Can Dogs Eat Cheese? Yes, But With Moderation
Cheese can be a safe, tasty treat for most dogs. It offers benefits:
- Nutrients: Calcium, protein, vitamins (A, B12, K2), zinc, phosphorus, healthy fats.
- Good for Bones & Teeth: Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth.
- Training Treat: The taste and texture make it a great motivator for training.
Important Considerations
- Not All Cheeses Are Created Equal: Choose low-fat, low-sodium options like cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Swiss cheese. Avoid blue cheese, cheese with herbs/garlic/raisins, and very fatty cheeses like brie.
- Moderation is Key: Cheese is high in fat, so too much can lead to weight gain, obesity, and even pancreatitis. Use it as an occasional treat, not a daily staple.
- Lactose Intolerance: Some dogs may have trouble digesting lactose in cheese. Start with a small amount and monitor for any digestive upset.
- Puppies: Cheese is safe for puppies in tiny amounts, but it shouldn’t replace their regular food.
Unsafe Cheeses for Dogs
- Blue Cheese: Contains a substance toxic to dogs, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures.
- Flavored Cheeses: Garlic, onions, and raisins are all toxic to dogs.
- High-Fat Cheeses (Brie, Goat Cheese): Contribute to unhealthy weight gain and digestive issues.
When to Avoid Cheese
- Diarrhea: Cheese can worsen digestive issues.
- Pregnancy: Too much calcium in late pregnancy can be harmful.
- Kidney Disease: Some cheeses are high in sodium and phosphorus, which can worsen kidney problems.
Key Takeaways
- Cheese can be a healthy, occasional treat for dogs when offered responsibly.
- Choose safe types of cheese and stick to small portions.
- Watch for signs of stomach upset after your dog eats cheese.
- If your dog has any health conditions, consult your veterinarian before giving cheese.
What are the Health Benefits of Cheese for Dogs?
Cheese is good for dogs as they carry numerous benefits. Cheese contains essential nutrients like protein, vitamin A, vitamin K2, omega-3 essential fatty acids, and vitamin B-complex.
In addition to the fat content, it is also loaded with calcium, zinc, and phosphorus.
These nutrients help in the overall health of your dogs. It maintains strong bones and teeth, which is important for dogs to have an active lifestyle.
- Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral that helps build strong bones and teeth. In addition, it aids blood clotting, wound healing, and maintaining the normal blood pressure of your dog.
- Vitamin A
Cheese is enriched with vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy skin and coat, a stable nervous system, and ensures proper functioning of the muscles. It is necessary to add this essential vitamin to your dog’s diet.
- Vitamin B12
The Vitamin B complex in cheese is highly beneficial for your dogs. Dogs require vitamin B12 to have a healthy digestive and nervous system, and the formation and maintenance of blood cells are also functions of the vitamin B complex.
- Zinc
Zinc is one of the essential nutrients for properly functioning a dog’s immune system. Moreover, it maintains healthy skin and coat and supports thyroid function.
- Phosphorus
Cheese is one of the good options for providing the phosphorus requirement of your dog. Dogs need strong bones and teeth to be active.
Phosphorus and calcium, helps shape and strengthen the bones and teeth and support the growth of ligaments and tendons.
- Riboflavin
Riboflavin is a coenzyme that plays a vital role in properly functioning a dog’s body processes. Its primary function is to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins to produce energy.
- Glutathione
Glutathione, the king of antioxidants, is essential for an effective immune system. Since it is involved in immune system development, these are good for dogs of all ages.
Other than immune function, it also supports liver function and cell health. Glutathione supports and works along with other antioxidants like Vitamin C and beta-carotene.
- Vitamin K
This essential vitamin is vital for providing blood clotting ability. This vitamin can only be made from the cows’ entirely grass-fed milk. So not all the cheeses have vitamin K in them.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
Yes, dogs can eat cheese, which is healthy for them and packed with the essential nutrients required for dogs. But the only thing you have to take care of is not to overfeed them.
Some cheeses are safe for your dogs. Cottage cheese is the most healthy type of cheese, and you should not be feeding certain types since they contain toxic substances.
How Much is Too Much Cheese for Your Dog?
Cheese can’t be considered a healthy food if dogs eat it in larger quantities. The amount of cheese for your dog depends on its lactose tolerance and size.
Depending on the size, the safe amount of cheese can vary. Larger dogs can eat more than what a small dog eats.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese Daily?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat cheese every day. Though it is safe, high nutritional content, especially fat, can make your dog unhealthy.
You should omit the cheese from your dog’s regular meal plan, and a few bites are still okay to give regularly.
There are a few things to keep in mind even though feeding cheese to your dog is generally harmless.
Cheese is heavy in fat, and giving your dog too much of it on a daily basis might make him gain weight and become obese.
Even worse, it can result in pancreatitis, a dangerous and perhaps deadly condition in dogs. In addition to the issues caused by the high fat level, certain cheeses contain ingredients that are poisonous to dogs.
Is Cheese Harmful to Dogs?
No, cheese is a safe food for your dog; however, it can be harmful if given in large quantities. Being a high-fat food, feeding too much can lead to obesity and pancreatitis, a severe illness in dogs.
If you don’t care about the amount consumed, it will make a dog’s health worse.
Other than this, there are certain cheeses containing toxic substances, which you should avoid giving your dogs. These points you should remember when you give cheese to them.
What Kind of Cheese Can Dogs Eat?
Now you know that cheese is a healthy food, you might now doubt that all cheese is safe for your dogs? No, all cheeses are not safe. There are only some healthier cheeses. Some of these are:
- Cottage cheese (low in fat)
- Mozzarella ( low in fat)
- Swiss cheese (low in lactose)
- Cheddar cheese (low in salt)
What Cheese Should You Not Give to Dogs?
Though cheese is healthy food for dogs, there are some types of cheeses that you should avoid giving your dogs. Some of these includes:
- Blue cheeses, like Roquefort, Gorgonzola, and Stilton
- Cheeses with herbs, garlic, raisins, or other added flavors
- Goat cheese
- Brie
- Feta
Garlic and raisins are toxic foods for dogs. If your dog eats cheese, having these toxic substances and other added flavors can cause serious health issues.
Goat cheese, brie, and feta contain high amounts of saturated fat, and consuming these types of cheese also leads to health issues.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Blue Cheese?
It is advisable to keep your dogs away from blue cheeses. Blue cheeses, like Roquefort, gorgonzola, and stilton, can cause severe conditions.
This cheese is made from a fungus that produces roquefortine C. This substance is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and high temperatures if dogs consume this.
If dogs eat this in large quantities, it can lead to more lethal conditions, including lethargy, excessive panting, seizures, and rapid heart beating.
So, you should avoid feeding your dog this cheese and take it immediately to the veterinarian if it eats blue cheese.
Can You Feed Your Puppy Cheese?
Like dogs, puppies too love cheese! But you may doubt you can give them cheese as you give to your dogs. The answer is, yes, you can give them, but in limited amounts.
The immune system of puppies is not fully developed. So, you shouldn’t feed them too much. Overfeeding can make their stomach upset. You can cut the cheese into tiny cubes and share them to enjoy.
Puppies require all the essential nutrients for proper growth and development. So providing cheese in small quantities is beneficial. Additionally, you can use it for training purposes too.
Can Dogs Have Cheese as a Training Treat?
Cheese is an excellent training treat for your dogs. They always love the tempting taste of cheese. You can use it as a reward for training them.
You can also use it to increase the weight of your dog. This can be done only after consulting and asking for suggestions from your vet.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese?
Yes, they can eat cream cheese. However, this depends on the type of cream cheese you give. Some cream cheeses contain chives, onions, and garlic added in.
These are toxic to dogs, and you shouldn’t provide cream cheese containing these toxic substances to them.
You can feed a dog a small amount of plain cream cheese containing no toxic substances. But remember not to give too much.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese for Diarrhea?
No, cheese is not a good option when your dog suffers from diarrhea. On the other hand, feeding cheese more than a moderate amount can upset their tummies and lead to diarrhea.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese When Pregnant?
The simple answer is no. If your dog is pregnant, you shouldn’t give them cheeses like cottage cheese. The calcium content of the cheese can be harmful to them, especially in the last two weeks of pregnancy.
Can a Dog with Kidney Disease Eat Cheese?
If your dog has kidney disease, it is not at all advised to give them cheese. Some cheese may contain sodium which can increase blood pressure and worsen kidney diseases in dogs.
Moreover, for dogs with kidney diseases, the phosphorus in cheese can have a negative effect. It can weaken the bones, despite calcium being present.
Can Dogs Eat Unsalted Cheese?
Yes, if the cheese is unsalted, you can provide it to the dogs. Cheeses like cottage, mozzarella, swiss, and cream cheese have less salt content, and you can give them to your dogs in moderate amounts.
So, if you doubt, can dogs eat cheese if it is unsalted, then yes, it can. Ensure you are providing only in moderation. Cheese can have health benefits if you care for the quantity you provide.
