Dogs and cream cheese: a match made in heaven, or the worst idea ever? If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to give your furry friend a little nibble of cream cheese, you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know.
At first glance, cream cheese seems like a great treat for dogs. It’s full of protein and calcium, low-calorie, and most dogs love the stuff.
Some pet owners think that a little smear of cream cheese is a healthy way to distract a dog from other food, as well as to keep them occupied until dinner time. Others give their dogs a dab of cream cheese as an after-dinner dessert or snack.
However, there are quite a few reasons not to share too much cream cheese with your Dog—it can make them very sick in large quantities. So if you’re thinking about giving your pup an occasional taste of cream cheese (such as when they’ve been especially “good”), you may want to skip it.
What’s In Cream Cheese?
The primary ingredients of cream cheese are milk and cream; some recipes also call for butter and salt.
These ingredients don’t pose a problem for most dogs—especially if they’re diluted with other tasty dog-friendly foods like peanut butter or plain yogurt (which contains live active cultures).
However, any type of dairy product (including cheeses made with cow’s milk) is not safe for dogs who suffer from dairy sensitivities or intolerances.
What Happens If Dogs Eat Unsafe Amounts Of Cream Cheese?
If you give your Dog more than the “occasional” taste of cream cheese, they could start experiencing gastrointestinal issues.
The high milk content in cream cheese can cause stomach upset in small doses, while larger servings of cream cheese can cause more serious problems like diarrhea and even pancreatitis.
Because the lactose in milk is processed differently by dogs than by humans, some dogs are simply not able to digest it well at all.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese Spread?
Not unless your Dog loves cream cheese. Cream cheese spreads contain the same potentially problematic ingredients as plain cream cheese—and they also likely contain preservatives and other flavorings that can upset a dog’s stomach.
The best way to feed your dog cream cheese is to use it sparingly as a topping for their regular dog food, so you know exactly how much they’re ingesting. Although we recommend not feeding your dogs cream cheese at all.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese From Cheesecake Or Similar Desserts?
Dogs who have been known to tear into a pan of cheesecake have eaten small amounts of dairy, but not nearly enough to cause problems.
Many people assume that all dogs are lactose intolerant simply because they’ve heard this common myth repeated often. However, this misconception is simply not true—a small amount of cream cheese or other dairy products will not make your Dog sick.
The real issue here is that dogs are much less discerning than humans about the types of foods they’ll try to eat, and they often lack the digestive enzymes needed to break down lactose in their stomachs.
What Types Of Cheese Are Safe For Dogs To Eat?
Dogs can safely eat most hard cheeses (such as cheddar, Colby, parmesan, Swiss) because these cheeses have little to no lactose at all.
These varieties are safe for dogs who suffer from dairy sensitivities or intolerances. Semi-soft cheeses like Swiss or Monterey Jack contain a little bit of lactose, but because the amount is diluted with other ingredients, it’s usually not enough to make your Dog sick.
Processed cheese food products are also safe for dogs since they’re made up of many different kinds of cheese—there’s no need to worry about lactose content.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese Frosting?
Yes—if your Dog doesn’t have any dairy sensitivities or intolerances. Cream cheese frosting contains partially hydrogenated oils, corn syrup solids, and food colorings which are not safe for dogs to eat.
However, it should be okay for canine consumption in small doses because it’s made with cream cheese—rather than plain milk.
Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Cream Cheese?
Like the reason above, Yes—if your Dog doesn’t have any dairy sensitivities or intolerances.
Strawberry cream cheese spreads contain the same potentially problematic ingredients as plain cream cheese spread, but they also likely contain preservatives and other flavorings that can upset a dog’s stomach.
As long as you don’t feed your dog large amounts of these products, they should be safe to try in small doses.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese Dessert Bars?
Yes—if your Dog doesn’t have any dairy sensitivities or intolerances. Cream cheese and other cream-based desserts like cheesecake bars contain the same potentially problematic ingredients as plain cream cheese.
Still, they also likely contain preservatives and other flavorings that can upset a dog’s stomach. As long as you don’t feed your dog large amounts of these products, they should be safe to try in small doses.
Can Dogs Eat Cream Cheese On Bagels?
Again, Yes, if your Dog doesn’t have any dairy sensitivities or intolerances. Plain bagels are perfectly safe for dogs with lactose intolerance (assuming they don’t eat too many of them).
In contrast, flavored bagels (such as those topped with cinnamon sugar) may contain chocolate chips or other ingredients that can cause problems for your pup. As long as you don’t feed your dog large amounts of cream cheese, these products should be safe to try in small doses.
With all these restrictions, Can Dogs Eat Cheese Snacks in General?
Although some cheese snacks are safe for dogs to eat, most of them will be too fatty and/or salty to make a healthy treat. Be on the lookout for products that contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives as well, since these ingredients can upset your Dog’s stomach if they have sensitive systems.
Please note: If your Dog is lactose intolerant or has a dairy allergy, it’s best not to let them try any kind of cheese product—even those that are safe for most dogs. They may still have an allergic reaction to even tiny amounts of dairy in their system, so keep this fact in mind before letting your four-legged friend munch down on a cream cheese sandwich!
Cream Cheese Can Be Fatal To Dogs
It’s never a good idea to feed your dog cream cheese in high quantities, regardless of what type you buy. Cream cheese often contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is extremely dangerous for dogs.
Low-fat or reduced-fat varieties are still unhealthy because they contain the same ingredients as regular cream cheese (and may have more milk products)—plus extra sugar and other additives increase the risk of lactose intolerance and pancreatitis.
Bottom line: it’s simply not worth the risk!
My Dog accidentally ate a large amount of Cream Cheese; what do I do?
If your Dog has eaten a significant amount of cream cheese, it might start showing some of the following symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, Drooling Diarrhea, Weakness, Lethargy, Hyperactivity, or Fever.
Unfortunately, when dogs eat large amounts of fat, it can cause pancreatitis (an extremely dangerous condition). If you notice any signs of pancreatitis in your pup after eating an excess of cream cheese or other fatty food—take them to a veterinarian immediately! Your vet may induce vomiting to clear the stomach contents and try to get your Dog stabilized before there’s damage to their pancreas.
If you notice your dog behaving strangely at all, call your veterinarian.
Conclusion
Many vets do not recommend feeding dogs any dairy products without a medical reason, especially if the Dog already has problems with an upset stomach, diarrhea, or other digestive issues.
Even though eating cheese or spread is unlikely to cause serious harm in most cases, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid giving your Dog these kinds of foods altogether—especially if they’re known to experience gastrointestinal distress after consuming them even in small amounts.
If you think your pup might be lactose intolerant or otherwise unable to handle eating cream cheese or other cheeses occasionally (even if very small amounts), consult your vet before feeding your Dog these types of treats.