Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese? What You Need To Know

Is it safe? Can dogs eat cottage cheese? Before you feed puppies cottage cheese, consult this complete guide.

You’ve probably heard about how cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein and calcium for kids, but is cottage cheese good for dogs? Keep reading and find out!

For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating cottage cheese.

Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese

This is a tough question because it really depends on how well your dog can tolerate cheese and dairy. Cottage cheese can be really a really nutritious treat for dogs, but it can also cause problems if a dog is lactose intolerant.

The symptoms of lactose intolerance are gassiness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Until you know for sure how your dog will react to dairy, it’s best to give your dog cottage cheese in moderation or small amounts.

That being said, cottage cheese how lower amounts of lactose than milk or other types of cheese, so if your dog is sensitive to lactose, this is a good choice for them.

As with other types of human foods always introduce a new food slowly, in small quantities. That way, you will know if they react with digestive issues before they get too severe.

If your dog is lactose intolerant, a good substitute for cottage cheese is soft goat cheese made with goat’s milk. It is high in fatty acids and provides extra protein for adult dogs.

Can Puppies Eat Cottage Cheese

Since cottage cheese is fermented, it contains less lactose than other dairy products.

Even so, it’s still a smart idea to only give your puppy a small amount at first and see how their stomach handles it. If they don’t have any kind of stomach reactions, you can give them a little more.

Cottage Cheese For Dogs Benefits

There are lots of health benefits of cottage cheese for your pet! In fact, veterinarians suggest feeding your dog cottage cheese as a source of protein when they need to eat a bland diet for an upset stomach.

100 grams of cottage cheese contains 11 gm of protein, according to USDA – so when your dog can’t eat meat, feed them some cottage cheese instead to give them that protein they need.

That same 100 grams also contains 83 grams of calcium. This will strengthen your dog’s teeth and bones.

It’s also excellent for your dog’s blood sugar regulation. It is an excellent source of magnesium which not only keeps blood sugar spikes in check but also protects heart health and boosts the immune system too.

How Much Cottage Cheese For Dogs

Even though cottage cheese has lots of health benefits, you should still moderate how much you give to your dog. It’s best to make sure that you limit it to less than 10% of their dietary intake for the day. How much cheese they can eat depends on their size.

For example, medium-sized breeds should only have about 2 spoonfuls of cottage cheese in a day.

Save cottage cheese as a special treat or for those days when your pet is too sick to eat other sources of protein.

Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese Daily

Dogs can safely eat low-fat cheeses like cottage cheese every day, as long as you limit how much they eat. Cottage cheese should only make up less than 10% of their dietary intake for the day. This equates to about a few spoonfuls every day.

They can eat more cottage cheese than this if they are on a bland diet for diarrhea or other stomach issues. Always talk to your veterinarian before using cottage cheese as a home treatment.

Is Low-Fat Cottage Cheese Good For Dogs

Yes, low-fat cottage cheese is actually really good for dogs who can tolerate dairy products without issues.

Cottage cheese contains these essential nutrients:

• Protein
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• B-Vitamins

Low-fat is a healthier option for dogs because giving your dog too much fat – even healthy fats – can cause weight gain and obesity. Cottage cheese is lower in fat and sodium than other cheeses, so the risk of obesity and high blood pressure is lower!

Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese With Pineapple

Pineapple is really high in vitamin C and it makes a wonderful treat for dogs. Dogs can safely eat pineapple mixed in with a little bit of cottage cheese as an occasional treat.

Be careful with how much pineapple you give your dog. It is really high in fiber, so giving them too much could lead to diarrhea.

Dog owners, remember to keep any type of cottage cheese treats that contain artificial sweeteners away from your dog. They are potentially toxic.

Cottage Cheese For Dogs With Diarrhea

Vets regularly recommend giving a sick dog cottage cheese when they need to eat a bland diet as a treatment for diarrhea. In fact, when Luke had diarrhea, the vet told me to feed him boiled chicken, boiled potatoes, and low fat cottage cheese.

If your dog is having digestion issues with normal food, talk to your vet. Some will suggest feeding them bland food like white rice, boiled chicken, and cottage cheese.

Feeding Nursing Dog Cottage Cheese

If your dog is nursing puppies, you might be tempted to supplement their diet with extra calcium, but it’s not a good idea. Vets say that excessive calcium intake during nursing is bad for the mamma dog.

Giving your pet too much calcium while they are nursing could suppress parathyroid hormone production and increase the risk of low blood calcium levels.

Feeding Pregnant Dog Cottage Cheese

If your pet is pregnant, do not give them any calcium-rich foods, especially in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. Do not give a pregnant dog any cottage cheese.

There are some sites online that advise you to give your dog puppy food and extra calcium in the first 3 weeks of pregnancy and then to stop giving it to them in the last two weeks. If you are concerned about what to feed your dog, please talk to your veterinarian for a specific food guide.

Final Thoughts

Cottage cheese is a healthy treat for your dog once in a while. It’s also a really great way to supplement their diet if they are on a bland foods regimen for diarrhea. Be careful with how much you feed your dog, especially towards the end of a pregnancy.

Cottage cheese is a better idea for dogs than hard cheeses, cream cheese, or blue cheese. It’s a good option if your pup needs to eat food with bland flavor – but always watch to make sure they don’t have an adverse reaction.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some more articles about other meats and fruits and whether they are safe for your dog to eat.

• Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese
• Can Dogs Eat Parmesan Cheese
• Fruits Dogs Can Eat
• Is Tofu Okay for Dogs
• Is Guava Good for Dogs
• Can Dogs Eat Liver
• Can Dogs Eat Scallops

Find lots of articles about human foods dogs can eat and ones they can’t here on Spoiled Hounds!

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