Can Dogs Eat Cheese? Find The Best Type Of Cheese For Your Dog

Can dogs eat cheese? - If you ask your dog this question, they would no doubt wag their tail saying “Yes!”

But when it comes to human food for dogs - it is best to be cautious as a pet parent and not fall for their puppy dog eyes.

Cheese - the ever so popular dairy product is no doubt a favourite among humans and pets alike.

But though our dogs love it - can dogs eat cheese is a question we all have. And the answer is - just like any other dairy product for dogs - it depends.

If your dog can or cannot eat cheese depends on two main factors - the type of cheese and mainly your dog’s health and tolerance to lactose.

Before you decide, if you can feed your dog cheese - let’s look at the various benefits this stretchy goodness holds.

Advantages Of Feeding Your Dog Cheese

Famous among dog trainers - cheese contains various proteins and vitamins. Cheese is rich in calcium and essential fatty acids. The delicious taste of cheese - makes it the perfect treat for training a dog.

Cheese is also popular among pet parents to conceal pills/medications. Concealed as a treat, many pet parents have found it easier to feed their pooches medicine.

Yet Another Way Cheese Has Made Pets Excited Is By Keeping Dogs Entertained!

By spreading a little bit of plain cream cheese on dog toys, it makes playtime a more enjoyable experience for them.

But the benefits of cheese does not just stop from it being a treat or an extra added fun during their playtime.

Cottage cheese, a low-lactose form of cheese is also used to help dogs with an upset stomach. A mixture of equal parts cottage cheese and cooked white rice has helped dogs recover from GI upset.

But, though cheese can be a healthy, protein-packed treat, it is high in saturated fat and salt - making it an unsafe treat when overfed to dogs.

It is also important to remember that not all dogs can easily digest dairy products.

Once dogs pass their weaning stage, they produce less of an enzyme called lactase that is key in digesting dairy products - this makes them lactose intolerant. If a dog with lactose intolerance consumes dairy products they can suffer from severe stomach upset and other health issues.

Types Of Cheese That are Safe For Dogs

When it comes to feeding your dog cheese - it is best to stick to low-fat cheese like cottage cheese that is also low in sodium and helps reduce the risk of obesity in dogs.

Stay away from feeding your dog cheese that is high in fat or sodium like goat cheese or full-fat mozzarella. If you’re planning to give your Pooch a taste of cream cheese always choose one that is not flavoured.

No matter the kind of low-fat cheese you feed your dog, remember that your dog’s health requirements play a key role too.

So, Can Dogs Eat Cheese?

Apart from dogs with lactose intolerance, Yes, dogs can eat cheese - but it depends.

Do not make cheese a regular part of their diet, instead give it to them as an occasional treat when they pull out their puppy-eyes trick.

You should also keep an eye on the number of cheese treats you give them. Decide this based on your dog’s size, age and your Vet’s recommendation.

Now that you know if your Dog can eat Cheese, check out this blog to know about various other Human Foods that is safe for your Dog.

Happy Pet Parenting!

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