labels to be sure that the strawberry yogurt isn’t high in sugar and it is devoid of xylitol. Also, some dogs are lactose intolerant.
High Levels Of Sugar
Yogurt contains sugar and that’s fine as long as its sugar content is kept low and you only adhere to feeding your dear Fido the recommended portion we stated above.
Also, spoiling your Fido with too much strawberry yogurt may later lead to health problems like diabetes, obesity, and dental problems.
Xylitol
If the label states ‘artificial sweeteners added’, you should avoid sharing that product with your dog. Even if it’s just a small amount of xylitol, it can potentially harm your dog.
If your dog accidentally consumed strawberry yogurt with xylitol, take it to the vet immediately because xylitol can cause a drop in its sugar levels, potentially resulting in liver failure and death.
Lactose Intolerance
For some dogs that are not okay with dairy products like strawberry yogurt, eating this healthy food can disrupt their digestive systems.
Upon hearing the term lactose intolerant, it means that these dogs are unable to naturally produce an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme is the one responsible for breaking down lactose and is typically found in strawberry yogurt.
The inability to naturally produce lactase leads to symptoms like the following:
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
