• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

I Dream of Doggies

  • Home
  • Behavior
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Shop

Feed Your Pooch Nooch (Benefits of Nutritional Yeast for Dogs)

February 11, 2020 by Jason Jensen

Nutritional yeast – affectionately referred to as “nooch” – is a popular health food amongst vegans, but it’s not just good for people; dogs also love it, and can benefit from a small amount added to their diet. Scroll down to learn more…

nutritional yeast
Nutritional yeast being sprinkled on spaghetti.

What Is Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast that is primarily used as a health supplement and food flavoring. Vegans love nutritional yeast because it has flavor similar to parmesan cheese, which makes it a great substitute for cheese; and the fortified kind is an excellent source of vitamin B-12.

It has a yellow color, and is normally sold as flakes or a powder. Nutritional yeast can easily be found at health food and supplement shops. It can also be purchased online, and there’s even a chance you might be able to spot it at your regular supermarket.

Health Benefits of Nutritional Yeast for Dogs

Nutritional yeast can offer dogs many health benefits, including the following:

Increased Appetite

Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and aroma that dogs love. If your dog is a picky eater, or just doesn’t have much of an appetite, sprinkling a small spoonful of nooch on their food can entice them to their meals. Think of it like adding salt to your food to make it more palatable – by the way, don’t ever add salt to your dog’s food.

Vitamins and Minerals

Nutritional yeast is packed with vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent source of complex B vitamins, as well as selenium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and potassium.

Antioxidants

Nutritional yeast also contains antioxidants, which can protect your pup from degenerative diseases.

Protein

Nutritional yeast can add a little extra protein to your dog’s diet. Technically speaking, on a per calorie basis, nooch is one of the most protein-rich foods known to man; however, don’t expect your dog to get most of their protein from it, since you are only going to give them a small amount. Just think of it as a supplement.

Anti-Anxiety

The high amount of B vitamins in nutritional yeast may also reduce your dog’s anxiety.

Fortified vs. Unfortified

There are two types of nutritional yeast: fortified and unfortified. Fortified, of course, has added nutrients; whereas unfortified is just nutritional yeast in its pure, natural form.

If you want your dog to get the maximum nutritive benefits of nooch, you should by the fortified kind, as it contains B-12, selenium, and zinc; none of which are found naturally in unfortified nooch.

How to Feed Your Dog Nutritional Yeast

The best way to feed your dog nutritional yeast is to sprinkle a small amount – about 1 tsp – over the dry or wet food you normally feed them, as if you’re seasoning their meal. It’s important that you do not give them too much, as nooch is only meant to be a supplement.

Suggested Serving Size Per Day

The easiest way to calculate the exact serving size per day that is optimal for your dog is to multiple 0.09g by your dog’s bodyweight in pounds. For example, if your dog weighs 50 lb – 0.09 x 50 – the appropriate serving size per day is 4.5g, which is about 1 tsp.

Nutritional Yeast vs. Other Yeasts

One of the most important differences between nutritional yeast and other yeasts is that nutritional yeast is inactive. You should never feed your dog an active yeast, like the kind you bake with.

That said, another type of inactive yeast that’s beneficial to dogs, and similar to nutritional yeast, is brewer’s yeast. However, don’t confuse brewer’s yeast with beer yeast – the yeast that’s actually used for making beer. You should also know that brewer’s yeast has a bitter flavor your dog probably won’t like.

Consult Your Vet First

While it’s unlikely your dog should experience any negative effects from a small amount of nutritional yeast, you should still consult with your dog’s vet before giving it to them to ensure it won’t interfere with any medications they may be on, or any special conditions they might have.

References:

Jolinda Hackett (November 15, 2019). What is Nutritional Yeast and How Is it Used? Retrieved from https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-nutritional-yeast-3376833

Spunky Tails (July 12, 2019). Nutritional Yeast for Dogs. Retrieved from https://www.spunkytails.com/nutritional-yeast-for-dogs/

Hanie Elfenbein, DVM. Brewer’s Yeast for Dogs: Understanding the Benefits and Risks. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/brewers-yeast-dogs-understanding-benefits-and-risks

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen is the founder of idreamofdoggies.com. He is a professional writer, experienced doggy-daddy, and longtime animal rights advocate.
Jason Jensen
Latest posts by Jason Jensen (see all)
  • What It’s Like Owning a Bullboxer Pit: Pros and Cons From a Real Owner - December 17, 2020
  • Why Are Azawakhs So Expensive? Here’s What You Need to Know… - December 9, 2020
  • Are Alaskan Malamutes Good Guard Dogs? (Not Really, But They Can Fake the Part) - December 3, 2020

Filed Under: Dog Health

Primary Sidebar

Did your dog eat too much watermelon?

Can a Dog Eat Too Much Watermelon? It’s Unlikely, But Yes…

Bullboxer Pit puppy

New Puppy Misbehaving? You Need a Spray Bottle

bowl of rat poison

What to Do if Your Dog Has Eaten Rat Poison (Symptoms & Treatment)

Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey

Why You Shouldn’t Feed Your Dog Nature Valley Bars

Golden Retriever with a quail in its mouth.

What to Do if Your Dog Catches a Bird

Newfoundland in the snow.

Can Newfoundlands Live in Hot Climates Like Arizona, Florida, and Texas?

sad dog

Is Your Dog Sad? Here’s How to Tell

box of ziploc bags

What to Do if Your Dog Swallows a Ziploc Bag

Falafel

Why You Shouldn’t Feed Your Dog Falafel (But Chickpeas Are OK)

Airedale Terrier good family dog

Are Airedale Terriers Good Family Dogs? It Depends…

Footer

Follow Us

  • facebook
  • pinterest

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer

The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in