Can dogs eat cheese?
Quick Answer
Yes, in moderation.
Cheese can be a great treat for a dog as long as she isn’t lactose intolerant, which a small percentage are. Make sure to monitor your dog’s reaction. Opt for low or reduced fat varieties and don’t overfeed, as many cheeses can be high in fat.
What Is It?
Cheese is a dairy product, derived from milk and produced in a wide range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein.
Why It Can Be Risky
While cheese can be safe to feed to your dog, there are some things to remember. Cheese is high in fat, and feeding too much to your pet regularly can cause weight gain and lead to obesity. Even more problematic, it could lead to pancreatitis, a serious and potentially fatal illness in dogs.
- Weight gain
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
Safe Method?
The best way to feed cheese to your dog is in small, bite-sized pieces. This can be used as a reward or training tool. Cheese should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
Safe Alternatives
- Carrots
- Blueberries
- Sweet potatoes