VIEWPOINT #1Yogurt can contain high amounts of sugar. Too much sugar can cause a bacterial imbalance in the digestive system, as bacteria thrives in an environment rich in sugar. Yogurt with artificial sweeteners or alternate sweeteners can also produce painful side effects such as depression, seizures and disorientation. The other danger in yogurt is similar to every other dairy product: lactose. Lactose is a sugar that requires the enzyme lactase to break it down. Many dogs do not produce enough lactase or cannot produce it at all. A lactose buildup can cause flatulence, diarrhea, bloating and pancreatitis. VIEWPOINT#2 1. Promotes Good Digestion * A dog's digestive system is populated by millions of friendly and unfriendly bacteria. Both are necessary for healthy digestion. The live cultures in yogurt, called lactobacillus acidophilus, help inhibit the growth of bad bacteria that can cause digestive upset such as loose stools and excessive gas. Helps Reduce Yeast * Every dog has yeast in his body, and it's generally harmless. When it multiplies out of control, it becomes problematic to a dog's health. Too much yeast in the system can lead to ear infections, skin issues and problems with digestion. Plain yogurt helps keep the yeast at manageable levels. Yeast feeds off of sugar, so it's important not to use products with added sugars or flavorings. * Sponsored Links * Bad Food for Diabetes Foods to eat & avoid to control blood sugar. From Today Show expertwww.JoyBauer.com Supports Immune System * A healthy immune system can fight infection, but when bacteria and fungi overpopulate the digestive tract, even the healthiest system can be compromised. When this happens, the body's ability to ward off infection and heal itself is suppressed and it becomes vulnerable to attacks by harmful organisms. A weakened immune system can make it easier for your dog to contract illnesses, and more difficult for him to recover. Adding a small amount of yogurt (1 tbsp.) to your dog's diet can help keep dangerous bacteria at bay. Helps Ease Effects of Antibiotics * It's not uncommon for your vet to prescribe antibiotics for a number of canine health issues. They help fight infection. In doing so, they not only kill harmful bacteria, but the good bacteria too. By adding yogurt to your dog's diet during and after a round of antibiotics, you're helping to restore the delicate equilibrium of different strains of bacteria in his system, and help him recover faster. This also helps prevent diarrhea and other digestive problems that can be caused by antibiotics. Calms Upset Stomach * Yogurt is easy to digest and soothing on the stomach. When your dog is sick, the environment in his stomach is out of balance. By feeding yogurt, it helps maintain the correct levels of bacteria to keep your dog healthy. It's a high-protein food and it helps with nutrient absorption, so when your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, this food helps provide nourishment without the added ingredients that can irritate your dog's stomach. Morgan Lewis, RPh. Member GSDCA President Last Hope of Georgia 501c3 "So Much to Do, So Little Time" ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2012. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================