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I was introduced to kefir and raw goat's milk when I first started feeding raw. People in raw feeding groups kept talking about kefir; I didn't know what it was, but everyone in the UK and Canada fed it to their dogs. I thought kefir was the UK/Canadian term for milk or yogurt. I was wrong. I know that both kefir and raw goat's milk benefit dogs. I choose to alternate between the two; however, if you're trying to decide which to buy, look at your budget, what's available in your area, and which one works best for your dog.
What's Kefir?
Kefir is a fermented milk drink made by adding kefir grains to milk. The kefir grains combine bacteria and yeast to form a symbiotic relationship and help ferment the milk. The grains aren't actually grains but rather a mass of living microorganisms. Due to the live bacteria, kefir is often consumed for its probiotic properties, WHICH positively impact gut health. Kefir also contains protein, calcium, and vitamin D, making it a nutritious drink option for dogs.
Kefir can be made using cow's milk or goat's milk, although most products I see at pet stores are made from cow's milk.
I've tried several times to make kefir at home because it's the most cost-effective way to keep stocked up, but I failed every single time and still don't know what I did wrong (or if I did anything wrong). I don't drink milk, so I can't taste it to make sure it's right because I don't know what it should taste like.
Where to Buy Milk Kefir Grains
I've been feeding kefir to my dogs for several years now. At first, the only people who talked about kefir were other raw feeders; today, I see kefir being sold in my local grocery store (along with fermented vegetables, dandelion greens, and other cool finds). The more resources I find for feeding my dogs, the less inclined I am to learn how to make kefir at home. However, it's possible, and I'll try again one day because I learned making yogurt is easy.
Over the years, people have recommended Cultures for Health for kefir grains (the video above); their grains are sold on Amazon or directly from their website.
- Milk Kefir Grains from Cultures for Health
- Water Kefir Grains from Cultures for Health (using water instead of milk)
- Glass jars
- Nylon Mesh Strainer
If you don't want to work with grains, you can buy kefir at your local pet store. Or you can purchase plain kefir at some local and natural grocery stores.
Benefits of Milk Kefir for Dogs
- kills yeast quickly
- relieves gas
- promotes healing in the body
- is a natural probiotic and supports gut health and nutrient absorption
- alleviates allergy symptoms
- is a natural antibiotic and antifungal
Where to Buy Kefir
- Solutions Pet Products (recommended)
- Plain kefir at your local natural grocery store
Benefits of Raw Goat's Milk for Dogs
Kefir can be made from raw goat's milk, but it's not the same as raw goat's milk. Both kefir and raw goat's milk promote healthier digestion; beyond that, they're very different foods. I like to think that kefir is kind of like raw goat's milk on steroids because it's fermented.
Raw goat's milk is unpasteurized milk from – can you guess? – goats. Goat's milk has lower lactose than raw cow milk, making it easier for dogs to digest.
Raw goat's milk…
- supports gut health, improves digestion, and promotes healthy gut flora
- reduces inflammation
- prevents diabetes or helps pet parents better manage diabetes in their dog
- brings a lot of nutrients to the bowl, helping pet parents feed a more nutritious diet
- alleviates allergy symptoms
- brings more beneficial fatty acids to the bowl
- alleviates symptoms of serious illnesses like…
- liver disease
- malnutrition
- kidney disease/kidney stones
- gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
- heavy metal poisoning
- urinary tract problems
- diarrhea
- is great for picky eaters
- a great “food” for modified fasting days
Where to Buy Raw Goat's Milk
I buy goat milk through our local raw food co-op from a local Lake Stevens, Washington farm. You can buy raw goat's milk from your local pet store; look for the following brands:
- Solutions Pet Products (recommended)
- Green Juju (recommended)
- Steve's Real Food
- OC Raw
- Primal Pet Foods
I no longer use products by Answers Pet Food. This is a personal choice and not reflective of the quality of their pet products. Kure Pet Products, a company formed in 2021 and an alternative I loved, closed in 2022 after a lawsuit brought by Answer Pet Food.
Should We Feed Kefir or Raw Goat's Milk to Dogs?
I believe raw goat's milk and kefir are beneficial for dogs, and I alternate between the two when feeding my dogs. If I had to choose, I would go with kefir until I learned how to make it at home. My dogs tolerate both well.
How I Feed Raw Goat's Milk and Kefir to My Dogs
I alternate between raw goat's milk and kefir when feeding my dogs.
- I've poured a few tablespoons of kefir, which has a thicker consistency, over my dogs' meals
- I've fed kefir (or raw goat's milk) as a meal on modified fasting days
- I've fed kefir (or raw goat's milk) as a morning meal, and fed raw as an evening meal as a modified “one feeding daily” diet
- I've fed kefir (or raw goat's milk) as a meal (alternating with bone broth) to a dog that isn't feeling so hot
When I feed kefir or raw goat's milk as a meal, my dogs enjoy between 1 cup to 1-1/4 cups, depending on their size. This amount works for my dogs and is not a rule for feeding dogs. On their “one feeding daily” routines, I combine their normal two feedings into one meal, reducing slightly to account for the calories in the morning kefir/raw goat's milk.
Read More About Raw Feeding
- Books to Help Dog Owners Feed Their Dog Better
- The Truth About Raw Feeding
- What You Don't Know About Chia, Hemp, and Flaxseeds
- Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs: Symptoms and Solutions
- Is the Billinghurst Institute Professional Raw Feeding Course Worth It?
My dog somehow cannot get used to unfamiliar foods. One time, we had to take him to the vet after eating seafood given by our neighbors. We have never tried animal milk other than the popular cow milk on the market.
Thanks, SonJa
Wow! Really!!! That’s good to know. I like it thicker.
Thanks, Sabrina
Love this blog so much. Thanks for all the info!
Oh, and for consistency, my goat kefir is MUCH thicker than the Answers goat kefir and even thicker than their cow kefir. The “doneness” is really preference. In the summer, a half gallon takes only 12-18 hours, but in the winter, each half gallon takes about three full days
You can also slow ferment by fermenting in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. The grains still activate, but they work much slower in the colder temps,
I always wonder why fermented cow milk is called kefir and fermented goat milk is called fermented goat milk. I have always called any fermented milk kefir.
I am lucky to be able to purchase both raw Jersey cow milk (A2) and raw goat milk from two local farms with good land stewardship. I ferment them myself with live grains.
Kimberly, please, DO try again! As for the consistency…do not shake or stir while fermenting. I allow my kefir to sit in the cabinet until it just barely shows lines of separation in the jar (whey/kefir lines). I ferment two gallons of goat and two gallons of cow every week.
My dogs get half their calories from kefir (24-34 oz each daily). On milk fast days, it is double that amount.
I am no expert, but as I have been lead to believe, pasteurized milk does not contain ANY enzymes. They are killed in the pasteurization process so I am not sure how many health/nutrient benefits there would be in pasteurized products.
I too would choose goat kefir over cow kefir mostly because goat milk is fully digested within 20 minutes of consumption (according to Billy) and it required ZERO work from the pancreas.
Raw fermented goat milk was key in reducing my dogs’ pancreatic values back into the normal range.
I do hope you try making kefir again, Kimberly. I really enjoy it and seeing the live grains grow and multiply is just oddly satisfying. And the dogs love a good spoonful of grains from the surplus!
On the other hand, I do not ferment my own vegetables because…I don’t like them and I have no idea how to tell if they are done or rotten or what. I was so excited for the Answers fermented veggies in October 2020…but they are still delayed. So for now, I just use my home grown raw kale chopped up teenie tiny to add to the Straight formula (I have ONE problem child with serious fish sensitivities so the Detailed is out fo him).
Maybe the planets will align properly and you will make good kefir and I will make good fermented veggies!
You are awesome!
Billy Hoekman of Answers Pet Food does too, daily.
I myself drink raw goats milk, I by this at a health store, I have also bought kefir and shared with my dog
I belong to Raw Feeding 101 and Raw Feeding University. I find that these are the most informational groups with the least amount of drama. I have a page that lists all of my favorite groups, etc, here: https://www.keepthetailwagging.com/resources
Which raw feeding groups do you belong to? I would like to join!
I personally think it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. Both are beneficial. I feed milk kefir because that’s what I have access to where I live. But if I had a good source of goat’s milk yogurt and it didn’t have sugar, flavoring, then I’d definitely give it a try.
Is goat’s milk kefir more nutritious than goat’s milk yogurt? The yogurt (live cultures) is less expensive at my grocers.
One of my dogs has a beef intolerance, but he does well on the answer’s cow kefir.
I want to try the Answers Cows Milk with Kerfir but I feel my dog has a food sensitivity when I feed her beef… seems like her ears kinda flare up. Do you think the cows milk could have the same result? She loves the goats milk and fermented fish stock but wanted to try the kerfir to help control yeast etc
I would recommend giving your dog raw goat’s milk from Answers Pet Food.
I am so confused! I do not if I should give my 6 pound dog with Kidney disease raw goat’s milk or goat’s milk kefir???
Kombucha also has a little alcohol in it which is not good for pets.
I make my own kombucha, since much of it is made with a caffeine tea, water, scoby and sugar, I would reconsider giving this to pets. They are not supposed to have caffeine or sugar. The second ferment is when the sugar is eaten up more and so the first ferment is even stronger sugar amounts. I would not recommend kombucha for pets.
My Sprouts has Goat’s Milk Kefir, which my dogs seem to be handling very well: http://redwoodhill.com/stories/products/plain-kefir/
Here is a link to locate raw milk (goat, cow, and others as well) in your area: https://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/
Just enter your zip code, and it will give you sources and distance. Good luck!
Some people use store bought kefir that is plain (some have flavors and sugar added). I haven’t found that option at my store which is why I use kefir by Answers Pet Food. I tried making my own and it was a big flop.
Is it ok to use store bought kefir from the grocery store like they sell for humans or is it different?
Making kefir is fantastic for your dogs – they are so lucky to have you. I wish I could make it too; I tried a couple of times and couldn’t get it to thicken up.
I’m unable to get my hands on raw goats milk, or even raw cow milk in my area. I know I can buy it online and have it shipped, but it’s SO expensive. I make my own kefir for myself with whole organic pasteurized milk from the store, do you think that would be an okay option to give to my dogs?
This stuff is a nice option as well if you live in an area that doesn’t have local dairy available. https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/pro-bloom
I wouldn’t feel comfortable using goat’s milk in the can – I prefer to get it from Answers Pet Food or a local dairy where I live.
Can you use can goats milk?
I’ll be making milk kefir when I get my grains. For now, I have a gazillion gallons of raw goats milk in the freezer so I’ll be using it to make my milk kefir, but also feeding it to my dogs since I have so much 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Sharon.
Our dogs also like kombucha. They like it straight, no need for a second ferment and adding fruit. Just another way to naturally supplement their diet.
We use either raw cow’s milk or raw goat’s milk to make our kefir. Five dogs from 20 pounds to 200 pounds share a pint with their breakfast twice a week. If you don’t want the bother of draining out the grains, you can get a starter powder from Body Ecology or Cultures for Health. Just mix the powder in a quart of milk, let set out for 24 hours, then put in the refrigerator. Save the last bit of kefir to culture your next quart (Reuse at least 7 times, then use a fresh packet of starter). Our dogs like it a bit over-cultured and thick like yogurt so straining out the grains can be a pain. With the powder, you avoid this. I really think those people who think their dogs are lactose-intolerant have dogs that are reacting to the lack of natural enzymes in pasteurized, homogenized milk and milk from cows conventionally raised in feedlots rather than pasture raised.
This is interesting- I have a friend who makes kombucha regularly out of live cultures and the process is similar only with fruit and black tea. One question: I noticed you said you were going to use the kefir and goats milk separately- would it be too much to use them together (the goats milk to make the kefir)? Or do you prefer milk kefir? Thanks!