Can Dogs Eat Frozen Yogurt? The Answer Is Not What You Think!

If you have a dog, chances are they have eaten something you did not want them to at least a time or two. Maybe they just had a bite of your frozen yogurt and now you are wondering can dogs eat frozen yogurt? 

Can Dogs Eat Frozen Yogurt?

Yes, dogs can eat frozen yogurt. Well… sort of. What I mean is, they can if it’s made by a reputable company and it has no artificial sweeteners or flavors.

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The reason this is important is that some people believe (incorrectly) that these ingredients are bad for dogs.

They’re not. In fact, they’re very good for your dog. They can give your furry friend energy, help his digestion so that he has a healthy gut.

What Is Frozen Yogurt?

Frozen yogurt is simply yogurt that has been frozen. Most commonly it is greek-style yogurt that is used.

It is a low-fat food that provides the body with lots of beneficial bacteria and other “goodies” that help your digestive system function at peak performance.

It’s a superfood for your gut! You can find frozen yogurt almost anywhere you buy ice cream.

Can dogs eat frozen yogurt that has additives?

The toxic ingredients to dogs that you need to check the label for are flavorings as well as what sweeteners are used. Artificial sweeteners like Xylitol or ASPARTAME. They are both dangerous to your dog because they can cause severe health problems or even death.

Even small quantities of these artificial sweeteners (just a few drops) can cause liver failure and death.

These little suckers are extremely dangerous and should never be fed to your dog. Natural Sweeteners: There are many safe and effective natural sweeteners that you can use instead of the toxic ones listed above. 

You should also watch out for flavorings. Such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and anything with “caffeine” in it. 

If you are going to feed your dog any type of sweetener or flavoring, make sure it is something that is safe for them to have.

Benefits of yogurt for dogs

While most dogs do have lactose intolerance, yogurt is not as hard on a dog’s digestive system. This is because it has been processed in a way that kills off much of the lactose. 

Lactose is the sugar found in milk. It is also found in other dairy products such as cheese and ice cream. While lactose (aka milk sugar) is not toxic, it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, and other stomach upset symptoms in many dogs.

However, if your dog does have an adverse reaction to yogurt, it is probably going to happen within the first hour after he eats it. After that, the symptoms should diminish considerably.

Not only does yogurt have less lactose than milk due to the fermentation process, but it also has lots of good bacteria which help with digestion. These friendly bacteria are not present in most commercial milk.

Also, since yogurt is made by culturing milk, it has a much higher protein content than regular milk. This means your dog will get more nutritional value from one tablespoon of yogurt than he would from three cups of milk.

What kind of yogurt is good for dogs?

There are lots of different types of yogurt such as regular yogurt, plain greek yogurt, low-fat, non-fat, and so on. Greek yogurt or any kind of yogurt that is low in lactose is the best yogurt for dogs.

Also, it’s good for the yogurt to contain “live cultures and active cultures”.

These two types of bacteria are the main ones that give yogurt its health benefits. Yogurt also contains “probiotics.” Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that help maintain your digestive tract health. Probiotics also help improve your immune function.

But how much of these are in the yogurt will depend on the type of yogurt it is. As they are not all equal.

Can I give yogurt to my dog everyday?

How often should dogs eat yogurt? That is a question I am often asked. There is no need for your dog to have more than one serving of yogurt per day.

In fact, having more than that is going to be harmful to him. Most of your dog’s daily nutritional needs should be from his dog food, not from treats like yogurt.

If he gets too much “good stuff” from treats, it can cause health problems for him.

Remember, treats are meant to be a reward, NOT a regular part of a dog’s diet. Also, many owners treat their dogs like they would their children… by giving them too much “good stuff”! Don’t do this. It can lead to health problems down the road.

How much your dog should have will depend on the size of your dog. 

Feeding yogurt to dogs

Now that you have asked the question of can dogs eat frozen yogurt and found out that they can, here is how you should introduce it.

If your dog has never had a yogurt product before it should be introduced slowly. Starting with small amounts once or twice a week and increasing the amount as your dog seems to handle it. This is how any new foods should be introduced.

Make sure you choose a natural, plain yogurt that does not have any added fruit or flavoring. Avoid anything with sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Your dog should only have regular plain yogurt for the first few weeks to make sure his digestive system can handle it.

Are There Frozen Yogurt Treats For Dogs?

The short answer is yes! While most large pet shops have a fridge and freezer section in the store, frozen yogurt treats can still be hard to find. 

But they are one of the easiest homemade treats you can make right at home. We have several you can check out such as; 

• Banana Yogurt Frozen Treats For Dogs
• Cucumber Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats
• Pupsicles – Cantaloupe And Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats

But those are just a few ideas to get you started. Another great treat idea is to mix a little peanut butter into the yogurt and freeze it.

Dog Yogurt

If you have the time, make some homemade yogurt for dogs. Because homemade dog yogurt is so easy to make if you have a yogurt maker and it has such amazing health benefits for your dog, it will soon become one of his favorite foods. Plus, you get to eat some too! 

You will also be able to control the ingredient list. Thus avoid added sugars, added sweeteners, artificial flavors, and any other additional ingredients your dog should not have.

How to Make Homemade Dog Yogurt

You start with an at-home yogurt maker or Instant Pot. You add live cultures to the milk. Then you wait a few hours and watch as the magic happens. The result? Delicious, thick, creamy homemade yogurt that you can use in all sorts of ways for dogs and human foods.

Here’s what you need: 1 gallon of milk 2 tablespoons of plain, live yogurt culture (found in the natural foods section of your local grocery store), or a half-cup of plain yogurt with active cultures.

Heat milk till it is boiling (about 180 degrees). Then remove from heat and allow to cool to about 110 or lukewarm. Combine the milk and culture and mix well.

Divide the mixture between jars. Place jars in a yogurt maker without lids and place the cover over them. Turn on the yogurt maker and allow it to do its thing!