Yogurt? Benefits and who feeds?

[YellowLabProject]

I have read that some raw feeders here feed yogurt. I bought some decent vanilla low fat yogurt and given Tiegan 1-2 teaspoons 3 times over a week's period of time.
What if any benefit does this provide? I also gave her some Korean Pear, a few small chunks. I have dehydrated some for treats. I had read in RMB that ripe fruit was ok to give.... I do it for desert for her.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Doug

[jlab]

Yogurt provides no benefits at all. Carnivores derive no benefit from consuming milk products beyond weening. No probiotic benefits since a carnivores stomach acid will most likely kill all the friendly bacteria in yogurt. I would guess digestive upsets would be one undesireable effect of feeding yogurt.

[Baloo317]

I occasionally will give them a bit of yogurt as a treat, just cause they LOVE it.

If you're looking for pro-biotic action I'd just give straight pro-biotics. Also, you have to watch giving yogurt to young pups as it contains so much calcium, and too much calcium negatively affects growth.

[ObedienceLabs4Me]

Because of Caleb's issues when he was young I give him plain yogurt with biphadolpholis every day. If I don't his ears begin to get gunky. I do use plain because I don't want him to have the sugar. If the dog has been on anitbiotics it can help bring back some of the good bacteria.

[Fallriver]

No probiotic benefits since a carnivores stomach acid will most likely kill all the friendly bacteria in yogurt.

Is this fact? If the stomach acid kills the beneficial bacteria in yoghurt, why wouldn't it kill the beneficial bacteria in pill form?
Granted, dogs (and over 2/3 of people) are lactose intolerant, but good yoghurt and kefir do not contain lactose so should not create digestive upset.
Many raw feeders use yoghurt and kefir: Ian Billinghurst, Wendy Volhard, Marina Zacharias and Juliette de Bairacli Levy. I do not necessarily feed the same diets as these people, but it may be careless to dismiss yoghurt so quickly.

Like everything else, the quality of the product matters. Vanilla flavoured yoghurt will not likely be properly fermented and will contain things like milk solids. If you think you would like to feed yoghurt or kefir, look for the best sources you can or ideally, make them at home. Kefir and yoghurt are important nutritional supplements that help fight cancer. When yoghurt is made through fermentation, the lactose is reduced to lactic acid which is a chemical repressor that helps fight cancer cells.

[ObedienceLabs4Me]

Dana, do you have any information on how I would make yogurt at home? You know me well enough that now that you have said that, I want to try to make my own for Caleb. I do use a premium yogurt that is organic, too.

[YellowLabProject]

YBM: You beat me to it.... ;D

Could we continue this conversation regarding other specifics brought up here by other members?
Negative to having a little sugar to a diet. Tiegan from what I know does not get any other sugar except a little bit from baby carrots I give her on very small amounts and very occassionally. I do it for some variety in diet, taste etc.... That was the main reason I offered her some yogurt, specifically for variety and taste and pleasure, not for nutritional values. But I don't want to do this if there are negatives attached. And as I wrote last, literally 1 to 2 tablespoons max, once or twice a week.... don't see harm here, but that is why I posted and am asking.... I am not qualified to make a nutritional statment about its value.

Edited to include: The negative side is what Kate brought up, thanks Kate for addressing. I would not think the little bit she is getting would throw the balance out of whack.... would it?

Thanks,

Doug

[Fallriver]

I believe there are electric yoghurt makers you can buy for your home. You are prolly better off making kefir though as the probiotics replicate better and are longer lasting.
You could go to a health store and buy the starter kits although you can do it cheaper and better with the kefir grains. You can order the grains on Ebay. Try this vendor: http://cgi.ebay.com/Milk-Kefir-Grain...QQcmdZViewItem
Some stores will carry kefir too.
Fermented vegetables are also being fed by some now for the same benefits.
This goes against prey model but I also believe that our world is artificial with artificial stressors and sometimes important food additives must be looked at objectively. The diet we are feeding is as nature intended but unfortunately, the animals are no longer as nature intended.

[Labs4me]

In the book Super Baby food it gives a very simple way to do it, I don't remember how but I know it wasn't hard. This lady is the queen of cheap and easy.
http://www.superbabyfood.com/

[imported_eastcoastmom]

I give Angus a few tablespoons of plain (unflavoured) unsweetened organic pre & probiotic yogurt.