Can Dogs Eat Yogurt? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

dogs can eat small amounts of plain, unsweetened yogurt, including Greek yogurt. Avoid flavored and sugar-free yogurts, which may contain xylitol, and skip it if your dog is lactose intolerant.

Yogurt for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 9 kcal per tablespoon of plain yogurt
Main benefit	Protein and calcium
Main risk	Xylitol in sugar-free yogurts is highly toxic
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How much yogurt can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One tablespoon of plain yogurt has about 9 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if yogurt were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max yogurt per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	3.5 × tablespoon of plain yogurt
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	6.5 × tablespoon of plain yogurt
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	10 × tablespoon of plain yogurt
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	14 × tablespoon of plain yogurt
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	18 × tablespoon of plain yogurt

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Protein and calcium
Lower in lactose than milk, especially Greek yogurt
Great frozen in treat toys

Risks

Xylitol in sugar-free yogurts is highly toxic
Lactose can cause gas or diarrhea
Flavored yogurts are high in sugar

How to feed yogurt to your dog

Choose plain, unsweetened yogurt with live cultures
Check the label for xylitol
Start with a teaspoon or tablespoon depending on size

What if my dog ate too much yogurt?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Yogurt and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have yogurt?

Yes, dogs can eat small amounts of plain, unsweetened yogurt, including Greek yogurt. Avoid flavored and sugar-free yogurts, which may contain xylitol, and skip it if your dog is lactose intolerant.

Can dogs eat Greek yogurt?

Yes, plain unsweetened Greek yogurt is a good choice because it is lower in lactose.

Does yogurt help dogs with diarrhea?

Some owners use it, but a canine probiotic recommended by your vet is more reliable.

Can dogs eat vanilla yogurt?

Avoid it: it is sweetened and may contain xylitol.

Can puppies eat yogurt?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Yogurt?