Mary Allen
Concerns about milk and dairy products have increased in recent years.
You have probably noticed lactose-free foods such as yogurt in the supermarket. Because milk sugar, i.e. lactose, is tolerated by fewer and fewer people.
This is completely normal for our dogs. As mammals, dogs only drink their mother’s milk when they are puppies.
While young dogs still tolerate cow’s milk and the products made from it quite well, many adult animals quickly develop an intolerance.
However, this does not apply to all dairy products. What about yogurt, for example?
Yogurt contains less lactose
In most cases, dogs tolerate yogurt significantly better than milk.
The reason for this is the lactic acid bacteria. They convert the milk sugar they contain into lactic acid and thus significantly reduce the lactose content.
Yogurt is ideal when the dog is ill or convalescent. Mix yogurt with a little honey and give your pet this mixture to strengthen it between meals.
Yogurt can be mixed into the food if the dog refuses the food. Dogs mostly love the sour taste.
If you don’t want to take any risks, feed your dog lactose-free yogurt.
Yogurt is fermented milk
Yogurt is one of the oldest dairy products. Milk doesn’t keep very long. However, if it was fermented, it could be stored much longer.
Today, yogurt is produced on a large scale in dairies.
First, the raw milk is heated. Then the yogurt cultures, i.e. the lactic acid bacteria, are added. They convert part of the lactose they contain into lactic acid.
It’s called fermentation. The important ingredients such as protein and calcium are retained.
Lactic acid bacteria ensure a healthy intestine
Yogurt has long been considered an extremely healthy food. Yogurt is an important source of protein and contains many vitamins as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iodine.
These ingredients have a positive effect on bone growth and muscle function. The contained lactic acid bacteria ensure a healthy intestinal flora.
Therefore, when taking antibiotics, many doctors recommend using yogurt at the same time. This allows the intestinal flora damaged by the drug to be restored.
Yogurt is easy to digest and the low-fat version has few calories.
All these points also benefit our dogs and so the four-legged friend is welcome to nibble on the yogurt from time to time.
Use pure natural yogurt
It is particularly important with yogurt that you use natural yogurt. All other yogurt mixtures are not suitable for dogs because they contain a lot of sugar. You should avoid this.
Instead, you can always add some fruit to the yogurt. However, never use too much fruit because it also contains a lot of sugar.
Yogurt types with 3.5 percent fat are suitable for normal-weight dogs. All other varieties with higher fat content should be avoided. If you have a dog that has no weight problems at all, it can also be a spoonful of Greek yogurt in between.
Your dog can eat low-lactose foods such as hard cheese and yogurt between meals. If you are not sure or do not want to risk an intolerance, there is a large selection of lactose-free natural yogurts in every supermarket.
Frequently Asked Question
What dairy products can a dog eat?
The dog is not dependent on a supplement of dairy products in its food. However, foods such as cottage cheese, quark, buttermilk, or yogurt are suitable as a source of calcium for dogs – provided the four-legged friend can also tolerate the lactose content.
Is yogurt healthy for dogs?
Since yogurt generally contains little milk sugar, the product itself is well suited for dogs. The consistency of the yogurt is also well digested by the dog’s stomach.
Which yogurt can dogs eat?
In addition to natural yogurt, Greek yogurt is also one of the types of yogurt that you can share with your dog. It contains less lactose and can therefore be digested even better. The high proportion of probiotics in Greek yogurt also contributes to the healthy intestinal flora.
How often can dogs eat natural yogurt?
Give your four-legged friend a day or time to make sure he’s fine after the yogurt treat. If you are sure that your dog is not having any problems, you are welcome to give him yogurt every day without any problems.
Which is better for dogs cottage cheese or yogurt?
If your dog tends to be overweight, low-fat quark is more suitable for your dog. Cottage cheese with a higher fat content is a good way to feed a dog. The proteins and probiotics contained in the quark help your four-legged friend to keep a stable weight.
Is cheese healthy for dogs?
Low-fat, low-lactose, and lactose-free cheeses can be fed to dogs as treats. Hard cheese and semi-hard cheese are particularly easy to digest and suitable due to their easy portioning.
Can a dog eat cream cheese?
Cream cheese. If your four-legged friend suffers from slight gastrointestinal problems, granular cream cheese together with boiled rice and tender chicken is the ideal light food. The low-fat cheese restores the taste of sick animals and strengthens them with essential amino acids.
Is egg good for the dog?
Boiled chicken eggs are healthy for your dog, mainly because of the essential amino acids they contain. These protein building blocks ensure that many metabolic processes in your furry friend function smoothly. In addition, a boiled egg supports the regeneration of body cells and muscle tissue in your dog.
