Can the German Shepherd Eat Yogurt? What You Should Know!

Your German Shepherd should eat food made specifically for large breed dogs. But, when it comes to healthy human foods, it’s hard to believe that none of them can benefit your German Shepherd, too. Yogurt is one of the best natural foods we can eat.

So can German Shepherds eat yogurt? German Shepherds can eat yogurt in moderation. Consuming yogurt will add a bit of flair to your German Shepherd’s food bowl and help improve the functioning of your dog’s digestive system. Caution: Yogurt can cause diarrhea or vomiting in some dogs if they cannot tolerate the lactose in yogurt.

While administering yogurt to your dog is usually loaded with many positive benefits, there are always negatives that could go along with it. Let’s first go over the potential dangers of giving yogurt to your German Shepherd and how to avoid them entirely.

The potential dangers of yogurt

We know how much you love your German Shepherd, which is probably why you want to give him some yogurt in the first place! You know how tasty and nutritious yogurt can be for humans as it is loaded with calcium and protein, and it is natural that you want to share it with your four-legged friend.

Although normally safe for most dogs, yogurt can be potentially toxic to your German Shepherd if it consists of some artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Yogurt is usually loaded with added sugar, which is also not healthy for dogs.

Giving your German Shepherd too much yogurt could disrupt his digestive system and cause discomfort.

Is Yogurt Toxic To German Shepherds?

One of the biggest concerns that comes along with giving human food to your German Shepherd is the potential for toxicity. You would hate to give your German Shepherd a tasty treat only to find that his body cannot tolerate it.

Yogurt can be absolutely toxic to dogs, but only if it includes certain ingredients like xylitol (or other artificial ingredients). Added sugars can also cause problems for the German Shepherd. Here’s how each of these ingredients can affect your German Shepherd’s health:

• Xylitol: Many yogurt distributors have moved away from using natural sugar and replaced it with healthier alternatives for humans, such as artificial sweeteners. Although sweeteners like xylitol will prevent a spike in blood sugar when consumed by humans, xylitol can cause a sudden release of insulin in dogs. This can cause hypoglycemia and can have a devastating effect on your German Shepherd.
• Added Sugars: Excess sugar is not as toxic to dogs as it is potentially harmful in the long run. When your German Shepherd consumes too much sugar, he is much more likely to gain an unhealthy amount of weight, putting his bones and joints at risk. There is also the possibility that your dog will develop diabetes and too much sugar can cause tooth decay.

Remember that dairy products also contain a quantity of fat. You must ensure that you do not give your German Shepherd too much fat in his diet as this can also cause an upset stomach, or even pancreatitis which is a serious condition.

The best thing to do when you decide to give your German Shepherd some yogurt is to carefully check the ingredients to make sure there are no artificial sweeteners or added sugars!

Can your German Shepherd digest yogurt?

Your dog should have no trouble digesting yogurt if you give him the right kind (as we’ll see in the next section). However, too much of a good thing is not always good.

If your German Shepherd is lactose intolerant or if you give him too much yogurt, he may start to experience the following side effects:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence

So what is lactose you might be wondering? The lactose is simply a type of sugar found in dairy foods. If your German Shepherd cannot digest lactose, it will be what’s known as lactose intolerance. This condition is not harmful to your dog, however it will be unpleasant!

If your German Shepherd is unlucky enough to get a dose of diarrhea, you might find my post on what to feed a dog with diarrhea quite helpful!

Dogs have varying degrees of tolerance to dairy products, all of which contain different amounts of lactose. For example, my German Shepherd enjoys a small bowl of milk from time to time, yet he cannot tolerate even a few licks of whipped cream and will suffer from stomach problems in a few hours! Remember, like you and me, all dogs are different.

Yogurt is an interesting food, as it may not cause any problems for your dog …

This is because many of the bacterial strains in yogurt produce lactase, helping the breakdown of lactose.

In general, the biggest problems associated with administering a German Shepherd yogurt are related to the ingredients included in many popular types of yogurt. Your digestion may be affected, but not as severely as the effects you may experience as a result of too much added sugar and artificial sweeteners.

The potential benefits of yogurt

Yogurt can be just as beneficial for dogs as it is for humans. That means your beloved German Shepherd will get his daily dose of probiotics to keep his digestive system running smoothly and efficiently!

The best part of feeding your German Shepherd yogurt is the number of options you have. While you obviously shouldn’t give your German Shepherd yogurt loaded with sugar or artificial ingredients, plain and Greek yogurt can be great additions to your dog’s bowl of dry food.

Tip: Even if your German Shepherd has some degree of lactose intolerance, you may find that he can tolerate yogurt as long as it is consumed with other foods. For example, a tablespoon or two of yogurt on top of your dog’s kibble may not cause any stomach upset, while the same amount of yogurt consumed alone may be enough to cause excessive gas or diarrhea.

Yogurt is also a great way to manage liquid medications. Dogs often lick every inch of yogurt in their bowl, and yogurt mixes very well with most liquid medications. If you don’t have a dropper – or if your pastor is too wild to consider using a dropper – mixing the dose with yogurt is a great alternative.

What does yogurt do for German Shepherds?

You know what yogurt can do for humans, but you’re not sure how giving your German Shepherd yogurt can improve his health. Well, we have investigated!

We compiled a comprehensive list of all the benefits that yogurt can have on your dog’s health . Check it out!

• Consumption of probiotics: As you may already know, yogurt contains probiotics. When humans, dogs, and other species consume probiotics, they experience better digestion, an increase in good bacteria in the gut, and improved overall health.
• Increased Nutrition: Yogurt is so popular with humans because it is quite nutrient dense. By just adding a tablespoon or two of yogurt to your German Shepherd’s meals, you can greatly increase his intake of calcium, vitamins, minerals, and protein.
• Increase motivation to eat: If your German Shepherd is a bit picky eaters, it can be difficult to encourage him to eat when he simply refuses. By mixing some yogurt in his dry food, you can change the texture of his food, add a little extra flavor, and entice him to eat more of his food!

As long as you feed your German Shepherd yogurt in moderation, you should experience the benefits mentioned above. Remember that there is too much yogurt, and giving your German Shepherd too much will pretty much undo all of these benefits.

Moderation is key!

What Kind of Yogurt is Best for German Shepherds?

Pure natural yogurt

You and I can be completely free to eat whatever yogurt we want, but there are some limitations when it comes to giving yogurt to a German Shepherd.

As we reviewed before, you should make sure that the yogurt does not contain xylitol, added sugars, or is high in fat. Avoid flavored yogurts as they are loaded with sugar and you should avoid chocolate yogurt as chocolate is also toxic to dogs.

So what are the best types of yogurt for your German Shepherd?

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt differs from other yogurts in that the whey is removed and it is the lactose-containing whey that your German Shepherd may not tolerate. Your German Shepherd may also enjoy more of the texture of Greek yogurt as it is thicker.

Greek yogurt also contains more concentrated levels of probiotics that are not only good for the gut but also fight yeast infections, which can help dogs with recurring ear or skin infections, possibly caused by allergies.

When it comes to the amount of yogurt to feed a dog, you should limit yogurt to one or two tablespoons mixed with its dry food.

conclusion

When you want to change your German Shepherd’s food a bit, there are a few human food options that are available to you. In fact, yogurt is one of the best foods you can add to your dog’s food to keep him happy and healthy. Here are some guidelines for giving yogurt to your German Shepherd!

Make sure the yogurt has no artificial sweeteners (like xylitol) or added sugar and fat.
Just give him a tablespoon or two of yogurt per day to prevent gastrointestinal upset.
Just give your German Shepherd plain low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt.