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Can Dogs Have Yogurt?

Can Dogs Eat Yogurt?

Updated on July 18, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team
bowl of yogurt

Yes, dogs can technically eat yogurt in moderation. It’s not toxic to them, and they are unlikely to experience any severe problems from occasional yogurt consumption. Even so, it’s not the best food for them to eat—or the easiest for them to digest. As always, consult your veterinarian before introducing new foods to your dog’s diet to ensure they’re an appropriate snack for your pet.

Many dog parents love sharing their favorite human treats with their pets in addition to dog treats. Perhaps you’ve peeled the foil top off your yogurt and let your dog lick it clean once or twice before throwing it away. When given the opportunity, dogs eat yogurt—but exactly how good is yogurt for dogs?

The primary concern when providing yogurt to your dog is lactose; the canine digestive system is not suited to process this sugar compound. All canines can digest dairy when they’re puppies feeding off their mother’s milk, but they lose this ability when they become adults. Ingesting too much of it can cause issues comparable to those experienced when dogs eat other kinds of sugar, including gastrointestinal distress.

Other concerns include additives that may be included in yogurts, such as refined sugar, xylitol and other flavor additives. These are unhealthy for your dog, and xylitol is toxic, so read the label carefully and make sure you only provide plain yogurt to your dog.

Is Yogurt Good for Dogs?

Although yogurt is generally considered OK for dogs to eat occasionally in small amounts, there are some important things to keep in mind. Feeding your dog regular or probiotic yogurt has almost no health benefits—they can get the nutrients they need more readily from wholesome dog food, vitamins and supplements, and they’ll likely get more tasty satisfaction from balanced, meaty dog chews.

While many dog parents believe their pets can benefit from the probiotics in yogurt, there’s no definitive answer on this; most veterinarians would agree the benefits don’t outweigh the digestive risks when dogs eat yogurt.

If your dog can eat small amounts of yogurt without adverse symptoms, the best types of yogurt for dogs who can’t seem to resist this human snack are those high in active cultures, including Greek or other probiotic yogurts. However, the reason these are better for dogs is less about the nutritional probiotic elements and more because they have less lactose, which is generally unhealthy for your dog.

While the health benefits of feeding your dog yogurt are minimal, the list of health risks is significant. Dogs can be lactose intolerant and develop digestive issues from yogurt. Gas, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting are among the possible side effects you might see if you feed your dog yogurt.

If you believe your dog could benefit from probiotics for a healthier gut, a good option is to feed your dog specially formulated supplements or a probiotic dog food or supplement. These are more appropriate options for your dog than the best probiotic yogurt.

How to Feed Yogurt to Your Dog 

Feeding your dog yogurt can be simple. You could add a small amount to their bowl as a dog food topper or smear it on the top of a dog biscuit.

Start with a minimal amount of yogurt and monitor your pet closely to ensure there aren’t any adverse side effects. If your dog shows signs of gastrointestinal distress, discontinue feeding them yogurt immediately and monitor them closely while you contact your veterinarian for guidance.

If you choose to let your dog try this snack, be sure to only offer plain yogurt. Before allowing your dog to have any yogurt at all, check the label carefully to ensure it doesn’t have any additives or flavors that could be harmful to your dog, including sugar and especially xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

Additives also mean extra, unnecessary calories for your dog. All that excess sugar and caloric intake can lead to obesity, diabetes and pancreatitis in the long term. Xylitol is also a sweetener that is becoming more and more prevalent in human food; while it is fine for humans to eat, it is toxic for dogs. 

Featured Dog Food and Treats with Yogurt

FAQs about yogurt and dogs

If your dog eats a small amount of yogurt, they likely won’t have any adverse effects. Yogurt is generally considered OK for dogs —with some notable exceptions. Yogurt with additional sugar, flavoring or xylitol is not suitable for dogs. Even if it’s only a small amount, your dog may experience side effects such as gastrointestinal distress—including vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or gas—so it may not be worth the risk.

 

If your dog seems to be experiencing symptoms, consult your veterinarian right away.

Generally speaking, yogurt isn’t considered a good option for dogs. Some people believe the probiotic elements of yogurt can be helpful for canine gut health and digestion, but this has not been widely verified. With the possible side effects of feeding your dog dairy, many pet parents would agree the limited benefits aren’t worth it.

The primary reason yogurt is not good for pups is that it’s a dairy-based product. Like many humans, dogs do not have a digestive system suited to processing dairy products, and yogurt can lead to stomach issues. 

Yes, dogs can technically eat Greek yogurt, but it’s still not very good for them. If you want to feed your dog yogurt, plain Greek yogurt is probably an OK choice because it lacks the lactose content of other types, but be sure to discuss pros and cons with your vet first. That being said, feeding Greek yogurt to your dog has minimal benefits.

Yes, Greek yogurt is generally high in probiotics, which can make it a nutritious food option for many humans. Even so, that doesn’t mean it’s automatically suitable for dogs. The probiotic elements of Greek yogurt are better suited for the human digestive system and don’t automatically suit canine stomachs. The amount of yogurt your dog would need to eat to benefit from the probiotics would probably make them ill.

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