Can Dogs Eat Cheddar Cheese? 5 Risks Involved

Can dogs eat cheddar cheese? Yes, they can. Cheese is not toxic for your dog as it lacks the digestive enzyme lactase. It means that dogs are lactose intolerant. As long as you are feeding cheese to your pooch on occasion it is okay. It also depends on your fido’s sensitivity to whether he can digest the cheddar cheese or not.

Cheese is rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B-12, vitamin K-2, omega-3, etc. It is great for us as well as our canines. A small amount of cheese is okay but sometimes in some cases, it can upset your pooch’s stomach. As they are lactose intolerant, they can suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

What kind of cheese is safe for dogs?

There are different types of cheese that come in different colors, textures, and shapes. With different options, it is difficult to know which cheeses are safe for your pooch. Cheese that contains low fat is best for your fido. Let us see which cheeses are good for your pooch.

#1 Mozzarella

Mozzarella cheese is safe for your fido. It contains less sodium and fat as compared to average cheeses.

#2 Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a low-fat cheese and is best for your canine. It has a bit less lactose as compared to most of the cheeses. Cottage cheese is also a great source of calcium and protein.

#3 Cheddar cheese

Cheddar cheese is the most popular cheese of all. As it contains less lactose, it is the best option for your pooch.

#4 Swiss cheese

Swiss cheese is also considered to be safe for dogs. It has a low count of lactose.

#5 Cream cheese

The Cream cheese is ok for your pooch if given in small quantities. Cream cheese is high in calories hence, must be fed carefully.

What kind of cheese is unsafe for dogs?

There are these above-mentioned cheeses that are safe for your pooch. But there are other cheeses that are strictly not for the dogs.

Cheese with garlic and herbs

Cheese with vegetables and herbs like garlic or chives are toxic for your fido. Chives and garlic can damage your furry friend’s red blood cells and can cause serious health issues.

Blue cheese

Blue cheese can make your doggo ill with various issues. It contains mold that is toxic for dogs and can cause vomiting and seizures.

Brie Cheese

Brie is high in fats and lactose. It can upset your dog’s stomach.

Goat cheese

Just like Brie, goat cheese has a high amount of lactose and fats. This makes it high-fat and high-lactose cheese which is bad for your pooch.

Can cheese upset a canine’s stomach?

There are some canines who must not consume cheese. Primarily, any dog with a dairy allergy needs not to consume cheese because it will cause an allergic reaction.

If your canine has any of the following, you need to keep away from feeding them cheese or exercising caution while feeding them.

Lactose intolerance
Pancreatitis
Obesity

How does lactose intolerance affect dogs?

Just like humans, a variety of canines be afflicted by lactose intolerance. It is a common food intolerance in canines. If your canine has lactose intolerance, it means that their system cannot digest dairy products.

However, additionally quite like humans, the extent of intolerance can vary. For example, a few doggies won’t be capable of having milk but might be ok to consume a few hard pieces of cheese that are naturally low in lactose.

Meanwhile, an allergy is more serious. In this case, it impacts the immune system so as to cause an undesirable overreaction. The canine’s immune system treats dairy products as toxic substances and assaults them. In, particular situations such as pancreatitis and weight problems will have an effect on what your canine can consume, and how much. This is specifically the case with cheese with high-fat content,

How Much Is Too Much Cheese?

We can consume cheese all day (Assuming we are not lactose intolerant.) But when do we need to stop feeding cheese to your fido? Your canine needs to get small bites of cheese.

This will also rely upon your canine’s lactose tolerance and size. Some doggies can not cope with cheese at all. Larger dogs can handle a bit extra, and small fidos can cope with less.

In general, any meals separate from your canine’s regular meals should not account for greater than 10 percent of their calories per day.

How to feed cheese to your canine?

Go for low-fat cheese

High-fat cheese contains more calories and can increase the risk of pancreatitis in dogs. Hence, always go for low-fat cheese. The quantity of cheese a doggy can tolerate depends on him and the quantity of salt, lactose, and at present in the cheese.

Focus on portion size

Always give a small quantity of cheese to your pooch. Introducing food items like cheese slowly minimizes the issue of stomach upset. Hence, pet parents must be careful while feeding size of cheese to the pets. You can avoid weight gain and gastrointestinal upset just by understanding what quantity of cheese to feed your pooch.

When your dog is on antibiotics, do not feed cheese to the dog

If you are giving antibiotics to your doggy, then you must ask your vet before feeding cheese to your canine. Not only cheese, when antibiotics are going on, do not feed any dairy product. The calcium present in those products can interfere with the working of antibiotics.

10 foods that dogs cannot have.

Avocados
Grapes
Chocolate
Onion
Sugar
Milk
Macadamia nuts
Caffeine
Raisins
Garlic

Final words

Dogs do not need cheese in their diets in case you are feeding them a whole and balanced commercial canine food. But in case you need to use cheese as a unique treat or high-value praise once in a while, go for it. Just make certain to maintain portion sizes small and screen your canine for any symptoms of intolerance.

The quantity of lactose varies in different dairy products, with milk having the highest quantities of lactose. Yogurt, buttermilk, and Cheese include barely lower ranges of lactose.

Although those products can be better tolerated by a few doggies, they nevertheless have the capability to cause problems, specifically if eaten up in huge quantities.

It is excellent to keep your pooch away from and provide cheese—preferably, low-fat cheese—handiest in small quantities.

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs digest cheese?

Cheese is not toxic for dogs because it is not moldy. But it can be hard to digest if given in large quantities. This is because the digestive system of dogs can not have a high amount of lactase. This helps to break down the composition of dairy products.

Can dogs eat mozzarella cheese?

Mozzarella cheese is okay for your pooch. It contains a low level of fats. It is one of the softest cheeses and has a low level of sodium as well. Hence, if you want to share a slice with your pooch, just make sure that you are not feeding it in a high quantity.

Is Parmesan Ok for dogs?

You can give Parmesan cheese to your dog. It is ok to sprinkle some parmesan cheese on your pooch’s food or give it as a treat. Parmesan cheese is full of nutrients. One thing to be noted is it contains a high quantity of sodium. Hence, feed it in a moderate quantity.

Can dogs eat mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese are a bad choice for your canine. Although it has a tempting smell it is very unhealthy for dogs. The oils, salt, and seasonings can upset your fido’s tummy.

Can dogs have Philadelphia cream cheese?

Philadelphia cream cheese is safe for dogs if given in small amounts. Cream cheese can be beneficial for your pooch as it contains calcium, vitamin A, complex, vitamin B complex, essential fatty acid, and protein. Also, it is non-toxic for dogs.

Can dogs have strawberry cream cheese?

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Can dogs have strawberry cream cheese?

Yes, your doggy can eat strawberry cream cheese. But you should provide it in a small quantity. Just make sure you read the added sugar or ingredients.

Can dogs eat nacho cheese?

Dogs can’t eat nachos, dips, or nacho cheese because they are high in sodium content. It also contains dairy, and some dogs being lactose intolerant can’t digest it properly.

Can Dogs eat processed cheese?

No, dogs cannot eat processed cheese. It contains different additives, sodium, and colorings that can be toxic for your canine. Processed cheese can also lead to sodium poisoning and infection due to artificial ingredients.