Can dogs eat Cheese?

can dogs eat cheeseCaution

Overview

dog-food-safety-information

Can dogs eat cheese? Yes, cheese is rich in calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone development in dogs. Do your research before sharing cheese with pooches. Some varieties contain toxic and harmful ingredients such as xylitol or mold, which can cause distressing health issues such as poisoning.

Benefits

health-benefits
  • Being a dairy product, cheese is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus which are essential for dogs to develop strong bones, teeth, and muscles.

Risks

health-risks
  • Cheeses contain mold, and cheeses with herbs contain ingredients that may be toxic to dogs.
  • Most cheese varieties are high in fats, calories, and sodium. These contribute to obesity, pancreatitis, renal problems, and other health issues in dogs when consumed excessively.
  • Cheese contains lactose, and a large percentage of dogs are lactose intolerant. Some cheese comes with high levels of lactose that can easily trigger digestive upset in dogs with an intolerance.
  • Some dogs are allergic to milk proteins which are also present in cheese.
health-risks-dog

Servings

serving-suggestions
  • Cheese can be used as a high-value reward for dog training.
  • Adding small amounts of cheese to dog food can entice dogs with a low appetite to eat.
  • Give a small cube of plain, low-fat cheese to dogs sparsely as a treat.
  • It is recommended to exclude cheese in the diets of overweight dogs, lactose intolerant dogs, and dogs with kidney issues.

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