Lizards and Yoghurt?

[Dark_Angel_25]

It was suggested to me that maybe feeding yoghurt to a gecko can increase the 'good' bacteria in their tummy to help aid in digestion (much like Grapefruit seed extract) (my AFT needs help..)

But another friend of mine said that maybe it isn't such a good idea to feed yoghurt as lizards not having access to this in the wild, may be lactose intolerant...

Does anyone here have experience, or links or suggestoins on yoghurt and our lizard friends??

I am curious to see the results..

[reptiguy123]

My leo loves yogurt. Don't know about AFTs though. Don't assume that geckos have all the same conditions as humans do. If you did, then what if a gecko was allergic to a bug? Things would be impossible!

[DragnDrop]

I posted a bit about my use of yogurt in my post in your Oreo's plight thread

Just to add to that info, I've used live bacterial culture yogurt as a 'tonic' for all my geckos and chams after they've finished any worming meds, antibiotics etc., anything that can destroy the normal beneficial gut bacteria. My leos seem to like peach and strawberry the best, but one of them is such a yogurt addict, she'll eat any flavour, even licks the dish clean.

[M_surinamensis]

All reptiles are "lactose intolerant" it's really a question of how much of what you need to feed them to make it a problem.

Lactose can only be digested by lactase, an enzyme which is only produced by Mammals (mostly juvenile mammals) and certain yeasts.

A very small amount of dairy product may not cause a herp to explode, but it certainly isn't going to digest the sugars involved and if the animal fails to deficate fairly quickly for whatever reason, it's a load of indigestable sugars sitting in it's gut and rotting. You need to balance the potential benefit (Gut cultures) against the potential risk (Indigestable food going kinda septic if allowed to rot) and decide how much and how often is safe.

[reptiguy123]

Uh oh.

[Dark_Angel_25]

so I would be safer to stick with the grapefruit seed extract then?

My problem is if she doesnt eat by saturday, then we have to take her back to the vet and tube feed her... so if giving her alittle yoghurt (she poos when she eats normally) will help her with the enzymes (which is a possibility) then I will try it..

[DragnDrop]

Yogurt is a cultured milk product wherein Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria have been added to
the milk in order to aid in the digestion of lactose (milk sugar). Lactose intolerant people and most animals do have problems with milk and milk products, but the majority of them can safely consume yogurt made using live bacteria cultures.

There's a lot of info on the usefulness of yogurt at

Live, Active and Probiotic: The Yogurt Culture


By Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D.
Food Science and Human Nutrition Specialist
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

>
> The claim most substantiated is yogurt's beneficial effect on digestion in some individuals.
> People who are lactose intolerant have a hard time digesting milk products because they lack the
> enzyme that breaks down the main carbohydrate in milk. Yogurt is a unique dairy food because the
> starter cultures actually produce that enzyme during fermentation. Thus, the milk sugar in
> yogurt is more easily digested, even for lactose-intolerant individuals. Many people who
> commonly experience gas, bloating or discomfort from dairy foods can digest yogurt more easily,
> thanks to the starter cultures. This is especially true if the yogurt contains live cultures.
>
> Claims regarding the usefulness of probiotics in reducing the risk of intestinal infections also
> seem to have some merit. Studies have shown, for example, that children suffering from chronic
> diarrhea recover faster when fed yogurt with probiotic cultures. Adults suffering from
> traveler's diarrhea also seem to benefit. Scientists attribute this to probiotics' apparent
> ability to create an acidic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria.
>





Granted, it is geared towards human consumers, but the basics of digestion are the same in
reptiles. The Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria convert the lactose to a more digestible form
for reptiles as well as us. As I mentioned in the other post, I've used it for treats, tonics
after medication, as a supplement for recovering reptiles and the base for bug slurry for sick
reptiles who aren't eating on their own (never used on a snake, so I have no clue how/if it
works with them). If I'd noticed any problems digesting the yogurt or slurry, I would have
stopped using it years ago. There's never been any sign of discomfort, diarrhea or other
negative signs or symptoms. If anything, I can credit the yogurt for saving at least a dozen
gecko and cham lives in either my collection or rescues I took in.

[marisa]

"I would be safer to stick with the grapefruit seed extract then?"

You'd be safest sticking with whatever your vet agrees with before taking any advice straight off the internet. Your gecko is in a very potentially serious situation and it would be terrible to try anything without a vets advice and agreement especially if you are using a good vet who already knows much about this geckos situation....obviously there is also a time when even vets are at a loss....so bringing him these ideas is your best bet IMHO. That's just what I think for now.

Marisa

[brandi]

just to toss in my two bits...

I love Grapefruit seed extract, its great stuff for cleaning wounds n'such (I take the tablets myself), but remember, it is STRONG stuff, you need to serriously dilute it if you are giving it orally. also, it won't add any flora to your animals gut. you can go to your healthfood store, pick up a good quality pro-biotic, and give it oraly mixed w/ warm water. or you can allow her to ingest a fresh fecal from a *HEALTHY* *PARASITE FREE* gecko, prefferably a cage mate. hope that helps.
B~

[Bighead]

Originally posted by Dark_Angel_25
But another friend of mine said that maybe it isn't such a good idea to feed yoghurt as lizards not having access to this in the wild, may be lactose intolerant...

That's a load of crap. It's actually quite common to see the occasional leopard gecko hanging from the teet of cows and goats in the wild. Common knowledge, man.

[Dark_Angel_25]

well I will be taking her to the vet on saturday again, as she still hasn't eaten. they said if she hadn't then they would tube feed her. I will bring up the suggestion of the yoghurt and the GSE and see what they say to that.
As for the yoghurt, everyonje was saying pro-biotic.. is there a specific kind/brand that you get? or is the stuff you get at the grocery store like Danone or yoplait ok too?

And thanks for all your tips and experience guys, it is really good to know...

[reptiguy123]

Feces. I never thought of that. They would eat it? Would it have to be wet?

[rwg]

I dont know if yogurt is a good idea or not. Thought I'd mention though that most consumer yogurts have little or no live culture in them by the time they go to the store. Certainly you dont want to be feeding yoplait or dannon to your herps. If you go this route, go to a health food store, and get a pure plain yogurt with active cultures.

rg

[brandi]

well, basically the idea behind "pro biotics" is to introduce healthy gut flora (bacteria) into your animals digestive tract. a healthy animal sheds excess bacteria in their feces (fecal exams check for bad bacteria and parasites, but the good bacteria are in there too). so an animal lacking this bacteria would be able to aquire it from a fresh fecal from a healthy animal. I know you have to do this with iguanas, because the young aren't born with the bac cultures, and will eat feces from adults to aquire it. I've never tried it in a gecko, but theoretically the process should be the same.

as for the yoghurt thing? forget it. 1) like was said earlier, consumer yoghurt has almost no live cultures in it. 2) your herps can't digest it. and 3) even the cultures that ARE in yoghurt aren't the ones your gecko needs to aid its digestion. there are litterally millions of species of bacteria, and the ones in that yoghurt aren't going to help your animal one bit. that's why i recommended the fecal.

Good luck with your little guy!

[reptiguy123]

Oh yea? Hmmmmmmmmm.