You’re in the grocery store, skimming over the aisles in search of the right healthy, delicious treat for your dog. After all, after a long day of training, they deserve a sweet treat. Your love of cheese leads you to dairy products, and you’re curious if your dog can enjoy the same delicious, mozzarella cheese that you do.
Go ahead and treat your cuddly friend with mozzarella cheese because the answer to “Can dogs eat mozzarella cheese?” is yes, they can eat mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella is a light, soft, and mild cheese with a good nutritional profile and a delicious flavor. It has a lower fat and sodium level than most other hard cheeses. This makes it suitable for dogs.
Is Mozzarella Cheese Safe For Dogs?
Dogs can be fed mozzarella cheese as long as they are not lactose intolerant and are given the appropriate amount. The following are the main reasons why mozzarella cheese is a safe choice for your furry friends:
1. Lower in fat content:
Mozzarella is lower in fat content than hard types of cheese like Cheddar cheese. The high-fat content found in cheese can cause different health problems in dogs. High fat consumption can cause the following problems in dogs:
- Hypertension
- Pancreatitis
- Obesity
2. Lower sodium content:
High sodium content food isn’t appropriate for dogs. Eating high sodium content food can cause the following problems in dogs:
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
Mozzarella cheese is low in sodium content that’s why it is one of the best cheese options for your cuddly friend.
3. Rich in protein and vitamins:
Mozzarella cheese offers a decent amount of protein. Protein helps to form new skin cells, grow hair, and build muscle, and more. Mozzarella cheese is a good source of vitamin B12. Rather than relying on mozzarella cheese to supply your dog’s protein needs, you should aim to meet their protein needs on a daily basis with quality dog food.
Things To Consider Before Feeding Mozzarella Cheese
Even though mozzarella cheese is suitable for dogs due to its low fat and sodium content, there is still one factor to consider: lactose intolerance. Many dogs suffer from lactose intolerance that is a condition where dogs can’t digest any dairy products or lactose-containing food. To find out if your dog is allergic or intolerant give a small amount of mozzarella cheese to them and look out for the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Vomiting
If you see any of the symptoms of an allergic response, stop feeding mozzarella right away, write down all of the symptoms, and consult a qualified nutrition veterinarian.
How Much Mozzarella Cheese Is Safe For Dogs?
Although mozzarella cheese is safe for dogs, this does not mean that you should serve it in large quantities. Always keep in mind that dog treats should never make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. Overeating calories can result in weight gain, which can lead to a variety of additional health problems. So moderate amount of mozzarella cheese goes a long way.
Feeding Note:
The stickiness of mozzarella cheese can make it difficult for dogs to swallow. This can create a choking hazard. To avoid such hazards it is recommended to cut mozzarella cheese into small pieces before feeding it to dogs.
Conclusion
Moderation is the key when feeding dog mozzarella cheese, which is a safe cheese option with a smooth, moist taste. However, Mozzarella cheese should not be used in place of a well-balanced dog diet.
Check to see whether your dog is lactose intolerant before feeding them a large amount of mozzarella cheese.
Thank you for reading the article.
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Has your dog ever eaten mozzarella cheese? What was their reaction like? If you have any experience with dogs eating cheese, please share it in the comments section below.