Are horses allowed to eat yogurt

Yogurt is definitely not a typical horse food.

Nevertheless, you should deal with this topic, because we can already reveal one thing at this point: Yogurt can be very dangerous for your horse.

Why?

We will tell you in this article. There are also healthy yogurt alternatives

Can horses eat yogurt?

No, horses should not be fed yogurt because they are not able to digest the lactose contained in milk.

For this reason, feeding yogurt can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and other problems.

Only foals are able to digest lactose, as they have the enzyme needed to do so – but again, stay away from yogurt, foal milk contains all the nutrients the foal needs to grow.

If you want to build up the intestinal flora in your horse, you can exceptionally add a little bit of yogurt to the feed – however, there are also much healthier alternatives for this.

In this article you will learn how you can support your horse’s intestines and also give him a healthy snack.

Why is yogurt unhealthy for horses?

Yogurt is not a natural product and therefore not part of a horse’s normal diet.

Just like most people, horses are lactose intolerant and cannot tolerate the lactose found in yogurt. If your horse is struggling with a disturbed intestinal flora, you can add a little yogurt to the feed for a short time, but there are often disadvantages for your horse’s health in addition to the positive effects.

However, there are a variety of alternatives that you can use as intestinal rehabilitation and that do not bring any disadvantages with them.

We will now present some of these alternatives to you in a little more detail in the following section. It is important, however, that in case of doubt you always bring a veterinarian on board who keeps an eye on the health of your horse and accompanies the therapy.

Of course, you can also feed a healthy horse all the alternatives that we will now present to you.

What are the alternatives to yogurt?

In this section we present four delicious alternatives that you can feed your horse to reward it, to boost the feed or to treat one or the other disease.

If your horse is on medication, you should always consult with a veterinarian to avoid complications.

In small quantities and with irregular feeding, however, you do not need to worry about anything.

1. peppermint

Peppermint is characterized by its refreshing taste, which is very pleasing not only to humans, but also to most horses.

In addition, peppermint has a positive effect on digestive problems, because it has an antispasmodic effect and can even relieve mild colic.

Furthermore, positive effects can be observed in chronic coughs, because peppermint has a calming effect in the throat area and promotes the loosening of mucus.

But healthy horses also benefit from the many healthy nutrients of the tasty leaves and will gladly accept this snack.

2. anise

Aniseed has a flatulence-promoting effect and is therefore also ideal for prophylaxis in colic-prone horses.

But even in healthy horses, anise helps regulate digestion and sanitize the intestines. Anise also supports the respiratory system, which can be very noticeable in horses with chronic coughs.

It is best to give your horse about 15 g of anise seeds in his feed every day and to continue this cure for several weeks or even months. The first changes can be observed in many cases within a few days!

3. fennel

Fennel has the greatest effect when you feed your horse a fresh bulb. There is nothing against feeding fennel in dried form, but the positive effects are not quite as strong.

Fennel strengthens your animal’s immune system, prevents a number of diseases and is ideal for cutting into small pieces and feeding as a snack during training.

Colds and coughs are soothed by giving fennel, it keeps the digestion going and brings an antispasmodic effect. Moreover, it also tastes incredibly delicious!

4. garlic

If you have a horse that suffers from anemia, then the regular administration of garlic could be useful. The important thing here is that the garlic is not fed over several months, but that you now and then introduce a cure with a duration of three to four weeks.

Since the feeding of garlic can lead to interactions with various medications, you should always discuss these treatments with your veterinarian.

Another advantage of garlic is that it offers natural protection against mosquitoes, ticks and horseflies.

Now we come to a short FAQ, in which we answer two very frequently asked questions. Then you will be fully informed and know everything there is to know about horses and feeding yogurt.

FAQ – frequently asked questions

1. can I feed my horse yogurt in case of diarrhea?

It is possible to feed your horse yogurt for a short time during diarrhea to rebalance the intestinal flora.

However, it is also possible that the yogurt is not tolerated by your horse and makes the diarrhea worse for this reason. Especially horses that have a very sensitive stomach and intestines by nature should not be fed yogurt.

2. Can I feed vegan yogurt to my horse?

There is no lactose in vegan yogurt, so your horse can digest it better than the conventional variety.

However, the advantages also fall away here, because vegan yogurt is not suitable for intestinal rehabilitation. In addition, most horses do not like the taste of either regular or vegan yogurt.

Therefore, it does not make sense to feed vegan yogurt to your horse, so you’d better reach for another snack.