Kefir
Backed by Dr. Katie Woodley
BENEFITS
Recent veterinary research shows that dogs given kefir, a fermented milk drink, developed healthier gut microbiomes, suggesting it can be used as a probiotic supplement to enhance your dog’s overall wellbeing. Kefir is often referred to as the “Elixir of Life” and can be especially helpful for dogs recovering from antibiotic treatment or those suffering from allergies and digestive issues.
Serving Size
XS dogs
(< 10 lbs)
1 tsp
S dogs
(10 - 20 lbs)
1-2 tsp
M
(21 - 50 lbs)
1 tbsp
L dogs
(51 - 90 lbs)
1-2 tbsp
XL dogs
(> 90 lbs)
3 tbsp
FREQUENCY
Safe to feed daily. We recommend rotating toppers for variety to support healthy microbiome development.
HOW TO SERVE
- Purchase plain kefir.
- If your dog is dairy-sensitive, use water kefir or goat kefir instead.
- Serve as a healthy treat or mixed directly into your dog’s food as a meal topper.
IMPORTANT
Introduce slowly to avoid GI upset, starting with ½ dosage if your dog is sensitive.
arrow_rightReferences
Research shows dogs who are fed kefir. See Kim DH, Jeong D, Kang IB, Lim HW, Cho Y, Seo KH. Modulation of the intestinal microbiota of dogs by kefir as a functional dairy product. J Dairy Sci. 2019 May;102(5):3903-3911. doi: 10.3168/jds.2018-15639. Epub 2019 Mar 1. PMID: 30827566.
Metras BN, Oba PM, Miller MJ, Swanson KS. Effects of commercial and traditional kefir supplementation on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and the fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs. J Anim Sci. 2023 Jan 3;101:skad316. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad316. PMID: 37742216; PMCID: PMC10590171.