Can I give my dog cottage cheese?

Video: Louis CK cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is considered a healthy food since it’s high in protein, low in fat and could aid digestion. It sounds like a great treat for a favorite pet, but many understandably have doubts about sharing some with the family dog.

Being a dairy product is a drawback as lots of canines are lactose intolerance. So the potential benefits of cottage cheese may be outweighed based on this downside. Otherwise, this food can be useful for dogs in certain situations. Read on!

Providing cottage cheese to your pet, for the protein, is not a good idea. Sure, your dog’s diet requires this but canines need protein from a good meat source. Be realistic and remember this food is a processed dairy product.

Can I Give My Dog Some Cottage Cheese? Answer: Yes, for help with a digestive sickness

Some vets recommend this as well as a bland diet of rice for an upset stomach or similar bowel issues.

Video: Cottage Cheese Will Change The Way You Snack

If your dog has no such problems then cottage cheese probably shouldn’t be fed too often. So, to be clear, this mild curd product has a valid use for an under-the-weather dog but this assumes they aren’t sensitive to lactose. It may be a better idea to consider a quality dog food designed for sensitive stomachs. In any case, limit portions or hold off completely when it comes to giving your dog cottage cheese.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs have sensitive digestive systems. Don’t throw off your buddy’s stomach by giving them whatever you fancy unless there’s a good reason do to so.

Nutrition vs. Bad Habits

Quality cottage cheese contains lots of vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients and antioxidants. Some people swear by it and there’s no doubt it has healthy aspects. Who wouldn’t want their dog to receive extra calcium, potassium, vitamin-B12, selenium and many others!

You can say lots of great things about cottage cheese but a premium dog food will provide all of these minus the dairy factor and high sodium.

Above all, it’s important to establish proper feeding habits sooner rather than later. You probably can’t, nor you shouldn’t, provide this food on a regular basis so don’t allow your dog to begin expecting it.

Don’t Overlook Probiotics

So now we know when to consider this well known curd recipe. Assuming you aren’t making your own cottage cheese, be sure to pick up a good brand. Doing so is important because, if your dog is sick, the probiotics may help to boost their recovery.

Video: 1977 Breakstone Cottage Cheese Commercial

Most cheap store-bought cottage cheese doesn’t contain any at all which is unfortunate. It’s actually one of the main reasons why this food is considered to be so healthy.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most common strain of probiotic found in cottage cheese and it may, at least in theory, help a sick dog.

For Accidental Consumption

There’s nothing specifically toxic in cottage cheese, so you don’t need to worry too much if your dog somehow helped themselves to it. That is not to say they won’t experience diarrhea or an upset stomach afterwards. The biggest factor will be the amount consumed and whether your dog is particularly sensitive to lactose.

To be fair, there are many other foods which contain much more lactose compared to cottage cheese. That said, most dogs are intolerant to varying degrees. Just play it safe and keep your cottage cheese out of reach.

Conclusion on Cottage Cheese

You can feed your dog some cottage cheese, assuming they don’t have trouble with dairy. This food may soothe your pet’s digestive problems. It’s a mild curd, often with probiotic properties, which can help nurse them back to health. Mix cottage cheese in with your dog’s normal chow or with bland rice. Otherwise, the extra protein may be good for bodybuilders but Fido should be getting theirs from meaty meals.

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