Can I give my dog cream cheese?

We’ve covered bagels for dogs, but what about something that goes with it. You guessed it: cream cheese. Feeding this to a best buddy depends on how strict of a owner you want to be.

Cream cheese, in itself, isn’t toxic for canines. That, however, doesn’t mean it should be fed to your dog. Weigh the pros and cons. You may find there aren’t many benefits, only downsides.

First off, many dogs are lactose intolerance to some degree. This important factor should be considered before you even think about giving some cream cheese to Fido. Learn more!

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Can I Give My Dog Some Cream Cheese? Answer: Not Recommended

A small amount may be tolerated but a bout of diarrhea is certainly possible.

Cream cheese isn’t the worst thing you could feed to a dog. Providing some though, for lack of anything else to feed to a dog, is careless. Think of the high levels of fat and other hidden ingredients in cream cheese. Throwing your dog a bagel, that’s loaded up with this white spread, is just a bad idea.

The Lactose Factor & Fido

This is the most obvious thing to consider before feeding your dog too much cream cheese. Actually it usually doesn’t have the high amounts of lactose that, for example, low fat milk contains.

In any case, you have to consider your dog’s ability to process lactose and that eliminates many pets (probably a good thing!)

Many owners feed their dogs all kinds of foods that contain lactose. The risks are real. This is especially true when introducing something like cream cheese for the first time. Some caution is appropriate.

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Some Other Considerations

Besides lactose, cream cheese contains high levels of fat. Let’s face it, this spread is pretty rich which isn’t optimal for dogs. Don’t just view this food as creamy and tasty. You really have to examine what you’re introducing.

Most cream cheeses contain stabilizers. That can’t be good for dogs. Let’s also not forget about all those calories. If you already have an overweight pet, you’d be making matters worse. You don’t want your dog to be sluggish and out of shape.

Cream Cheese in Recipes

So you are getting the impression that cream cheese shouldn’t be given to your dog no matter what. Actually, we’ve only addressed straight cream cheese. A compromise is using it as an ingredient.

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For example, there’s nothing wrong with treating your best friend to dog biscuits with some cream cheese frosting. It’s all about using it in a smart way and in moderation.

Cream Compared to Cottage

A better alternative to cream cheese may be cottage cheese. It’s lighter and more healthy. Yet it cannot possibly replace your dog’s regular chow. Comparatively, cottage cheese could provide extra protein for a recovering dog.

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In that sense, it’s superior and more useful. In any case, both cheeses shouldn’t cause too much alarm. If your dog accidentally ate a small amount, you don’t need to worry. It’s likely not toxic.

Conclusion on Cream Cheese

Your dog can probably eat a small amount of cream cheese, but we don’t recommend it. If you allow your pet to indulge a bit, watch for signs they cannot handle it. Cream cheese is very rich and also lacks what quality dog food can provide. Fido could very well be lactose intolerant. Cream cheese may not agree with their digestive system.

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