Can my dog eat cheese?
Xena, my miniature pinscher loves eating cheese. But I often wonder if it is alright to indulge her cravings for cheddar and mozzarella. Cheese, is undoubtedly a good source of nutrition and tastes absolutely delicious. Also, there are so many varieties of cheese ranging from gouda, brie and feta. Which one is safe for my pet?
Well, a healthy dog can eat moderate amount of cheese. But you must keep in mind that one ounce of cheese has 90 calories which is way too much for a small breed of dog. If you plan to give it as a treat then it should not cross more than 10 percent of their daily calorie intake. Obesity is one of the rising problem in dogs so careful monitoring of treats and food intake apart from regular exercises help in keeping your pet healthy and active.
Reasons for giving cheese to dogs
Cheese, in small quantities, makes for a tasty treat so it works as a good reward while training. It also helps your pet eat medicines they don’t like. You can easily hide the abhorred pill inside the cheese and watch them eat it without any problem.
When should dogs not have cheese?
You must not give cheese to your pet especially when they are taking antibiotics. It also does not make much of a difference whether you give cheese or not to your pet as the nutrition value they derive from the small amounts you give is very less.
While cheese can be given to dogs of all age groups, senior dogs need to be carefully monitored. As elderly dogs are likely to have diseases and have decreased energy levels it is imperative that the amounts of fat and salt they consume to be at the minimum.
Bad cheese for dogs
Cheese overall is quite okay for dogs. Dogs that are overweight, have high blood pressure or heart problems need to stay away from cheese due to its high salt and calorie content. Cheese will not cause much of a digestive issue in dogs as they contain less lactose.
You must definitely avoid cheese that have added ingredients like garlic, onions, raisins, grapes and nuts as they are toxic to dogs. Blue cheese must not be given to dogs as their colouring is formed by penicillium mould cultures.
What cheese can dogs eat?
The best cheese to give adult dogs is cottage cheese as they are high in calcium and low in calories. Cream cheese that is plain and devoid of any added ingredients that are particularly toxic to dogs can be given in moderate amount to your pet.
Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan have low levels of lactose. Feta and Mozzarella have high lactose content. Goat cheese can be easily given to dogs as they have lower levels of lactose than cow’s milk.
On the whole, cheese can be given to your pet especially the ones that are low in calories and lactose. A healthy dog can take adequate amounts of cheese but it might not be a good idea to feed them to a sick and elderly dog.
You can always contact your vet for further professional advice.
