Yogurt is considered a healthy food for people that provides high levels of calcium and protein. Have you ever wondered if you could give your Boston Terrier a small bit of yogurt?
Certain types of yogurt are extremely safe for Boston Terriers if fed in moderation as an occasional treat. Other forms of yogurt can be deadly for Boston Terriers if ingested in small amounts.
It is always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian prior to feeding your Boston Terrier any new food or treat to make sure it is safe for your Boston.
In this article, we will cover the dangers and health benefits of feeding yogurt to your Boston Terrier.
Is It Safe For Boston Terriers To Eat Yogurt?
Some forms of yogurt are safe for most Boston Terriers to eat while other forms can be extremely hazardous to your Boston’s health.
Yogurt is high in calories so it should only be fed in very small amounts to Boston Terriers. Also, it should only be fed occasionally. I recommend speaking with your veterinarian if you are considering incorporating yogurt into your Boston’s daily meal.
Avoid yogurt with added sugar or added fruit. Also, avoid yogurt with chocolate or artificial sweeteners such as xylitol because even a small amount of xylitol or chocolate could kill a Boston Terrier.
The safest yogurt to feed your Boston Terrier is low-fat plain Greek yogurt with no extra additives.
Boston Terriers with underlying medical conditions or on a special diet should not be fed yogurt unless first approved by your veterinarian.
Read – 3 Common Causes Of Death In Boston Terriers
Can Boston Terrier Puppies Eat Yogurt?
Boston Terrier puppies, similar to adult Bostons, can eat some yogurts safely.
Always give low-fat plain yogurt with no extra added ingredients. Yogurt should not be included in your Boston puppy’s daily feeding regimen, but an occasional small yogurt snack is probably safe.
Can Yogurt Kill A Boston Terrier?
Certain yogurts have the potential to kill a dog. Any yogurt with chocolate could be potentially fatal for your dog to eat because chocolate is highly toxic to dogs.
Also, yogurt with artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can kill a dog.
Never feed your dog yogurt with xylitol or chocolate!
How To Feed Your Boston Terrier Yogurt
If you decide that you want to feed your Boston Terrier a small yogurt treat, there are a few things you should consider.
You will want to select the safest form of yogurt and feed it only in small amounts occasionally as a treat unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.
What kind of yogurt can I give my Boston Terrier?
The safest form of yogurt is plain, low-fat Greek yogurt. This form of yogurt is going to have the fewest unsafe ingredients and the lowest amount of sugar.
Never give your Boston Terrier yogurt with:
- Chocolate
- Full Fat Content
- Artificial Sweeteners Such As Xylitol
- Artificial Flavors
- Added Fruits
- Added Sugar
What Brand Of Yogurt Is Good For Boston Terriers?
I personally like to feed my dog FAGE Total 2% Low-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt. It is relatively low in calories at only 10 calories per tablespoon and only contains 0.4 grams of sugar per tablespoon.
Check out FAGE yogurt on Amazon by clicking here to see pricing and reviews, FAGE Yogurt.
How Much Yogurt Can I Give My Boston Terrier?
You might be wondering, how much yogurt can I feed my dog per day? A general rule I recommend pet owners follow is treats and snacks should be less than 10 percent of your Boston Terrier’s total daily calorie consumption.
I would start with only feeding your Boston Terrier around 1 teaspoon of yogurt to make sure that it doesn’t upset their stomach.
From there, I would recommend feeding no more than 1 tablespoon of low-fat plain Greek yogurt to your Boston Terrier as an occasional snack. The yogurt can be given by itself or mixed into your dog’s dry kibble.
If you feed more than that, your Boston Terrier may develop an upset stomach.
Can I Give My Boston Terrier Yogurt Every Day?
Anytime you want to add something to your Boston’s daily diet, it is important to speak with your veterinarian. I do not recommend giving your Boston Terrier yogurt every day unless you have consulted first with a veterinarian.
Certain Boston Terriers can likely safely eat a small amount of yogurt every day, but other Boston Terriers may have adverse reactions to eating yogurt every day.
Can I Give My Boston Terrier Greek Yogurt?
The safest form of yogurt for Boston Terriers and dogs in general is plain low-fat Greek yogurt with no extra additives.
Most Boston Terriers can safely eat this form of yogurt, but if you are unsure, it would be wise to consult with a veterinarian.
Can Boston Terriers Eat Strawberry Yogurt?
One question I frequently get asked as a veterinarian is, “Can dogs eat flavored yogurt?” I do not typically recommend feeding any kind of flavored yogurt to your dog.
Flavored yogurts have high levels of sugar that are not good for your dog’s health. In addition, Boston Terriers are prone to developing diabetes so I always recommend avoiding excess sugar intake.
Can Boston Terriers Have Vanilla Yogurt?
I do not recommend feeding your Boston Terrier vanilla yogurt. Vanilla yogurt is extremely high in sugar which is not healthy for your Boston Terrier.
If you are going to feed your Boston yogurt, I would personally stick to plain low-fat Greek yogurt without any additional additives.
Health Benefits Of Yogurt For Boston Terriers
There are some potential health benefits to feeding your Boston Terrier yogurt as a treat. Here are two common health benefits of feeding your Boston Terrier yogurt.
1) Good Source Of Probiotics
Yogurt is generally a good source of probiotics which are beneficial bacteria that can aid in digestion.
Feeding your Boston Terrier yogurt may give them a boost of beneficial probiotics.
While yogurt does contain some probiotics, there are probiotic supplements that can provide your Boston with even more beneficial probiotics to promote intestinal health.
Check out Purina’s probiotic supplement for dogs on Amazon by clicking here for pricing and reviews, Purina’s Probiotic.
Here are some other probiotics that your Boston Terrier may benefit from Zesty Paws Probiotics, Bernie’s Perfect Poop, and Nutri-Vet Pre and Probiotics Chews.
2) High in Beneficial Nutrients
Yogurt contains high levels of calcium and protein which can promote bone and muscle health.
It is important to note that the majority of commercial dog foods available on the market contain all the nutrients that your dog will need to stay healthy.
Nonetheless, yogurt may give your Boston a little boost of calcium and protein.
Dangers Of Feeding Yogurt To Your Boston Terrier
You must use caution when feeding yogurt to your Boston Terrier. The wrong kind of yogurt could be extremely harmful to your Boston. Here are four things to watch out for.
1) Xylitol Toxicity
Certain forms of yogurt can contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol. If your Boston Terrier ingests xylitol, they could develop severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure, or even death.
Anytime you are feeding your Boston a human food, including yogurt, check the ingredients to make sure the product does not contain xylitol before feeding it to your dog.
2) High in Sugar
Certain forms of yogurt are extremely high in sugar. I do not recommend feeding your Boston Terrier any flavored form of yogurt or yogurt with any added sugar.
Boston Terriers seem to be especially prone to getting diabetes so any amount of excess sugar could be harmful to your Boston’s health and may put them at a higher risk for diabetes.
3) High in Fat
Certain forms of yogurt can be extremely high in fat. If high-fat yogurts are fed to your Boston, they could gain weight or develop an upset stomach.
Avoid any full-fat yogurts and instead, stick with a low-fat option.
Additionally, if your Boston has had pancreatitis in the past, it would likely not be a good idea to feed yogurt since it is high in fat.
4) Upset Stomach
If you feed your Boston Terrier too much yogurt, they may develop diarrhea or vomiting. Dogs, in general, are not able to digest lactose well so feeding too much yogurt can cause an upset stomach.
Stick to only feeding a small amount of yogurt—less than 1 tablespoon—to your Boston Terrier to avoid the risk of stomach upset.
Conclusions
Yogurt can be safely given to most Boston Terriers if you feed the right kind of yogurt in small quantities.
The safest form of yogurt for Boston Terriers is low-fat plain Greek yogurt with no extra additives. Avoid yogurt with chocolate, added sugar, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol which can be extremely dangerous to dogs.
Do not feed your Boston any more than 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Too much yogurt could give your Boston Terrier an upset stomach.
If you are thinking about feeding your Boston Terrier yogurt every day, I would recommend speaking with your veterinarian. Also, if your Boston is on a special diet or has any medical conditions, you should consult with your vet before giving your Boston any yogurt.