Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Can Dogs Eat Cheese? Dogs enjoy being included in a party with their human family members—particularly when cheese is being served as a snack. However, can dogs eat cheese? And if so, how much is too much? Dogs can have cheese in moderation. Here is what to know about safely serving cheese to dogs.
Key Takeaways
Dogs can enjoy cheese in moderation, but eating too much may cause stomach issues due to lactose intolerance. Certain varieties, such as blue cheese, are unsafe and should be avoided. Safer choices include low-fat, low-lactose options like mozzarella. Remember, cheese should only be given as an occasional treat and must not exceed 10% of your dog’s overall diet.
Can Dogs Have Cheese?
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But most dogs are lactose-intolerant, so they might experience a bad reaction to having too much cheese. Processed cheese foods, such as American cheese, aren’t a great addition to a dog’s balanced diet but are safe to offer in moderation.
Here’s a list of types of cheese and whether or not they are safe for dogs:
| Cheese Type | Safe for Dogs? | Why or Why Not? |
|---|---|---|
| American cheese | Yes, occasionally | Processed; high in sodium |
| Blue cheese | No | Contains roquefortine; is toxic |
| Brie | Yes, occasionally | High in saturated fat and lactose, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea when too much is consumed |
| Cheddar | Yes, occasionally | High in sodium and saturated fat |
| Cottage cheese | Safe in small amounts | It’s rich in protein and can be useful for gentle diets, but its lactose content means overfeeding may cause digestive upset. |
| Cream cheese | Yes, occasionally | High in saturated fat |
| Feta | Yes, occasionally | High in sodium and lactose |
| Goat cheese | Yes, in moderation | Though lower in lactose and saturated fat, it’s still best to keep to 10% of a dog’s daily calories or less to prevent weight gain |
| Gouda | Yes, sometimes | High in saturated fat |
| Mozzarella | Yes, in moderation | Lower in lactose and saturated fat (particularly part-skim and reduced-fat types) |
| Parmesan | Yes, sometimes | High in saturated fat and sodium |
| Provolone | Yes, sometimes | High in lactose, saturated fat, and sodium |
Best Types of Cheese for Dogs
Can Dogs Eat Cheese? It’s best to offer your dog low-fat cheese options like mozzarella, cottage cheese, or soft goat cheese. Cottage cheese is more than other cheeses and less in fat and sodium, minimizing the possibility of obesity. Cottage cheese is also lower in lactose, thereby decreasing the chances of intestinal upset.
Lactose Intolerance in Dogs
Can Dogs Eat Cheese? Not every dog digests cheese, and though cheese doesn’t have much lactose compared to whole milk, a dog with a bad case of lactose intolerance can have a negative reaction to cheese, even in small amounts. Watch your dog carefully for signs of stomach distress following the initial feeding of cheese, and ask your veterinarian any questions that come to mind.
How to Feed Cheese Safely
Feed the dog cheese only as a rare treat. A small cube or several shreds should suffice for training or as a reward.
If the dog has a weight problem or has had issues with food sensitivity in the past, consult with your vet first before adding cheese to their diet.
Is Cheese Good for Dogs?
Cheese is safe for dogs in small quantities. It is a fact that cheese has protein, calcium, vitamin A, the essential fatty acids and B-complex vitamins, but all of these are things your dog would receive through their normal, complete diet, so there is no necessity to include cheese in their diet. Yet cheese may be treated with, in very small quantities. Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Is Cheese Bad for Dogs?
In others, cheese can be harmful to dogs. Dairy products make them get upset stomachs and some of them are lactose intolerant. So, if this happens to your dog, don’t give it cheese at all. Also, some cheeses will have fruits, nuts, onions and garlic in them – so steer clear of these. Find out more about why cheese is bad for some dogs below. Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Never Give Cheese to Overweight Dogs or Dogs With Kidney Problems
Cheese contains extremely high fat, calorie, and salt content. Rather, use healthy dog treats so that your dog gets something special.
Do Not Offer Cheese to Lactose Intolerant Dogs
All dogs don’t tolerate cheese well. Although cheese has less lactose than regular whole milk, severely lactose intolerant dogs may have adverse effects from eating cheese. Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
related article: https://dogscarelife.online/can-dogs-eat-cheese/
Never Offer Cheese to a Dog with a History of Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a gastrointestinal disease and can be fatal. As dogs are unable to digest milk products, this might present some problems. Make sure to confirm this with your veterinarian beforehand.
Which types of dogs cannot eat cheese?
There are certain dogs which should not have cheese, even if it’s a safe variety of cheese:
- Overweight dogs. Cheese contains lots of fat so must be avoided by overweight dogs
- Dogs that respond to cheese. Dogs with a dairy allergy or intolerance must not be fed cheese on any basis whatsoever.
- Dogs with sensitive stomachs. If your dog becomes ill when they eat something other than their regular diet it’s best not to feed them any cheese because it may make them sick or give them diarrhoea.
Can cheese be used for training?
Many dogs are unable to resist cheese, so it is a great high value reward when training your dog.
If your dog has difficulty with recall but enjoys cheese, rewarding them with a tiny bit of cheese when they come back to you when called will teach them that returning when called is a desirable thing. Small cubes of cheddar cheese or cheese in a squeezy tube are used by Blue Cross to teach dogs at our rehoming centres. Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Filling a Kong with squeezable cheese can be a soothing reward for your dog, especially when you want them to relax and stay occupied for a while. helping them work through separation anxiety.
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