Your fur kid just had puppies, and they’re the cutest, tiniest bundles of joy you’ve ever laid your eyes on.
Mommy’s doing well, caring for those little munchkins like a champ.
Of course, you’re giving the best of everything to protect her health and make sure she’s thriving while weaning those little pups.
But what about the tiny newborns?
What can you give them to give them a leg up?
Someone recommended adding probiotics to their diet.
That sounds like a good idea, right? But, which ones?
Can you give them Yakult?
Mommy dog is thriving on it, so surely it must be suitable for her little fur babies?
Well, there’s more to it than that. We did some digging and searching, so you don’t have to. Read on to find out.
What is Yakult?
Yakult is a Japanese probiotic drink hailing from the 1930s.
It’s great for human digestive health and considered safe for those who are mildly lactose intolerant.
This delicious drink comes in small, single-serving containers and is recommended for daily use. For humans, at least.
It does contain quite a lot of sugar, though, so maybe scale down if you’re suffering from obesity, diabetes, or any related conditions.
Is Yakult Good for Dogs?
Yakult is a Japanese probiotic drink that’s amazing for people.
The jury is still out on whether it’s great for dogs, but if you feed your fur kid this in moderation, it could benefit his health.
That is, if he’s not allergic to any of the ingredients and if he’s not diabetic or suffering from any other underlying illness.
That said, dogs’ bodies are different from ours, and it’s better to give your fur kid probiotics specifically developed for dogs rather than human food and drink.
Can I give Yakult to a Newborn Puppy?
No, giving a newborn puppy Yakult is not a good idea. His digestive system is still immature and really delicate.
Newborn pups should only get their mother’s milk or specialized puppy formulas under a vet’s guidance and supervision.
Even when puppies are slightly older and their stomachs can potentially handle Yakult, they’re still developing their appetites and eating habits.
Introducing something that isn’t proper dog food could lead to them becoming picky eaters or developing unhealthy eating habits.
To clarify on the dog food: this doesn’t have to be store-bought pellets. We mean any food, home-cooked or store-bought, specifically formulated for dogs and their nutritional needs.
Can I give Yakult to a 1 month or 2 month old puppy?
Giving a swig of Yakult to a 1 or 2 month old puppy is still not a good idea.
If you are thinking of giving it to them because they have soft stools or have had a dose of diarrhea then you need to remember that soft stools are common in young puppies.
And Yakult will probably only make diarrhea worse not better because there are just too many strange and artificial ingredients for a young stomach to handle.
Also, if your puppy has had a severe dose of diarrhea then you should be contacting your vet.
An occasional bit of diarrhea is best treated by having lots of fresh water available, feeding your puppy good quality puppy food and trying to limit the amount of nasty things that they pick up and try to eat.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Yakult for Puppies?
Yakult is high in natural sugar, so feeding your dog too much of it could lead to obesity and diabetes in the long term. The high sugar content could also lead to pancreatitis and dental issues.
Short term, the effects vary. Young pups could develop poor eating habits, refusing to eat unless Yakult is mixed in with their food or refusing anything that tastes like Yakult.
More severely, they could develop diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and other digestive issues from consuming Yakult. In young puppies, these side effects could be lethal and should be avoided.
Suppose your puppy is lactose intolerant or allergic to any of the ingredients in Yakult. In that case, he could suffer severe allergy-related side effects. Since we aim to protect newborn puppies to ensure their survival, it’s simply not worth the risk of feeding them Yakult.
From What Age Can I Feed My Puppy Yakult?
To date, there’s no study on this topic, so we don’t have a definitive answer. We know that Yakult is suitable for adult dogs, as long as they’re not allergic to any of the ingredients, or suffering from diabetes, obesity, or any related illnesses. We also know that Yakult isn’t suitable for young puppies. So, the safest assumption is that you should wait until your puppy is grown up before giving him Yakult. If, however, you want to start him on it earlier, it’s probably a good idea to consult the vet first. They’ll probably have experience in this and be able to give you sound advice.
What Can I Give My Puppy for Diarrhea?
Suppose your pup is old enough to drink Yakult, and his body is used to Yakult. It will probably help alleviate his upset tummy. If your pup isn’t used to drinking Yakult, or if he’s too young for it, it could make things worse. If your little fur kid has an upset tummy, it’s best to give him probiotics formulated for dogs. If that doesn’t help immediately, get him to the vet for a check-up. Diarrhea could have severe consequences if left unchecked.
What Can I Give My Puppy for Vomiting?
No, don’t give your puppy Yakult when he’s vomiting. There are tons of reasons why a dog would vomit, and not all of these are linked to tummy problems. It’s best to give your pup some fresh water. If this doesn’t clear up the symptoms quickly, give your vet a call. Something more sinister could be afoot, and severe bouts of vomiting could be lethal to young puppies.
Can I Give My Puppy Yakult for Deworming?
Probiotics definitely help dogs going through deworming. However, Yakult is a human probiotic, and it’s not proven to be of any use during the deworming process. Then, there are the ingredients, which include sugar, glucose syrup, and other things your pup could be allergic to. If he suffers any adverse effects from drinking Yakult (which is possible), it will worsen.
But, some sources say that Yakult helps when deworming our fur kids. So, it looks like the jury is still out on this one.
Maybe it’s best to consult your vet for advice and guidance when deworming your dog. Using specially formulated deworming medication and accompanying doggy probiotics is generally the most effective and safest route to follow.
Is Yakult Good for A Puppy Suffering From Parvo?
Parvo affects our fur kids’ gastrointestinal systems, and it makes them severely ill. During the early stages of Parvo, probiotic drinks aren’t recommended. However, during the later acute stages, around 2-3 weeks from onset, Yakult could help. If your dog isn’t used to Yakult or is allergic to any of the ingredients, it could further upset his tummy. So, it’s best to chat with your local vet for the best course of treatment.
Should I Give My Puppy Probiotic Supplements?
Probiotics, those beneficial bugs that live in our gut, are good for dogs and have proven medical benefits for our fur kids. These include a strengthened immune system, killing harmful bacteria, breaking down food, and improved resistance to allergies and diarrhea, to name a few.
Giving young puppies a probiotic supplement specifically formulated for them in their life stage is a good idea. That is, unless it’s a sugary mix that will affect their appetite. Here, your tiny fur kid could become a picky eater, preferring sugary, sweet things rather than food that’s actually good for dogs.
There’s also a strong argument for letting a pup’s immune system develop naturally, by feeding it a healthy, well-balanced diet and ensuring that your fur kid’s living conditions are clean and safe.
What Other Probiotics Can I Give My Puppy?
There are tons of probiotics on the market, many specifically formulated for dogs. Match the probiotic to your pup’s life stage and breed since this will offer him the best benefits. Chat to your vet if, like the rest of us mere mortals, you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of products available. They’ll recommend a product that will fit well with your pup’s needs or at least point you in the right direction.
What Common Digestive Issues do Puppies Experience?
Puppies’ digestive systems are still developing, so they can experience all sorts of issues with their tummies. It’s often hard to spot these issues since they grow so fast, and their digestive systems change quickly with this growth. For one, puppies typically have softer stools than adult dogs, since they mainly drink milk. This is a high-protein, liquid diet, hardly conducive to generating hard stools. Here, it could seem like your tiny fur kid has diarrhea, while his stool is actually perfectly normal.
Puppies easily contract E. coli infections. Here’s how it works: After birth, the pup gets colostrum from its mother. This coats the digestive tract, preventing infections. If your newborn fur kid doesn’t get colostrum, or if the mother is infected, the E. coli infection gets passed to the pup, and it can get seriously ill. The symptoms for this are quite scary, including vomiting, lack of appetite, cold skin, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, puppies easily succumb to this, and would typically need hospitalization to recover.
Another common infection is Giardiasis, caused by the parasite Giardia. Puppies contract this from contaminated water and soil, or through contact with another dog’s feces. Because their immune systems are still developing, puppies tend to get severely ill from this infection. Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, which leads to weight loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue. They can also become severely dehydrated. If untreated, Giardiasis can be fatal. Luckily, it is easily treated, and most puppies recover well.
