Can dogs eat cheese? You may be asking this if you’d like to share a tasty treat with your pooch, or maybe your dog accidentally ate some cheese off the floor. Humans can eat cheese, so is it also safe for dogs to eat?
There isn’t a short yes or no answer as to whether dogs can eat cheese. Dogs may be fine after eating a little bit, but many can be lactose intolerant, and too much cheese can lead to health issues in dogs.
As always, you must ask your vet before sharing any human foods with your dog, including cheese. Here’s what you should know about feeding your dog cheese.
When Is Cheese Okay For Dogs To Eat?
Cheese has a few nutritional benefits that can give a health boost to your dog. It contains calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and zinc. These are beneficial vitamins that are essential for your dog’s health.
Cheese also contains fat and sodium, which can add some benefits to your dog’s health. But too much fat and sodium can cause health issues.
The type of cheese you feed your dog is also important to know. Aged cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss have very little lactose in them. Mozzarella cheese contains a lot of fat, so if you feed it to your dog, make sure it’s in small amounts.
Cheese can also be a good way to conceal pills for your dogs who require medicine.
Make sure to serve the cheese according to the size of your pooch, and ask your vet if your dog can handle cheese in their overall diet. Small bits of cheddar or mozzarella can be helpful training rewards for them.
Cottage cheese is also a very healthy snack for your pup in moderation. You can mix cottage cheese with some cooked rice, which is a good and simple meal if your dog has an upset stomach already.
When Is Cheese Bad For Dogs?
Not all dogs can handle a tasty treat like cheese. Many dogs are lactose intolerant to some degree, which means they cannot handle dairy products. While most cheese contains less lactose than some other dairy products like whole milk, dogs can still have adverse effects from cheese if they are highly lactose intolerant.
This is why you must talk to your vet before giving your dog cheese.
Make sure to stay away from cheese like blue cheese and Roquefort. Not only do these cheeses have high fat content, but when they get super ripe, they can produce roquefortine, which is potentially lethal for dogs to consume.
Also, stay away from cheese with herbs and garlic like Havarti or cream cheese. Onions and garlic are both toxic for dogs.
Observe your dog for signs of intestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea after feeding them a small bit of cheese.
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Has your dog ever had cheese before? Did they like it? Let us know in the comments below!
