Kefir & Raw Goats Yoghurt.

Kefir

Kefir (pronounced ka-feer) is a fermented milk drink made with kefir grains that originated with shepherds of the north causacus region, who discovered that fresh milk carried in leather pouches would occasionally ferment into a wonderful carbonated beverage. It is prepared by inoculating cow, goat or sheep's milk with kefir grains. Traditional kefir was made in skin bags that were hung near a doorway; the bag would be knocked by anyone passing through the doorway to help keep the milk and kefir grains well mixed. Because kefir is cultured it has far less lactose than milk which means it is better tolerated by dogs.

Kefir contains up to 61 different strains of good bacteria and yeast. That's more than some commercial probiotic supplements! It is also rich in vitamins a, b1, b2, d, k, and biotin.

Raw Goats Milk 

Raw goat milk is a source of easily digested probiotics that can help with many chronic diseases, including kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal diseases. As an incredible digestive aid, it also helps your dog or cat obtain their daily need for moisture. This super supplement contains many vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, & D, calcium, omega fatty acids, magnesium and more!

Benefits of Raw Goats Milk for Dogs

You can get the most benefits of goat’s milk for puppies if you buy milk from grass-fed goats and those formulas without antibiotics. The most common ingredients that these supplements contain are raw goat milk, organic cinnamon, organic turmeric, bacillus subtillus, lactobacillus lactis, acidophilus, and lactobacillus.

Below are the ultimate benefits of feeding kefir/goat milk:

1. Probiotics help maintain good bacteria in your dog’s gut for a healthy GI tract. Also, they fight pathogenic bacteria that can harm your pup’s health - that being said the strains do not recolonise the gut and do not survive in the gut for a long time.

2. Balances dog’s bacteria which can lead to better gut flora and overall health. With balanced bacteria in the gut, your dog will absorb more vitamins, process vegetable fibre easily, prevent harmful bacteria from flourishing and manage toxins well.

3. Develop enhanced hydration when you give your dog goat’s milk. It works like bone broth which is perfect for your pet’s hydration.

4. Increase a dog’s appetite. If your pooch is a picky eater, you can introduce goat milk to his diet and see improvements in the amount of food he consumes. The dogs and other pets will like the taste.

Scientific Research Surrounding Kefir

1.Kefir is a more powerful probiotic than yogurt

The Probiotics found in kefir can help to maintain the good bacteria in your dog’s gut, contributing to a healthy GI tract. Also, they help fight off pathogenic bacteria that can harm your dog’s health. Specifically, Kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making them a very rich and diverse probiotic source. That being said these traditional probiotic strains do not recolonise the gut and do not survive in the gut for a long time - so if you have an older dog or a dog with a compromised immune system - be sure to also supplement a SBO probiotic.  (Benjamin C. T. Bourrie,1,2 Benjamin P. Willing,1 and Paul D. Cotter 2016)

2. Kefir has antibacterial properties and helps balance the gut 

Certain probiotic strains found in kefir are believed to protect against infections.This includes the probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri, which is unique to kefir and kefiran. Studies have shown that this probiotic can inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Helicobacter pylori, and E. coli. With balanced bacteria in the gut, your dog can absorb more vitamins, process vegetable fiber more easily, prevent harmful bacteria from flourishing and manage toxins well. (Rodrigues KL, Caputo LR, Carvalho JC, Evangelista J, Schneedorf JM 2005)

3.Kefir contributes to bone health 

Kefir made from dairy is an excellent source of calcium, and full-fat dairy kefir also contains vitamin K2. An animal study by Chen HL found kefir increased calcium absorption in bone cells. This leads to improved bone density, which should help prevent fractures and contribute to joint health.  (Chen HL, Tung YT, Chuang CH, Tu MY, Tsai TC, Chang SY, Chen CM. 2015)

4.Some animal studies have indicated that kefir can inhibit cancer cell growth

Some animal studies have indicated that kefir can inhibit cancer cell growth. The probiotics in fermented dairy products are believed to reduce tumor growth by stimulating your immune system. Another study in humans found that kefir extract reduced the number of human breast cancer cells by 56%, compared with only 14% for yogurt extract. (Chujian Chen 2007)

The Bottom Line?

Dogs can benefit from the wonder that is kefir and Raw Goat’s Milk!  You can serve it to your pets straight or add it to their food.  In the summer when the temperatures soar outside, I freeze the Goat’s Milk in ice cube trays and serve them as cool milksicle treats.  However, because the milk is raw, it is highly recommended that you start using it slowly to allow your pets time to adjust.

Feeding Guidelines For Dogs

Introduce kefir/goat’s milk or yoghurt to your dog gradually, especially if your dog is particularly sensitive. Work up to a dose of 1 teaspoon per 10kg (20lbs). When buying Goats milk or yoghurt, ideally you want to be buying raw milk/yoghurt.w

Raw milk has superior nutrition and significant health benefits over pasteurized milk. Raw milk contains greater bioavailable nutrients than pasteurized milk, as well as a wide array of beneficial enzymes and probiotics which are known to have benefits on the immune system and gastrointestinal tract

please note that Kefir and fermented raw goat milk (along with any fermented product) is NOT SUITABLE FOR ITCHY DOGS DUE TO THE HIGH HISTAMINE CONTENT.