Can Dogs Eat Greek Yogurt?

The Short Answer is:

Greek yogurt is safe for your dog to eat. It contains no toxic ingredients, is a source of protein and calcium, and contains no fat.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Greek Yogurt?“.

U.S. consumers consume a great deal of Greek yogurt.

Based on some surveys conducted in 2020 we know this.

According to one survey just over four million Americans consume eight or more servings of Yoplaits Greek yogurt each month. 

46% of Americans reported eating Chobani Greek yogurt according to another survey. 

Just over half of this amount is spent on Greek yogurt which is what Americans spend just over $7 billion dollars on per year. 

It is no wonder that we might be tempted to share some of our yogurts with our dogs when we have so much yogurt in our fridge. 

However should dogs be eating Greek yogurt? 

I will provide you with a straightforward answer. 

Can dogs eat Greek yogurt?

Greek yogurt is safe for your dog to eat. 

The following are four benefits that it could provide your dog with as well as two potential downsides. 

The benefits are that they contain no toxic ingredients are a source of protein and calcium and contain no fat. 

For those of you who would like more information the following sections provide a lot more information. 

Firstly what is the main difference between regular and Greek yogurt? 

Greek yogurt vs regular yogurt

There is one main difference between Greek yogurt and regular yogurt: Greek yogurt is not made with milk whey. 

The whey is the liquid left behind after straining milk. 

These remains are used to make regular varieties of yogurt. 

Greek yogurt however is strained to remove the whey. 

As a result there are four main differences between Greek yogurt and regular yogurt. 

Yogurt made in Greece is:

• Thicker and creamier
• Tastes sourer
• Contains more protein
• Contains less calcium. 

What are the ingredients in Greek yogurt?

There are differences in the ingredients used in Greek yogurt. 

So to make this a bit simpler I’m going to take a look at the ingredients used in some of the most popular Greek yogurt brands. 

Among these will be Chobani and Yoplait which we discussed earlier as well as Fage. 

According to these three top brands Greek yogurt contains four main ingredients. 

The following are their names:

Nonfat milk water sugar and live active cultures.

In light of those ingredients it is time to explain how these yogurts can be good or bad for your dog. 

How is Greek yogurt good for dogs?

When it comes to celebrating the positives there are four things to note. 

• Dogs cannot be poisoned by them

• An excellent source of protein

• Good source of calcium

• 0% fat

Let me explain what I mean by each of them. 

Greek yogurts contain no toxic ingredients

In all of my searching I did not find a Greek yogurt that contains an ingredient that is toxic to dogs. 

Vanilla extract was used in one of the Greek yogurts. 

Vanilla extract contains about 30% alcohol so it is toxic for dogs but not in the tiny quantities in which it is used. 

Dogs can die from eating low-fat foods containing Xylitol a sugar substitute. 

There was no Greek yogurt that contained this ingredient however. 

Once poisonous ingredients have been ruled out it is time to turn our attention to the first piece of good nutrition found in these yogurts. 

Greek yogurt is a source of protein

At the beginning of this article we discussed how Greek yogurt has a thicker consistency than other yogurts making it more protein-rich than other types of yogurt. 

In fact this is one of the main reasons why Greek yogurt is so popular

An increase in popularity. 

Protein-rich foods are popular among men. 

Because Greek yogurt contains more of it than other yogurts men began buying yogurt in large quantities for the first time. 

However whats the difference in protein between Greek yogurt and standard yogurt? 

I have looked at three brands of Greek yogurt and they are all about 10% protein. 

Standard yogurt contains less than 5% fat. 

The protein in your dogs diet is important because every cell in their body contains protein and so they need protein to create new cells and repair old ones. 

Greek yogurts are a good source of calcium

Although Greek yogurt contains less calcium than regular yogurt it is still a good source of calcium. 

The milk is what gives it its taste. 

In the same way that we need calcium in our diet our dogs do as well. Calcium is necessary to maintain healthy bones and teeth. 

Our attention has been drawn to protein and calcium and now it is time to turn to fat. 

Many Greek yogurts contain 0% fat

According to what I have seen most Greek yogurts are fat-free which is fantastic news. 

Dietary fats are necessary for the diet of dogs but they should get enough of these from their regular food. 

If you do share a spoonful with your dog you do not have to worry about it anymore. 

I will discuss some of the ways Greek yogurts might be harmful to your dog in the section on some downsides to zero-fat foods. 

Now I’ll take a look at them.

How is Greek yogurt bad for dogs?

In order to keep this section as concise as possible I will only discuss two ways Greek yogurt might harm your dogs. 

There is the sugar and salt content as well as the lactose intolerance issue. 

Greek yogurt contains lots of sugar and salt

There were just a few sentences ago when we were praising some Greek yogurts because they had no fat. 

I also stated that having 0% fat comes at a price. 

Despite its many bad qualities fat adds flavor to food. 

It is often the case that 0% means zero taste. 

As a result food manufacturers increase the amount of sugar and salt in their products to combat this. 

Greece is no exception when it comes to Greek yogurt. 

Sugary foods make dogs more likely to become obese. 

In addition foods that are high in salt may impact your dogs blood pressure. 

Next up lactose intolerance will be the subject of the next section.

Should Greek yogurt be fed to dogs that are lactose intolerant?

Milk cheese and other dairy products contain lactose a sugar. 

Sugar is not digestible or will be difficult for a dog with lactose intolerance. 

A variety of symptoms and side effects can result from this including bad wind diarrhea and stomach cramps. 

There are some dogs that are lactose intolerant but no one knows how many of them. 

The reason Greek yogurts contain less lactose than standard yogurts is that they do not contain whey. 

Additionally probiotics are thought to aid digestion. 

Would Greek yogurt be the best choice based on the severity of your dogs’ symptoms? 

Regarding live bacteria.

Do all Greek yogurts contain probiotics?

Foods that contain probiotics contain live bacteria. 

As they support a healthy digestive system they are considered important for health. 

These live cultures are found in many brands of Greek yogurt. 

Unlike previously these bacteria are now added so that they can cater to the human market rather than the dog market. 

Many of the good bacteria in our gut are thought to be eliminated by poor diets and lifestyles. 

As the ratio of bad to good bacteria increases this results in an imbalance. 

In this regard products such as yogurt with their live bacteria are looking to solve the problem. 

In reality there isnot enough evidence to suggest how effective these probiotics are on humans let alone dogs. 

In keeping with the “digestion” theme lets address whether Greek yogurt can be used as a remedy for diarrhea. 

Is Greek yogurt a cure for diarrhea?

Do probiotic yogurts contain billions of live bacteria that can help digestion so can I give Greek yogurt to my dog with an upset stomach? 

Alternatively you could use plain Greek yogurt since it is a simple enough food that would not upset the stomach. 

In my opinion there are tried and tested approaches out there that you would be better off using. 

Steaming sweet potatoes has been very successful for me. 

Of course there is also the bland diet of rice and chicken. 

I will now try to answer a few “quick fire” questions

Can my dog eat Greek yogurt with honey?

In mixing honey with Greek yogurt there is nothing toxic. 

Despite the fact that many people think honey is a healthy ingredient honey can contain up to 82% sugar. 

This just adds a bunch of extra calories. 

Why not add fruit to your meal? 

Can my dog eat Greek yogurt with fruit?

The addition of fruit into Greek yogurt can enhance the taste and texture of the combination as well as provide a nutritional boost. 

Keep in mind that grapes raisins and whole cherries are fruits to avoid. 

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.