Countless times, you’ve found yourself breaking off a piece of cheese for your furry friend.
It is easy to give in to their pleas, considering their excellent begging skills.
However, oftentimes you wonder if it is alright for them to have cheese, as you wouldn’t want to put them at risk.
So, can dogs eat velveeta cheese?
Yes.
Velveeta cheese is not toxic to your dog.
However, cheese being a dairy product is packed with lots of fats and salt.
As such, your dog should not take it in high amounts.
It is only safe for your dog to eat cheese sparingly, as a treat and not as part of their diet.
Dogs are not allowed to consume most of the human foods as they are harmful to them.
However, velveeta cheese is not one of these foods.
Below is a detailed explanation of the benefits and negative effects of feeding cheese to your dog.
In addition to that, is a list of healthier alternatives in place of cheese for your dog.
Benefits of cheese
Your dog enjoys cheese probably just as much as you do.
Slipping pieces of cheese to your dog from time to time has benefits which include:
Important nutrients
Apart from protein and essential fatty acids like omega 3, cheese is filled with calcium, zinc, vitamins, and phosphorus which are good for dogs too.
Used as a concealer
If your dog gives you a hard time while taking medicine or drugs, then you definitely relate to this.
The soft texture of cheese enables you to hide pills inside and have your dog take them without noticing.
In this case, you have a healthy and contented dog.
Although, you should not use too much cheese in this case either, only use what is enough to cover the tablet or drug.
Motivator
Cheese can be used while training pups and stubborn dogs.
This is effective especially if your dog is treats-motivated and will do whatever you instruct them to, just to get that solid square of cheese.
In addition to that, cheese can be used as a behavioral gift too.
Your dog will likely repeat a good deed if you give them a cheese treat each time.
However, this should be done in moderation as too much of it would make them sick.
How much cheese is okay for your dog?
While cheese has various benefits, dogs should not have it frequently and in large amounts.
Always follow the 10% rule; cheeses should not constitute more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie consumption.
The amount of cheese that your pups should have depends on whether it is lactose intolerant or not, its size, and weight. If you are not aware of these, contact the veterinarian and confirm the right amount for your dog.
When starting out to introduce cheese to your furry friend, always begin with tiny bits.
You should only continue to give it to them if they don’t show any signs of stomach upsets like diarrhea and vomiting.
Factors to consider before feeding your dog velveeta cheese
Lactose intolerance
Just like humans, some dogs are intolerant to lactose.
As such, they don’t have the enzyme lactase which assists in the digestion of lactose.
Avoid giving cheese to your dog if it has low or no tolerance for lactose as they will have digestive problems if you do so.
Sodium
Dogs should only have cheese with low levels of sodium.
This is because excess sodium could cause them to suffer from organ damage and high blood pressure.
In case your dog eats cheese with too much sodium, give them a lot of water to offset the unnecessary salt from their bodies.
Fat content
All types of cheese are full of saturated fats.
Therefore, it is easy for your dog to consume high amounts of fats from a small bite of cheese.
Dogs should only take cheese with low-fat content.
Ingestion of excess fat can cause heart problems, pancreatitis, obesity, and unhealthy weight gain in dogs.
Can dogs eat seasoned cheese?
Some cheeses contain spices and herbs that may include shallots, onions, garlic and chives.
These ingredients are poisonous to your dog because they contain sulfates, which could damage your dog’s blood vessels making it susceptible to anemia or death.
It’s best to generally keep cheeses with herbs and spices away from your furry friend as you never know what’s in them.
Can elderly dogs eat velveeta cheese?
Yes, just like in all other ages, your elderly dog can indulge in this treat.
You can include small bits of cheese into their meal every now and then.
However, make sure that your furry friend is not lactose intolerant before doing so.
Better options than velveeta cheese to give my dog
If you can’t resist their puppy eyes across the table and enjoy sharing human food with your dog regularly, there are healthier alternatives to interchange with velveeta cheese.
These include green beans, peanut butter, carrots, and fish.
Can dogs take milk?
Dogs can have milk but in moderation.
Although it is not toxic to them, milk should not become part of their everyday diet.
Too much milk is unhealthy for them and they don’t require it to have happy and contented lives.
To sum up
Dogs enjoy cheese and will always be by your side as you open the fridge to get some.
Although it may be easier to give in to your furry friend’s pleadings and give them a piece of cheese every time they want, it may not be the healthiest option for them.
Always practice moderation and switch up the treats with healthier ones whenever possible.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
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