Your Siberian husky can eat kefir. From the beginning of this article, I have to mention that there is a fundamental difference between milk kefir and water kefir.
The difference consists in the culture medium. The culture medium refers to where microflora develops and where the fermentation process happens. Milk kefir is made from kefir grains. It is usually made using goat’s milk or cow’s milk. On the other hand, water kefir is made using coconut water, fruit juice, or water.
If your Siberian husky is not lactose intolerant, he can safely eat milk kefir. But if your Siberian husky is lactose intolerant you should choose water kefir for him. Both of them, water kefir or milk kefir, are pretty much the same when it comes to their beneficial effects. I feed kefir to my dogs. I first started giving kefir to one of my dogs when he had to take antibiotics. The antibiotics can destroy the good intestinal bacteria. The yeast found in kefir counteracted this problem. I’ll talk more about this and other beneficial effects that kefir can provide for your husky’s health in this article.
What kind of kefir is the best for my husky?
Dogs that are lactose intolerant should drink only kefir that is made with water. Depending on where you live, you may find kefir made with almond milk or coconut milk. If your dog is not lactose intolerant you can feed him kefir made with milk.
In both cases, feed your dog plain kefir. Find one without added sugar or salts. Usually, the store-bought Greek yogurt or kefir with fruits contain artificial flavor or sugars. Or even worst, sugar replacement such as xylitol. Xylitol is toxic to dogs. So, make sure you check the ingredient list and pick plain kefir. If you want to add fruits to your dog’s diet, put a few pieces of raw banana or berries in the kefir before you give it to your buddy. What a treat!
Why is kefir good for my husky?
As I mentioned earlier, your husky can eat kefir. If your husky is lactose intolerant, feed him only water kefir. But why is kefir good for your husky? Kefir is a natural source of probiotics, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1. Vitamin D and Vitamin K. Also, kefir brings to your husky’s diet calcium, magnesium, biotin, and phosphorous. Another good source of probiotics is Greek yogurt. Probiotics are important for humans and dogs. Probiotics found in kefir help your husky’s digestive system, metabolism, and immune system.
How do probiotics work? Probiotics give a strain of beneficial bacteria that are already found in the dog’s intestinal tract. Your dog’s digestive system has beneficial microbes. But these microbes can be damaged and that leads to stomach problems or health issues. This is where the probiotics come and help to try to fix the stomach problems.
If you suspect that may be a health issue with your husky, call your vet and make an appointment. Your vet may recommend to buy probiotics or to supplement his food with kefir or Greek yogurt. It really depends from case to case. You can find probiotics as powders or capsules. Some dog foods are tailored for a diet rich in probiotics. These types of foods are usually vet recommended. Talk with your vet before you start feeding your dog a veterinary diet.
Kefir’s beneficial effects for your Siberian husky
- Fights allergies
- Promotes healthy skin
- Strengthens your dog’s natural defenses
- Optimizes nutrient absorption
- Has a calming effect on the nerves
- Regulates the kidneys and liver functions
- Prevents gastrointestinal discomfort
- Corrects loose stool and diarrhea
- Boost your dog’s energy level
When should I feed probiotics to my husky?
First of all, talk with your vet and tell him what concerns you about your husky. It may not be a problem with his food. After a consult, your vet will tell you what is the real problem. If there is any. But you can add natural probiotics to your husky’s diet. Plain Kefir and plain Greek yogurt will improve your dog’s overall health. Probiotics can help with your husky’s stress, bacterial imbalance, infections, or parasites. Your husky can eat kefir even if there are no problems with his health.
As I mentioned earlier, I gave kefir to my dog when she had to take some antibiotics to make sure that her intestinal bacteria will not be affected. Another reason where kefir may help is when your husky ate something that his or her stomach doesn’t agree with. Siberian huskies tend to have a sensitive stomach and it may be hard to find a food that works for him or her. I have two dogs and they don’t like the same food. So, it really depends from dog to dog.
When your husky eats the new type of food, don’t forget to see how he or she reacts to eat. Look at his or her level of energy, coat, skin, and stool.
What grains does kefir contain?
Don’t mistake the kefir grains with grains. Your husky can eat kefir even if you keep him on a grain-free diet by your choice. Kefir grains are made of lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides that will help the milk to ferment. Polysaccharides are a carbohydrate that is found in food. I’ll stop here with the explanation because I don’t want to overcomplicate it. So basically, kefir grains are a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. Good bacteria and good yeast.
How much kefir should I give my husky?
Always start with a small amount when you’re adding new foods to your husky’s diet. By doing so, you’ll see how his body reacts to the new food. Before you start adding milk kefir to your dog’s diet make sure he or she is not lactose intolerant. If he or she is lactose intolerant, feed him water kefir. You should start with a little bit of kefir at first. Give his or her body time to adjust. I don’t feed kefir to my dogs daily. Only from time to time if there are no health issues. There are so many things to try so why stick with just one? Dogs need to stay on a balanced diet to live a healthy and happy life.
If you need to supplement your husky’s probiotics intake, feed him or her a tablespoon of kefir for every 15 kg. To make sure that is good for your dog’s digestive system, check his stool.
| Kefir daily dosage (1 tablespoon per 15 kg) | Dog size | |
| 1 tablespoon | Small dog | |
| 1-2 tablespoons | Medium-sized dogs | |
| 2-3 tablespoons | Large dogs |
How can I give kefir to my husky?
Your husky can eat kefir if it’s on his food, mixed with wet food, used as treats, or even frozen. My dogs love kefir and yogurt. I don’t think there is a dog that will refuse kefir. I put kefir on my dogs’ food or even fill a Kong or make frozen treats for them. If you don’t want a mess on your floor, you can put a tablespoon of kefir in his bowl. To make it more interesting, put some banana slices or blueberries in there too. Your husky will enjoy every bit of it.
Frozen kefir treats for dogs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain kefir
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 banana (or blueberries, strawberries, or other safe fruits for dogs)
Method
Puree all the ingredients into a blender or a food processor. Pour the composition into a silicone tray and place the tray in the freezer. Serve them when they are firm.
Last thoughts on can my husky eat kefir
Your husky can eat kefir. Choose the right kefir for your dog. Only feed water kefir to your dog if he or she is lactose intolerant. If your husky can eat dairy products, then you can safely add milk kefir to his or her diet. Always look for plain kefir and avoid the ones that have artificial flavors or sugar replacements.
Check the ingredient list before you feed it to your dog. Greek yogurt and kefir are great additions to your dog’s diet. But keep the recommended daily dose. One tablespoon of kefir per 15 kg per day. I hope this article answered some of your questions about feeding kefir to your dogs.
