Many pet owners want to know whether their dog or cat can have yogurt. The general answer is only sometimes in small quantities but this doesn’t apply to all dogs and cats. It really depends on whether your pet can digest dairy or not.
It’s important to remember that dogs and cats only need milk while they’re very young. After they stop drinking milk from their mothers, from a nutritional point of view they don’t need milk or dairy at all. In fact many dogs and cats become lactose intolerant in which case it’s better to avoid milk or yogurt. Giving dairy products to a dog or cat that is lactose intolerant can cause digestive issues and abdominal pain which can cause significant discomfort.
Having said that, yogurt (and even cheese) contain less lactose than milk so for pets who aren’t lactose intolerant it can be an occasional treat in small quantities.
Even if your pet isn’t lactose intolerant, it’s not a good idea to make yogurt or cheese a part of your pet’s regular diet. Cheese in particular contains fat and this can contribute to obesity in pets which can lead to a range of health problems later on.
So then what can you do when your dog or cat looks at you with those sad eyes when they see you with a pot of yogurt or piece of cheese?
Luckily there are a range of pet treats that don’t contain lactose or high amounts of fat. They are specially formulated for pets so they contain appropriate amounts of other nutrients as well.
Of course quality matters (like with everything else) so only feed your pet high quality pet food and treats made of natural (preferably human grade) ingredients that are great in taste but also good for their health. However, no matter how healthy, treats are not supposed to be fed in large quantities so always follow the serving guidelines on the back of the pack.
We love:
- Pluto’s Lactose Free Dog Chews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High quality (nylon and rawhide free) cheese based treats that come in a range of flavours like beef, chicken, and peanut butter. Soft chews for puppies, seniors, and dogs with dental issues are also available.
- Armitage Good Boy Cheesy Chicken Sticks ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Made with 100% chicken breast meat. Delicious and low fat, they’re the perfect treat for a pup who craves cheese.
- Beaphar Rouletties Cheese Bits for Cats ⭐⭐⭐ are a fun way to give your feline a cheesy treat. They’re small and round so they encourage play too.
- Armitage Good Girl Milk Drops for Cats ⭐⭐⭐⭐ are a fun and tasty way for your kitty to share a creamy Vanilla flavored treat with you. They’re perfectly sized for cats and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Available in a dog safe version for puppies called Armitage Good Boy Puppy Milk Drops.