Can dogs eat cheese?
THERE are around 8.5 million dogs in the UK, each with their own dietary requirements.
Many people like to treat their pets with special food – but is it okay for dogs to eat cheese?
Can dogs eat cheese?
Yes – most dogs can eat cheese, even though they are lactose-intolerant.
Cheese is not toxic or poisonous to dogs – but as they cannot properly digest it, they should only be given it as a treat.
Eaten in large portions, cheese can upset your dog’s stomach and lead to diarrhoea, and more serious conditions including pancreatitis, obesity, and diabetes.
You may think that vegan cheese therefore would be OK to feed your hound, but you should always check the ingredients first to make sure your dog is not allergic to it.
There are also certain types of cheeses that should not be eaten by dogs – read on to find out which cheeses to avoid feeding your pooch.
Can dogs eat cottage cheese?
Yes – cottage cheese is low in calories compared to other types of cheese, meaning it is safe for dogs to eat, and poses less long-term risk.
As the cheese is lower in fat and salt, your dog is less likely to gain weight or suffer adverse health effects – making cottage cheese a better, healthier treat for your pet.
Cottage cheese is also very low in lactose, meaning it is one of the easier cheeses for a dog to digest.
In fact, its low lactose content and bland flavour make it an ideal food for dogs getting over a stomach illness – just mix a bit of cottage cheese with your dog’s regular food.
Can dogs eat blue cheese?
No – blue cheese is one cheese you should definitely not feed to your dog.
Blue cheese can cause them to vomit, have diarrhoea, seizures, and cause their temperatures to rise.
This is due to the production process of blue cheese, which includes a fungus that dogs are very sensitive to.
If a dog were to eat blue cheese, they could produce roquefortine C, a fungal metabolite, which causes digestive issues.
If your dog does eat blue cheese and starts to develop any of the above symptoms, you should take them to the vet immediately.
Can dogs eat cream cheese?
Unlike cottage cheese, cream cheese is high in fat and calories, so should only be fed to your dog in small amounts.
To make matters worse, many types of cream cheese include additional ingredients including chives and garlic, which are toxic to dogs.
If you are feeding cream cheese to your dog, make sure it is plain and only in small doses – but it may be best to avoid it.
Is cheese good for dogs?
While cheese is not bad for dogs, it’s not very good for them either, and doesn’t offer any nutritional benefits over regular dog food.
At best cheese is a treat, but at worst it can upset their digestive system and cause long term health issues for your beloved pooch.
Cheese is not good for dogs and should not be fed to them if they are overweight, suffer from kidney problems, or suffer from sensitive stomachs that struggle to digest foods outside of their usual diets.
How should I feed cheese to dogs?
The way in which you feed cheese to your dog may vary depending on the situation.
Firstly, it is important to remember that cheese should only really be offered to your dog as a treat, so it should be fed in small portions.
This may mean just offering a small cube of cheddar or a touch of cottage cheese alongside their usual food.
Alternatively, you might also use cheese as a way of training your dog, offering it only as a high-value reward in exchange for certain behaviours.
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Or, cheese is commonly used as a way of hiding a dog’s medication that they may not wish to take.
Pushing their medication into a small cube of cheddar cheese is usually a foolproof way of getting them to gulp it down – but you should check with the vet it is okay to do so.
The most important thing is to not feed your dog too much cheese, and focus on getting the right type with no harmful ingredients.