Many people adore the taste of yogurt.
It’s also a popular dairy along with ice cream, buttermilk, and cheese because of its flavorful taste and its benefits.
There are also a lot of flavors to choose from: vanilla, strawberry, blueberry, and many other delicious flavors.
Hence, we tend to think of giving them to our parrots to let them share the taste.
But, have you ever wondered if feeding your feathered friends some yogurt would be entirely safe for them?
The truth, however, is that parrots can’t eat yogurt and any other form of dairy such as ice cream.
This is because their digestive systems are extremely sensitive and eating dairy can be pretty harmful for them, including yogurts.
However, there are still some yogurts, particularly dairy-free yogurts, that you can still give your parrot occasionally as treats.
Let’s get into more detail
Is Yogurt Bad For Parrots?
In general, yogurt is bad for your precious parrots, especially ones that are processed and sold in the market.
This is because these processed dairies contain many additives, such as sweeteners, and other preservatives that may be bad for your parrot’s digestive system.
Hence, giving them yogurt is not really ideal to give your pet some new, flavorful taste.
Another ingredient that may prove to be extremely difficult for your parrot to digest is lactose.
Once your parrot eats a product with lactose, it is likely that they will suffer from an upset stomach and may suffer from illness.
Though giving them a very small amount of yogurt will bring no potential huge risks, it is still better to be mindful about what you give them as treats.
Can Parrots Eat Greek Yogurt?
Since yogurts, in general, are bad for your parrot’s stomach.
Know that there are different types of yogurts that can either be extremely bad or pretty safe for your pet.
In particular, greek yogurt is one of the types that can really upset your bird’s digestive system.
The primary reason why greek yogurts are bad for your parrots is because they contain high amounts of dairy.
Make sure not to give them any greek yogurt, otherwise bring them to a veterinarian to make sure they are okay.
Can Parrots Eat Vanilla Yogurt?
One of the most common flavors of yogurts is vanilla.
They have this creamy-rich taste, but still pretty plain and subtle, which is why you might think that they might be safe for your parrots.
Though they have light taste, vanilla yogurt is still a yogurt and they still contain lactose and dairy.
Hence, it is not advisable to risk your parrot’s health by feeding them vanilla yogurts.
Though small amounts will do, it can still potentially cause them an upset stomach.
Can Parrots Eat Strawberry Yogurt?
If there’s a most popular yogurt flavor among everyone, it would be strawberry.
Unfortunately, you cannot absolutely give your parrot some strawberry-flavored yogurt because it contains many additives, like sweeteners, that can be pretty dangerous for your pet.
In particular, sugar is also bad for parrots to consume.
Strawberry yogurts have high sugar content, which is the reason why parrots cannot eat them.
High amounts of sugar can potentially lead to obesity or high levels of blood sugar.
If you insist, small amounts can be given, but I would advise to avoid giving it altogether
Are There Any Other Types Of Yogurt I Can Give To My Parrot?
In reality, you can still give your parrots some flavored yogurts, provided that they are all dairy-free yogurts.
If you feed them dairy-free and contain a very little to no amount of lactose, it might be safe for them to eat.
Other yogurts that you can give to them are any homemade yogurts made by yourself.
In this way, you can ensure that no other preservatives and harmful ingredients that might upset your parrot are present.
Remember that giving your birds some yogurt with dairy and lactose would cause them diarrhea and a severely upset stomach that might really be stressful and hard for your pets.
Are There Any Health Benefits Of Yogurts For Parrots?
Feeding your parrots some yogurts will upset their stomach, and if you only feed them occasionally, it won’t kill them.
However, just as yogurt is not likely to kill your bird pet, it is also the same in terms of gaining nutrients as there are no real health benefits it can give.
Though they might have some calcium to take, it comes with the risk of lactose indigestion which is certainly not good.
Unfortunately, parrots can’t fully maximize the health benefits that yogurts might bring to humans.
It is best to look for alternative foods which are definitely safer and healthier, such as vegetables and fruits.
Wrapping Up
Indeed, yogurts are flavorful and have a very creamy taste which is why many of us like to eat them.
Unfortunately, you cannot share these tasteful experiences with your parrots since feeding them yogurt would be dangerous.
This is because their digestive systems are not capable of digesting dairy and lactose which is the primary ingredient of yogurts.
Hence, it is better to look for healthier and safer food options.
