Can Dogs Eat Goat’s Cheese?

The Short Answer is:

Goat cheese is a healthy treat for dogs, but only if it is given in moderation. Cheese such as this is a good source of protein for dogs and it also contains other essential minerals and vitamins. It is easier to digest goat cheese than cow cheese, so goat cheese is healthy even for puppies.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Goat’s Cheese?“.

There is no doubt that a dogs vote would be a resounding “Yes.”

Cheese is a favorite food for dogs of all kinds.

Its almost there.

When it comes to whether you should feed your dog goat cheese there is no clear answer.

In general goat cheese is not harmful to dogs unless your pet has lactose intolerance in which case all types of cheese have to be avoided.

In addition to that dogs are allowed to eat goat cheese occasionally but only as a treat.

Various health problems can be caused by eating too much goat cheese.

Lets take a look at the pros and cons of giving your dog goat cheese.

What are the nutritional values of goat cheese?

The nutrients in goat cheese include protein calcium iron potassium healthy fatty acids and vitamins.

Typically a 1-ounce serving of goat cheese (which you might add to a salad or give to a dog) contains: 

• Calories: 108
•  Protein: 7 grams
•  Fat: 9 grams
•  Carbohydrates: 0 grams
•  Fiber: 0 grams
•  Sugar: 0 grams

What are the benefits of feeding goat cheese to a dog?

In addition to the high protein content there are a number of other benefits. Proteins are essential for muscle building so cheese keeps your pet trim. 

Additionally goat cheese contains a lot of calcium which is good for your bones. The average adult requires 6.9% of his or her daily calcium needs from a regular serving. According to the American Dietary Guidelines a healthy adult male should consume 2000 calories per day. Approximately 28% of a medium-sized dogs daily calcium requirements can be met by the same amount of goat cheese.

Also goat cheese provides about 12 percent of your dogs potassium needs. As a result of the high potassium content the stomachs acidity is controlled and neutralized. Hyperacidity is a common problem among dogs. 

One serving of goat cheese provides a dog with 8% of its daily vitamin A requirement: 

The body needs vitamin B2 (riboflavin). You can give your pet vitamin A to keep his muscles and nervous system healthy as well as give him a shiny coat and healthy skin. He will have a beautiful coat healthy skin and strong muscles. B2 is important for digestion and helps to turn proteins fats and carbohydrates into energy. 

What are the risks of feeding goat cheese to a dog?

Dogs are not toxic in any way by goat cheese but too much of a good thing can be dangerous. 

The main risks associated with goat cheese are associated with fat and sodium content. 

High-fat content

A small serving of goat cheese has 6 grams of fat and saturated (unhealthy) fats account for almost a quarter of the total fat content. The percentage of fat in a dogs diet should not exceed 10%. A dog that consumes too many fats can develop pancreatitis a common condition affecting dogs. Though the exact mechanism that triggers this condition is not clear experts believe its due to too much fat in the dogs diet. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis can lead to death so you should know the main signs and symptoms of this disease:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite.

Likewise giving your dog too much cheese can lead to weight gain and obesity.

High sodium content

Small 1-oz servings of goat cheese contain 130 mg of sodium which would be about 20% of the recommended salt intake for a medium-sized dog. In dogs too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and eventually organ damage. You should choose treats with low sodium content since your dog probably gets enough sodium from his regular food.

Cheese and other salty treats should not be given to a dog with kidney issues. 

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance in dogs?

There is no way to say how many dogs are lactose intolerant and you would not know that your dog has a problem until you give him milk or cheese and have to deal with the messy consequences.

Like adults adult dogs produce very little lactase the enzyme needed to digest lactose in dairy products. Symptoms of an inability to digest dairy products will appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Most of the time the symptoms are mild and similar to those of a simple stomach upset:

• Loose stools
• Gas
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

In order to minimize such problems always offer a small number of dairy products in your dogs diet. You should consult your veterinarian if the symptoms do not improve within 24 hours. 

Nevertheless you should also keep in mind that cheese is made through a fermentation process that greatly reduces its lactose content so goat cheese is safer than goat milk even for dogs who are prone to allergies.

Can dogs drink goat milk?

There are some dogs with lactose intolerance who should use goat milk instead of cow milk. 

One of the main benefits of goat milk for dogs is that it is rich in essential fatty acids making it a great dietary supplement. It is important for dogs to consume fatty acids because they are a fantastic source of energy. Furthermore fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties which help control and prevent inflammation especially in the gastrointestinal system. 

Besides probiotics goat milk also contains digestive enzymes that promote gut health. 

Goat milk contains significantly smaller fat molecules than cow milk making it easily digestible.

Cow milk is better for dogs with lactose intolerance than goat milk because it contains lactase exactly the enzyme needed to digest lactose. 

The second benefit of goat milk is that it contains enzymes that can help kill pathogenic bacteria that can infect the gastrointestinal system.

Can I give my puppy goat cheese?

With a puppy its impossible to know which foods are agreeable to him and which are not. If you want to add dairy products to your puppys diet start with the tiniest amount of soft goat cheese.

What kind of cheese can dogs eat?

Cheese is a nutritious and healthy treat for dogs who are not lactose intolerant provided that it is given in moderation.

It is generally recommended that you first introduce your pet to low-fat products such as soft goat cheese mozzarella and cottage cheese. Additionally these products have a low sodium content and a low lactose content.

Cottage cheese is probably the best option for dogs. Goat cheese for example has much more calories than cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is low in fat (4.5 grams in a 3-ounce serving) which makes it suitable for dogs who are prone to weight gain and obesity. 

What kind of cheese is bad for dogs?

There are different types of cheese. Certain of them may have a high sodium content which can be dangerous to elderly pets or dogs at risk of kidney problems. Cheeses that contain spices that can be toxic to dogs should definitely not be given to your dog. 

As an example you should not feed your dog French blue cheeses or Roquefort which contain a high-fat content and a lot more sodium than goat cheese or cottage cheese. Additionally blue cheeses can contain roquefortine a potentially lethal toxin for dogs. The good news is that such cheeses also have a pungent smell which dogs are not fond of so you probably would not see your pet begging for a taste of your specialty cheese.

Cheese with spices such as onion and garlic should also be avoided by your dog. 

Dogs are toxic to both garlic and onions. Almost all members of the allium family contain thiosulfate which causes oxidative damage to red blood cells resulting in hemolytic anemia.

The good news is that if your pet happens to steal a bit of cheese containing spices you would not have to worry. Regardless of whether the cheese contains garlic or onions the amount will not poison your pet. According to research your dog would have to consume 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight for it to cause harmful effects on his blood.

Why would you feed goat cheese to your dog?

A small bit of goat cheese is a great reward for training. To reward your pet every time he obeys your command you can have a plate of cheese morsels by your side. 

In addition goat cheese is perfect for slipping in some meds your dog obstinately refuses to consume. In fact this neat little trick works even better if you have used goat cheese during training lessons and your dog considers it a reward something worth having. 

Conclusion

Generally goat cheese is a healthy treat for dogs but only if it is given in moderation. Cheese such as this is a good source of protein for dogs and it also contains other essential minerals and vitamins. It is easier to digest goat cheese than cow cheese so goat cheese is healthy even for puppies. For the first time give your dog a tiny amount and watch out for symptoms of lactose intolerance. The next time you give him more you can give him more if he does not get an upset stomach. 

Likewise goat milk is better than cow milk. Dogs benefit from goat milk because it reduces inflammation combats hyperacidity and prevents infection. 

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.