Can I give my dog plain yoghurt?

Adding dairy is a lovely treat for our dogs.

Raw goat's milk is easier on the digestion, but things like buttermilk, butter, curd cheese, and yoghurt are all great sources of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins A and D.

I personally prefer giving them dairy over those processed shop-bought treats...

All types of soft white cheese (like quark or cottage cheese) are really beneficial for dogs with skin issues, while clarified butter is great for active, sporty dogs ;-) Just keep an eye on the portion sizes for less active dogs so they don't put on too much weight. ;-)

As for the amount, dairy should make up no more than 4% to 5% of their daily food.

The lactase enzyme in cow's milk can be a bit tricky for some dogs to tolerate.

The best thing is to mix a little bit of banana, strawberry, raspberry, or melon into some yoghurt. You can serve it fresh or freeze it in ice cube trays for the summer—they make brilliant little frozen treats...

What really works well here is raw sardine (frozen for a week then defrosted overnight in the fridge) mixed with goat's cheese or goat's yoghurt; it’s the holy grail for them!

And for puppies, you can get them used to it right from the start 👍 by adding it in gradually and regularly.

Interesting! I also let my dog have the yoghurt pots. Not all the time, but sometimes she looks at me with such lovely puppy dog eyes and is so well-behaved that she definitely deserves to finish the pot!

My dogs "clean out" the empty yoghurt and fromage frais pots etc.

I’m copying a paragraph here about humans; it’s exactly the same for other animals

"Yoghurt and cheese contain less lactose and are therefore easier to digest than milk. Yoghurts are particularly beneficial as they contain lactic acid bacteria which help the body absorb lactose, making it much more digestible. Cheeses made from goat’s or sheep’s milk, as well as hard cheeses, are also much easier on the stomach. As for cow’s milk cheeses or butter, they contain almost no lactose at all."

Hi, my dog eats low-fat quark, drinks buttermilk or even skyr, and has no digestive issues or anything like that. He’s had it every day since he was a puppy.

Dogs fed a varied diet can handle a lot more than a dog that’s only ever eaten the same brand or range of dry food its whole life.

That’s just my personal experience 😝

Lactose isn't a poison; it’s just not great for their digestion if they have too much. Some dogs don't tolerate it very well, which can lead to an upset stomach. But if your dog is fine with it, you can definitely give them a bit every now and then ^^

Thanks.

Same here, I only ever use goat or sheep's soft cheese.