Does your dog look interested in the cheese on the table? Don’t be surprised, dogs love the smell and taste of cheese. Should you feed the cheese though? Can dogs eat cheese?
In moderate sizes, cheese is not bad for dogs. Dogs can eat cheese, in fact, they like the taste. Cheese should be offered as a treat, not as a part of the daily meal. Dogs can develop an intolerance to lactose while the cheese itself may contain too much salt.
Although cheese is safe to feed to dogs, you should still moderate what type of cheese and how much cheese your dog is eating. Here’s everything you need to know about dogs eating cheese.
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Is Cheese Bad For Dogs
If we were to make a category of things dogs can eat, we will put cheese into that category. Unlike chocolate, cheese is not the type of food that is dangerous for dogs even in small portions.
But that doesn’t mean that you should feed your dog cheese as you feed it raw food.
Sure, you can incorporate cheese into your dog’s meals. Include it in some meals that you make for your dog. You can serve it as a treat both to puppies and adults.
However, you should still be careful what type of cheese you are offering and in what amounts.
My advice is to test it out at first. See how your dog responds to cheese. Your dog will definitely like it but its stomach may be upset from the lactose. Some dogs are lactose intolerant.
This usually happens after a dog becomes an adult though. It’s a result of too much lactose intake.
If a dog has a high intolerance for lactose, it may not be able to eat cheese. Even small amounts will upset its stomach.
That’s why it’s best to offer your dog low-fat cheese. There are some types of cheese that you should avoid or feed rarely. Check the contents for salt. Too much salt on a daily basis or over extended periods can damage the dog’s kidneys. [Source]
Can Dogs Eat Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella is in fact one of the healthiest cheese options for dogs. In comparison with other types of cheese, it is low in fat and calories. It’s a good source of protein as well.
Depending on whether whole milk or part-skim is used, mozzarella cheese has 3.7 grams or 3.2 grams of saturated fat in an ounce. This is really good when compared with blue cheese and cream cheese. These types of cheese have 5 grams of saturated fat in an ounce. [Source]
So, mozzarella is probably the safest option for dogs to eat. You should still be careful with how much cheese you are giving your dog. It’s best to add mozzarella once in a while in meals that you prepare for your dog. Also, keep an eye on the amount of salt that the cheese has.
Can Dogs Eat Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese, on the other hand, is not that healthy. Dogs can eat cheddar cheese though. It’s not the type of cheese that you feed regularly. Cheddar is high in fat, it has 5.3 grams of saturated fat in an ounce. What does this mean though?
Well, you can still feed your dog cheddar. You just have to be careful. Don’t offer it as treats or as something you include in the dog’s meal. Instead, you can feed your dog cheddar on special occasions. Eating cheese that is high in fat from time to time will not affect the dog in any way.
Cheddar cheese is also high in sodium. It depends on the product you buy but in general, cheddar has a lot of salt. So, that’s something to be careful of.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Carrots Like Bugs Bunny?]
Can Dogs Eat Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese is another high-in-fat type of cheese. Same as cheddar, swiss cheese is not something that you should feed your dog regularly. It has 5.2 grams of saturated fat in an ounce. It’s low in sodium on the other hand. So, maybe you can feed swiss cheese to your dog more often than cheddar.
However, I still recommend serving swiss cheese on special occasions. If you are preparing a special meal for your dog, then it’s okay. Do not offer it as treats or on a regular basis. You can give it to your dog now and then when you are eating it but do not make this a habit.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes? Is It Toxic And Harmful For Them?]
Best Type Of Cheese For Dogs
Since the type of cheese is what matters the most, let’s look at what are the best types of cheese for dogs. Of course, the amount you give to the dog matters as well, but that’s up to you.
- Cottage Cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Fat-Free Parmesan Cheese Topping
These are the best cheese option you can offer to your dog. All are low in fat and have a low chance of upsetting the dog’s stomach. The amount of saturated fat in an ounce of cottage cheese can vary from 0.0 grams to 0.5 grams. Ricotta has 1.2 to 2.4 grams of saturated fat. Mozzarella has the highest amount of saturated fat of all of these.
Related Questions And Other FAQs
What Cheese Should Dogs Not Eat
Dogs can eat most types of cheese with a few exceptions. Cheese with herbs and spices is to be avoided. High in fat and sodium cheese can be fed but should be avoided most of the time. Blue cheese and Roquefort can cause roquefortine c toxicity in dogs.
How Much Cheese Is Okay For Dogs
Cheese should be offered to dogs in moderation. Small bits of cheese offered as a treat is probably okay if kept at a relatively low amount. Adding cheese to a dog’s meal from time to time is also okay. Cheese should not be fed regularly to dogs.
Can Cheese Upset A Dog’s Stomach
Yes, cheese can upset a dog’s stomach. Dogs can be allergic to cheese or lactose intolerant. Dogs with a condition like this won’t be able to process the cheese very well. Dogs can also develop an intolerance to cheese if fed cheese too much.
