Cottage cheese comes from cow or goat milk and is full of healthy fats and a good source of protein, so you might think, “Can dogs eat cottage cheese?” Like many other healthy meals, you must serve these less-lactose treats carefully to dogs.
Before giving cottage cheese to dogs, you should carefully consider some safety issues.
We are here to answer the easy question, “Can dogs eat cottage cheese?” So let’s get started!
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Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts due to lactose issues. They are good protein sources which help digest foods and keep the stomach healthy. In addition, cottage cheese is a good source of healthy fats, which improve the dog’s health.
Cottage cheese is similar to ricotta cheese, fromage blanc, mascarpone and Greek yogurt. They are similar, made from cow’s milk by separating the curd from the whey. It is safe for the dog’s health if given a small amount. In particular, to treat the upset stomach of dogs, you can use cottage cheese since it is a protein-filled meal.
If dogs eat a portion of food more than enough, it may cause stomach problems. Giving your dog a couple of spoonfuls of cottage cheese and white rice is good for digesting the foods quickly. Although some dogs are lactose intolerant, cottage cheese is still safe for them because it contains low levels of lactose.
How do dogs benefit from eating cottage cheese?
Let’s try to find out what benefits cottage cheese can do for your pets. Cottage cheese is a source of protein, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, fatty acids, probiotics and potassium.
Cottage cheese is beneficial for digestive disorders, but it is essential to remember that you should serve it in an appropriate ratio. In addition, it comes from goat’s milk; hence it has a low lactose level, which is beneficial for the stomach.
Before serving it to your dogs, make sure that it does not contain any chives, garlic, or onions that are very toxic for pets. Here are some health benefits of cottage cheese for your dogs.
Improve the Digestive Power: Cottage cheese contains low lactose, which is very helpful in curing upset stomach problems in dogs. In addition, it is lower in fat and sodium than other cheese items hence supportive of your dog’s healthy diet.
Less Fattening: Cottage cheese is less fattening than any other cheese, so you don’t need to worry about the obesity or weight gain of your dog.
Good Source of Probiotics: Probiotics are essential for curing your dog’s upset stomach. As a source of probiotics, cottage cheese can fix the digestive problems of dogs. It may develop the stomach culture and immune system of your dog.
Growth and Development: As a great source of protein and calcium, cottage cheese ensures the growth of bones and the development of health. In addition, it contains numerous amounts of essential vitamins and minerals that improve your dog’s health.
Is it wrong for dogs to eat cottage cheese?
Although cottage cheese benefits a dog’s health, you still need to be careful in serving it to your pet. Here are some essential issues to consider before giving cottage cheese to your dog.
Lactose Intolerance: If your dog is lactose intolerant, you should be careful about serving cottage cheese to your dog. It may cause diarrhoea, vomiting, gas, lethargy, and loss of appetite in your dog if given more than a tolerance level since cottage cheese contains lactose.
Level of Fat: Cottage cheese is a fatty food which may cause obesity in your dog. You may choose low-fat cottage cheese, but be careful about the level of sodium or salt since it is harmful to your dogs in case of hypertension.
Apart from this, you need to ensure that there is no added sugar, garlic, onion or flavour of them because it would be toxic to your dog’s health. Cottage cheese may contain sodium or salt, which can affect the bladder function of your dog.
How to give dogs cottage cheese?
When introducing cottage cheese to your dog, add some with the regular meals and monitor the reactions regularly. In addition, choose a low-fat category to avoid stomach disorders and any other symptoms caused by fat to your dog.
If there is no adverse effect, you may add cottage cheese to your dog’s main meal daily or occasionally. You can serve it as a supplementary diet between two meals to keep your dog’s stomach happy throughout the day.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says you should serve cottage cheese no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie needs.
What are the best alternatives to cottage cheese for your dog?
There are some alternatives to cottage cheese that you can serve to your dog by considering the side effects. These alternatives also negatively impact your dog’s health, so it is necessary to learn how and when you can serve these alternatives.
- Ricotta cheese is a good substitute for cottage cheese. It contains calcium, zinc and other vitamins, but the fat level is higher.
- Greek yogurt is higher in protein. It is a substitute for cottage cheese to fulfill your dog’s protein needs.
- You may feed your dog with plain yogurt or kefir, an excellent source of protein and calories, but ensure that there is no artificial mixture in it.
- Goat cheese provides protein with vital fatty acids, which is good for fat metabolism. It is also a source of vitamin B, calcium, and phosphorus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much cottage cheese can I give my dog?
Cottage cheese is best for your dog once a day as a main meal. In addition, you may serve it twice a day as a supplementary meal. The amount depends on your dog’s lactose tolerance level since it may cause stomach disorders.
Is eating cottage cheese dangerous for dogs?
Though cottage cheese is not poisonous, it is good to serve it carefully. Overeating may cause obesity in your dog and other problems like diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc. In particular, cottage cheese is perfect for a dog’s health, but before serving it, consider your dog’s health conditions.
What are the benefits of eating cottage cheese for a dog?
There are several benefits of cottage cheese for your dog. Cottage cheese increases dogs’ digestive power, helps improve the immune system, and facilitates the growth of bone. It is an excellent source of protein, vitamin A, and probiotics. These help to improve the health condition of dogs as a whole.
Final Words
Cottage cheese has both advantages and disadvantages while serving your dogs. If you are careful about your dog’s health responsiveness to cottage cheese, you may find it easier to determine the diet level. In particular, the same cottage cheese proportion may not apply to all dogs. Some may consume more and some less.
There are some limitations on providing detailed information about “Can dogs eat cottage cheese?”. The level of research and report on it is not significant. This look will give basic information about the suitableness of cottage cheese for a dog’s health.
