Whether as a topping on bread, on pizza or in the form of grated Parmesan cheese with pasta - cheese is a regular part of many people's diet.
But what about dogs? Are dogs allowed to eat cheese or could it possibly harm them? We will give you the answer to this question in the following.
In the first weeks of life, puppies feed exclusively on their mother's milk. This provides the little four-legged friends with all the nutrients they need. In order to digest the milk and the lactose (milk sugar) it contains, puppies need the enzyme lactase.
Since this is superfluous after weaning from the mother's milk, the enzyme disappears from the four-legged friend's intestine and the dog eventually becomes lactose intolerant. Similar to people with lactose intolerance, the consumption of lactose can then cause flatulence, diarrhoea and vomiting in dogs.
Whether dogs are allowed to eat cheese therefore depends to a large extent on the lactose content of the respective type of cheese. Hard cheese, for example, is usually almost lactose-free and can therefore be eaten in small quantities by your dog.
Fresh cheese, on the other hand, is a different story. 100 grams of this cheese often contains up to four grams of lactose. Fresh cheese is therefore not suitable as a snack for your dog.
The lactose contained in some types of cheese is not the only cause of complaints that the consumption of cheese can trigger in dogs.
Some dogs also suffer from a milk allergy, which means that certain proteins contained in milk or milk products such as cheese cause allergic reactions in them.
If this is the case with your dog, he should, of course, not eat cheese, regardless of the lactose content, as this can cause huge digestive problems for your four-legged friend.
Food allergies are widespread among dogs. They are not only triggered by dairy products such as cheese. Various types of meat, such as beef, or the proteins they contain, are also often responsible for a dog’s allergic reactions.
In order to get the symptoms associated with food allergies under control in affected dogs, it is necessary to switch to a hypoallergenic dog food. This is a food that is free of potential allergens so that its consumption cannot cause any discomfort.
We recommend that you switch to our insect-based varieties for this purpose. The insect protein from the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is not only hypoallergenic, but it also has a high biological value and provides your nutritionally sensitive four-legged friend with all essential amino acids.
Get to know hypoallergenic dog food from Bellfor.
When selecting cheese for dogs, hard cheese varieties like Parmesan, Gouda, Emmental, Grana Padano, Pecorino, Leerdammer, Manchego, mountain cheese, and butter cheese are particularly recommended. Parmesan treats for dogs or simply a bit of Parmesan can therefore be a healthy reward.
These varieties are nearly lactose-free due to their long aging process and contain important nutrients such as calcium, which not only contributes to bone strength but can also help prevent tartar buildup.
Cottage cheese is another excellent option, especially because it is easily digestible and a good source of protein. Harz cheese, rich in proteins, can also serve as a nutritious supplement. It is important to feed hard cheese to dogs in moderate amounts to avoid overloading them with fat and salt.
However, certain cheese varieties should be excluded from dogs' diets. Blue cheese varieties like Roquefort and Gorgonzola, which can contain mycotoxins, especially Roquefortin C, are toxic to dogs.
Processed cheese is also unsuitable due to its high salt content and the presence of phosphates and other additives.
The cheese rind, often made of wax or plastic and treated with antibiotics, also poses a risk and can contain residues that are harmful to dogs. Therefore, it is important to avoid these cheese varieties and always seek veterinary advice if in doubt.
As you can see, cheese is not generally unhealthy for dogs. As long as your four-legged friend does not suffer from a milk allergy and you limit them to lactose-free varieties, your dog can eat a small piece of cheese from time to time. Since cheese is very high in calories and often contains a lot of salt, you should not overdo it with the quantity, too.
Regardless of this, cheese is not a necessary food for your dog's nutritional needs anyway. So you can simply do without it and give your four-legged friend a treat with healthy dog treats from Bellfor instead.
Our high-quality dog snacks are made from carefully selected ingredients that make them a very special treat, so your dog will probably prefer them to a piece of cheese anyway!
Get to know Bellfor dog treats.
https://www.t-online.de/leben/familie/haustiere-tiere/id_100310270/duerfen-hunde-kaese-essen-.html
https://www.wmn.de/lifestyle/haustiere/duerfen-hunde-kaese-essen-b-b-id365154
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