Cheese and dogs

You can give cheese to your dog but please, do not give too much too often.

Randa Kriss, in “Can Dogs Eat Cheese? In the Americal Kennel Club website published Aug,. 29, 2021, said, “Yes, dogs can eat cheese. In fact, cheese is often a great training tool, especially for puppies. But should dogs eat cheese? While some dogs can eat cheese, and most dogs love it, many dogs can be intolerant of cheese. Even for dogs that are able to tolerate cheese, it is probably best fed in moderation.”

Health Benefits

Cheese has health benefits as it contains protein, calcium, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and B-complex vitamins, said Kriss.

Summer celebrates her birthday every year. We try to give less food with cheese and salt. But Dentastix is one of her favorite treats. To make sure she does not get too much salt in the body, we give her only one stick even on her birthday. This coming Thursday, Summer will turn 17.

“Most dogs love cheese, and trainers often use it for treat-motivated dogs. This snack is also a good way to conceal pills for dogs that require medication,” Kriss said.

How to feed cheese safely to dogs

Kriss warned that cheese is high in fat. Thus, feeding too much to your dog can lead to obesity. Worse, your dog might develop pancreatitis, a serious and potentially fatal illness.

“In addition to the problems presented by the high-fat content, some cheeses contain herbs or other products that are toxic to dogs, such as garlic, onions, and chives, “ Kriss said.

Thus, Kriss strongly suggested you feed your dog low-fat cheeses, like mozzarella, cottage cheese, or a soft goat cheese.

We always get a cake with no cheese for Summer and our other dogs every year.

“Cottage cheese is lower in fat and sodium than other cheeses, helping reduce the risk of obesity. Cottage cheese is also lower in lactose, thus reducing the likelihood of intestinal upset, “Kriss added.

Lactose Intolerance

There are dog who do not digest cheese well.

Kriss said: “…while cheese contains little lactose when compared to whole milk, dogs with severe cases of lactose intolerance may have adverse reactions to cheese, even in small quantities. Observe your dog closely for signs of intestinal upset after feeding cheese for the first time, and consult your veterinarian with any questions you may have about adding cheese to your dog’s diet.”

Thinking of what to put in what I call the “dog’s buffet bowl” every year is a challenge. While we do not put cheese on their spaghetti, we can not avoid not getting them their favorite lasagna with a little cheese on it (middle of the bowl). We thus give lots of water and avoid salty food (aside from the dog food we have to give) as much as we can after.

Salt content

Our vet warned against giving too much cheese to dogs and to not give it often to dogs because of the salt content.

Too much salt can lead to kidney problems, our vet reminded us. Aside from developing stones in the kidneys, the dog can also develop chronic kidney disease. Our vet reminded us that manufactured dog food – dry or wet (in cans) – also have salt to preserve the food. Thus giving too much cheese too often and feeding manufactured food to your pet can lead to accumulated salt in the dog’s body which can lead to kidney problems.