If you have a dog at home, then it is common that you would want to give them things that you like. Bonding with a dog often involves giving them little treats and extras that you know they will love. Out of all of the extras that you might want to give them to try, though, kombucha might be high up on that list. Dog owners have started to wonder if giving their dog a kombucha tea to try would be something that they might later regret. So, what is the case? Can you give kombucha to dogs?
The easiest way to answer this query would be perhaps. Kombucha is regarded by many as a powerful natural health product, and it is often paired up with ideas like giving people help with their blood sugar, their metabolism, and fighting off microbial infections and problems. It is something that many thinks would be great for their dog.
And yes, there are many ingredients within kombucha that are totally good for a dog to have in their life. The problem is that most kombucha products will also contain something that your dog should want to avoid taking in on a regular basis. Health problems in dogs drinking kombucha are common if the dog is taking this in on a daily or regular basis – or they take in too much at once.
Can you give kombucha to dogs?
Kombucha is, after all, a combination between green and black tea leaves which have been fermented. As such it is a very strong caffeinated product. For a human, there is not enough caffeine to cause you any issues. For a dog, though, even a tiny amount of caffeine can send them into an overload.
It can cause problems in dogs such as increased blood pressure, seizures, and a heart rate that is worrying for both dog and owner. Giving them lots of kombucha products could see them move into the dangerous realms of caffeine toxicity. An overdose of caffeine could, in a worst-case scenario, kill your beloved pet.
Therefore, you should pay attention to how much kombucha they get. You should be giving them a tiny amount each week, and we do mean a tiny amount. It is a natural source of probiotics, which your dog can benefit from, and it can give them some help with gut problems. However, your dog might also find that it can upset their stomach if they get too much leading to diarrhea.
So, you should make sure that you avoid giving your dog too much kombucha at all. It might be wise to go and speak to your veterinarian about the products that you are looking about giving your dog. They can help you to then build a plan for things like dosage and amounts so that you can minimize the risk.
If you are looking to give your dog kombucha on a daily basis, though, forget about it. The risks far outweigh the benefits. While it can be beneficial to your dog, the potential for harm is simply too great for you to take any needless risks. The nutrition found in kombucha can be found elsewhere – avoid putting the life and health of your dog at needless risk if you can.