Kefir Made Simple: A Homemade Health Boost for Your Dog
- E. J. Wass
- Oct 19, 2025
- 4 min read
What is Kefir?
Kefir, is a drink made from the fermented milk of a cow, goat or sheep. Water kefir is a similar product, but has a water base instead of milk. Historians believe kefir originated centuries ago in the Caucasus Mountains in Eastern Europe near present-day Turkey. The word kefir is derived from the Turkish word “keif,” which translates to “good feeling”. It’s no surprise that kefir has become a popular drink for supporting digestive health.
You can buy kefir at supermarkets and health food stores — or you can make your own by adding kefir ‘grains’ to milk. Despite the name, the grains are not related to wheat or oats, and are actually cultures of bacteria and yeast. Kefir is slightly carbonated as the microbes produce gases as they digest the sugars in the milk. The fermentation process greatly reduces the amount of lactose so some mildly lactose intolerant dogs may tolerate it well, but those with severe intolerances or allergies should avoid dairy based kefir.
So what’s in kefir?
Kefir contains many (this varies but up to 60) strains of ‘good’ bacteria and yeasts, making them a very rich and diverse probiotic source: one strain of beneficial bacteria is unique to kefir ‘Lactobacillus kefiri’. These bacteria aid the digestive process.
Kefir is also rich in B complex vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, biotin, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Kefir can help fight allergies, promote healthy skin, and regulate the kidneys and liver, among other things!
When to give kefir?
* Introduce kefir slowly into your dog’s diet, and allow your pet’s digestive system to adjust.
* Offer a small serving of kefir on its own as a snack, either as liquid or frozen treat.
* For dogs taking antibiotics, serve kefir a few hours after taking medication.
Kefir is best given away from the time of the rest of the meal (and for several hours afterwards) as the dogs stomach acid becomes really strong in anticipation of a meal (it drops to pH 1-2, that’s similar to that of battery acid) and remains so during the digestion process in order to kill bacteria in the food such as salmonella, clostridia and other harmful bacteria. This ‘acid broth’ makes it difficult for the good bacteria to survive, so it will be wasted. I give my own dogs their kefir as a drink, just before bed for the best chance of them getting the health benefits from it.
Feeding guideline:
* Small size dogs or cats: 1 tsp – 1 tbsp
* Medium size dogs: 1 – 2 tbsp
* Large dogs: 2 – 3 tbsp
Cautions:
Remember to start with a small amount (half of the recommended quantity at most) and if it doesn’t suit suit your dog, stop giving it; there are other probiotics that you can use instead.
Kefir, along with other fermented food foods such as sauerkraut are relatively high in histamine and shouldn’t be given to itchy dogs as this may exacerbate the problem. This is quite a complex subject. Read this link for more information…
Making kefir at home
You must work in a clean environment to prevent the wrong types of bacteria from getting into the liquid. I bought the kefir grains that I use from https://happykombucha.co.uk/collections/all-kefir-grains-and-kits/products/live-kefir-grains
Full instructions are included in the pack.
You will need:
* Active kefir grains, which are available for purchase
* Fresh milk. Long life milk isn’t suitable as it’s heated to a high temperature (140°) during production which reduced the bacteria and enzymes within, hence extending its shelf life.
* A glass fermenting jar or large jam jar
* A plastic sieve or cheese cloth
* A silicone spatula or wooden spoon
* A plastic funnel
To make the kefir:
1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Sterilise the jar by washing with soap and hot water or using a dish washer. Leave to air-dry upside down on a clean drying rack.
3. When dry, add milk and the kefir grains to the jar and combine. Leave space at the top, as the liquid will expand a little as it ferments.
4. Cover the jar with a clean cloth held in place with an elastic band or use a fermentation jar which allows gas to escape.
5. Store the jar in a warm place at around 70°F (21°C) for 12–48 hours. Keep the jar away from direct sunlight, and shake gently occasionally as the liquid starts to separate. The amount of time this process takes depends on the temperature, a lower temperature will result in a slower fermentation time.
6. Once the liquid has thickened and separated into curds and whey, give it a shake and pour it through a plastic sieve into a sterile storage container. The kefir is now ready to serve to your dog. It will keep for a week in the fridge.
7. Keep the kefir grains that you catch in the sieve to use in your next batch of kefir.
A shorter fermentation will produce sweeter kefir, while longer fermentation creates a more sour drink. The grains will multiply over time; you can share the excess grains with a friend, or else they are quite safe for your dog to eat too.
The kefir is now ready to refrigerate (for up to a week) or freeze into shapes for your dog.
If you’re making kefir for human consumption too, you can add fruit at this stage (and sweetener if you wish) and blend it into a healthy smoothie type drink.
Further information and references:
Feeding Dogs; Dr. Conor Brady
©️ Elizabeth J. Wass, written for No Bull just natural health for dogs
