I had read a post that @Twice had mentioned giving dogs Kefir. I had no idea what Kefir was so I did some research. It sounds pretty amazing and there are some great stories of it helping dogs with issues with digestion and allergies. So I went to the store and bought some today. Here is some info on Kefir vs Yogurt.
Both kefir and yogurt are cultured milk products…
…but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.
Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.
It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.
Kefir’s active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy. Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, the elderly and people experiencing chronic fatigue and digestive disorders.
This is a link to a vet's blog on benefits to dogs. http://www.drharveys.com/blog/tag/148
Recommended Minimum Daily Intake of Kefir or Yogurt
Both kefir and yogurt are cultured milk products…
…but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.
Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.
It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.
Kefir’s active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy. Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, the elderly and people experiencing chronic fatigue and digestive disorders.
This is a link to a vet's blog on benefits to dogs. http://www.drharveys.com/blog/tag/148
Recommended Minimum Daily Intake of Kefir or Yogurt
- Small size dogs and cats - 1 tsp to 1 tbs
- Medium size dogs - 1 tbs to 2 tbs
- Large dogs - 2 tbs to 3 tbs
- Extra large dogs - 4 tbs to 6 tbs
You can increase (either a little or by doubling) the daily intake noted above if you wish to increase the amount of probiotics ingested by your dog and cat on a daily basis. Just make sure to increase gradually over the space of days or weeks.
One question I do have is can I still give yogurt and Kefir or stop the yogurt?
One question I do have is can I still give yogurt and Kefir or stop the yogurt?
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