If your dog likes to eat cheese you may be wondering if it is okay to share.
This is a very valid question to be asking. Let’s jump right in!
As you probably know, dairy products aren’t exactly fantastic for furry friends.
When it comes to cheese, it is of course derived from milk. But is the amount of lactose a huge problem for a hungry hound?
The fact is most dogs are intolerant to varying degrees. So, truth be told, it’s a concern.
But it really depends on your dog’s ability to handle it, as well as the type of cheese and how much is consumed.
Be Choosy And Limit How Much Cheese Your Dog Eats
Sodium and fat levels are two more reasons to go easy.
At the very least, stick to modest amounts and avoid making it a regular thing. Otherwise it is generally a bad idea to feed your dog cheese.
The best use, quite honestly, is tactical.
For example, some owners conceal their dog’s meds by hiding it in a small hunk of cheese.
Dairy’s Downsides For Dogs
Too much can easily trigger a bout of diarrhea. Your dog could also have ferocious flatulence after eating cheese.
Why is that?
Because a high percentage of dogs do not produce the digestive enzyme called lactase.
Skip cheese if you know or even suspect this applies to your animal. You’ll avoid gastrointestinal complications, indigestion and even vomiting.
The reality is cheese may or may not be disruptive for your dog.
The Best And Worse Cheeses
At least compared to pure milk, the level of lactose in cheese is relatively low.
Nevertheless, for your dog’s sake, here are a few kinds to avoid…
Most cheese spreads could complicate your canine’s life due to various added ingredients.
Camembert, Brie, Blue Cheese, all other moldy varieties as well as anything else enriched with cream should be off limits to your dog.
Warning: Some cheeses contain onions, chives and other questionable additions that could harm your little guy. You’ve got to scrutinize labels!
So what are the safest varieties?
- Swiss
- Cheddar
- Mozzarella
- Low fat cream cheese
Actually, all of the above are best in low-fat and low sodium form.
Cottage Cheese Best of All?
One that sort of falls outside the norm is cottage cheese.
We like that it is bland and easily digestible. You can provide it to your pet to soothe an upset stomach and even help with diarrhea.
And due to the bacterial cultures, a decent cottage cheese may also have a valuable probiotic effect.
Special Treat And No Begging
Whatever you plan to do, strive to avoid a scenario where your dog ends up developing a taste for cheese.
You do not want create a finicky eater!
Seriously!
Cheese treats should only be a special surprise. It is, unfortunately, already an issue if this dairy-based delicacy is expected.
The Bottom Line
You can feed your dog a bit of cheese now and then.
But it cannot be stressed enough:
Your dog’s cheese consumption should be limited due to the lactose, sodium and fat content.
Plain, low-fat, low sodium varieties are better than overly-processed or super salty cheeses.
Last, but not least, watch for signs that your dog’s digestive system does not agree.
Why no cheese with antibiotics?
Is ricotta cheese good for dogs?
My 15 pound Poodle has cheese every day. He won’t touch dog food of any kind and also dog treats.
I’ve had him a year. He was rescued. So far he has maintained his weight. Spoiled but happy!
A friend of mine had given my boy some cheese, but did not tell me. Later on a gave him some more and he just shut down completely, laying on the sofa as if in a coma!
He would not respond to any one or any thing and remained like that for most of the day. I would add that we were in the middle of nowhere, with no communication or transport.
Thankfully he eventually came around and returned to normal. Be careful and take care.
It’s okay as long as you also feed raw milk with all the necessary enzymes and probiotics – so no lactose intolerance, same as humans. Regarding processed milk, no one should consume as it is a dead liquid and causes problems that raw milk gets blamed for I’m afraid.
A very good article with a sense of proportion. I have 2 Westies who think the world is a giant feeding opportunity. They get high quality dog food once a day, portioned so that they both finish at the same time. They also get a pig’s ear and a chewy stick during the day.
This doesn’t include anything they can catch like spiders, frogs, mice and lumps of moss falling off the roof onto the patio. Sadly, they are not quick enough to catch the squirrels, foxes, and pigeons that populate my neighborhood.
I let them have the occasional leftovers from my dinners such as fries, small pieces of fruit, mushrooms and cheese. None of this seems to have altered their digestion or behavior. It’s all appealing faces, wagging of tails and just being eternally optimistic – and opportunistic.
I looked at this article because when I told a friend at work that they’d had some cheese, he went off the deep end saying it’s absolutely forbidden. Perhaps his own dog had a bad reaction. Anyway, best wishes from the UK to all dog lovers.
A couple of years ago, when our Cocker Spaniel was a pup, someone made the mistake of giving him some cheese. He loved it. Now, for every lunch and dinner, both he and the cat have a bowl of small cheese cubes prepared for them. It is ridiculous, but what can you do?
I think we really screwed up. My Lhasa loves cheese and my wife started giving him cheese every night with his dinner. Now my Lhasa weighs nearly 27 pounds! So I got upset and told her no more cheese.
Well tonight my Lhasa looked up to my wife and basically said, “where’s the cheese?” When no cheese appeared for over an hour he got mad and went to bed and didn’t eat anything. Did we yank it too fast?
I think I’m having exactly the same problem but it’s been a week now and my dog won’t eat without the cheese. He’s lost a lot of weight. Were you able to solve this problem with your dog?
A friend had to take over his father’s home after his death. That included two medium sized dogs. His budget was limited at the time and could only afford a cheap dried food brand. The dogs turned their noses up at it, so he simply put the bowls out of reach till the next night.
By that time the dogs had decided it wasn’t so bad after all. A dog will not starve if they can help it. I fast my dogs at least one night a week. It’s healthy to give their bowels a day off. My 50 kilogram Rottweiler lived 14 years.
Cheese is high in salt. Ideally, it should not be given to dogs.
I mix in a handful of shredded cheddar cheese mixed with dry dog food and one half chicken breast boiled in plain water. I have noticed that her stools are very soft, not watery just soft.
Is this a reason for concern? She is a 7 year old Standard Schnauzer weighing about 50 pounds. Do you think that the shredded cheese will harm her? We want to do what is best for her, always!
Try feta cheese instead of cheddar or other hard cheeses. Ideally, soak the feta in water to get some of the salt out before giving a piece to your dog. You will find they like it as much as the other and feta is way healthier than the high fat hard cheese versions. Good luck!
Your dog is probably lactose intolerant. She may seem okay and diarrhea-free, but you probably should keep an eye on her behavior.
When my dogs eat too much cheese, they go outside to eat some grass. This is due to upset stomach, you know, gas.
Maybe you should tone down the amount and frequency of feeding cheese for a week and see if there’s any difference.
My dog eats cheese all the time and has since he was a puppy. He loves it. It never hurt him at all except some trouble pooping, but don’t we all have that after cheese?
I think that our dog would run away from home if we didn’t give him cheese every morning with his breakfast!
Same here!