Giving your dog a bite of your grilled cheese is quite tempting. After all, who could resist the gooey richness of cheese?
So dog owners will let their puppers have a bite of every cheesy snack. But while cheese is safe for a dog, it isn’t exactly the best snack, especially if you serve the wrong type.
Yes, not all types of cheese are safe for dogs, so you can’t let them have just any cheesy snack. Particular cheese types are healthier for humans, so many dog parents will wonder whether they are safe for their dogs.
This is why dog parents are asking:
Can dogs eat goat cheese?
Unfortunately, goat cheese is not safe for dogs, even if you find sources on the internet that say otherwise. Goat cheese is not toxic to dogs but contains nutrients that are not the best for them.
Goat cheese has a high fat count that can be dangerous for dogs, so it is best to stay away from it. Some dogs are lactose-intolerant, so they can’t eat any cheese.
Let’s look at this discussion in detail.
Can I Give Cheese to My Dog?
Cheese, in itself, is not a bad thing for dogs. Dogs love to eat cheese, so most dog parents include it in their diets.
In fact, trainers even use cheese as a quick motivation tool to train puppies and wild dogs.
So, yes, dogs can eat cheese safely.
Except, there is a catch.
Not all types of cheese are safe for dogs, so you can’t blindly feed cheese unless you know it’s safe. Some cheeses have a higher fat count, while others are rich in sodium, making them unsuitable for dogs.
However, particular types of cheeses aren’t only healthy but also nutritious for dogs.
You can serve cheese to your dog if it is dog-safe and nutritious.
You must be careful when serving cheese to your dog because overeating, even dog-safe types, can be dangerous for your pupper.
A lot goes on with cheese and dogs, but you can read all about it here. Let’s move on to goat cheese.
Can Dogs Eat Goat Cheese?
Cheese made from goat’s milk is goat cheese.
Goat milk cheese is generally healthier than cow milk cheese because it has a lower lactose and sodium count. However, goat milk cheese is healthier for us, not our dogs.
You must remember that dogs can’t eat everything that we can, so it’s not the safest idea to serve your doggos something healthy for you.
The sodium and lactose content in goat cheese might be lower for us, but still too much for dogs. There are particular types of cheeses safe for your dog, but goat cheese isn’t one of them.
You must not serve goat cheese to your dog, even in moderation, because it could be very dangerous.
Let’s discuss this in detail.
Why Can’t I Serve Goat Cheese to My Dog?
Many owners serve foods typically considered unsafe for dogs because moderate quantities are safe and healthy. Some foods are nutritious when given in controlled quantities.
You might think you can serve goat cheese to your dog to benefit from its nutrients, but it isn’t the best or the safest snack for dogs.
Eating goat cheese in limited quantities can make your dog extremely sick, so it is not worth having a sick pupper just because of a few cheesy bites.
The high fat count of goat cheese is too much for a dog to digest. Some dogs have a greater tolerance to digesting dog-unsafe foods, but even the healthiest dogs can experience an upset stomach and more problems by eating goat cheese.
Most dogs are also lactose intolerant; eating goat cheese or most dairy products will make them severely sick.
Goat cheese has a few beneficial nutrients, but they are not enough to cover up the harm.
You mustn’t serve goat cheese to your dog because it can lead to an upset stomach or worsen pre-existing health conditions.
Does Goat Cheese Nutritionally Benefit Dogs?
Some vets will recommend moderately serving foods typically unsafe for dogs to benefit from their nutritional value.
However, you won’t find vets recommending the same for goat cheese. We’ll need to look at the nutritional profile of goat cheese to understand why:
Nutritional Profile
The following table tells us what’s in goat cheese:
Possible Benefits of Goat Cheese for Dogs
You can tell from the table that goat cheese has particularly beneficial nutrients. We will discuss whether these nutrients are good for your dog in a little while.
Let’s focus on the possible benefits for now:
1) Strengthens Bones
Minerals like calcium build and strengthen bones.
2) Improves Immunity
Goat cheese is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, so it boosts immunity.
3) Metabolizes Fat
The high protein and low carb count (compared to other cheeses) boosts fat metabolism.
Is Goat Cheese Better than Other Cheeses?
We consider goat cheese healthier than cow milk cheese. Here is the reason why goat cheese might be better and healthier for us:
Less Allergenic
Goat cheese has a lower lactose concentration compared to cow milk cheese. Although its lactose concentration is not zero, lactose intolerant people might be able to eat smaller quantities of goat cheese.
Easier to Digest
The lower lactose concentration makes goat cheese easier to digest than cow milk cheese.
Greater Nutrients
Goat cheese is higher in fat but lower in carbs, reducing calorie intake compared with other cheeses.
What Makes Goat Cheese Bad for Dogs?
The nutrition table tells us goat cheese has various benefits, so why can’t you serve it to your dog?
As I’ve said before, eating goat cheese yourself and serving it to your dog is different. Dogs can’t readily digest foods we can, so serving goat cheese won’t do anything but harm.
The beneficial nutrients you saw on the table are exactly what make goat cheese unsafe for dogs.
Most dogs are lactose intolerant, so eating goat cheese can upset their stomachs. Although goat cheese is mildly safer than cow cheese, it’s still quite dangerous for dogs.
Another issue with dogs eating goat cheese is underlying conditions. Dogs suffering from pre-existing conditions like pancreatitis can’t digest heavy foods, and even a small cheese slice can make them sick.
The higher fat count of goat cheese is no good either; although dogs need fat in their diet, overeating at a time can put their health at risk.
Feeding Goat Cheese to Dogs
There are a couple of questions dog parents ask regarding feeding goat cheese to their dogs.
I’ll answer all your questions, but I must remind you, goat cheese isn’t an ideal dog snack.
In fact, I wouldn’t recommend serving goat cheese to your dog at all, not even in moderation.
Is There a Time When It Is Okay to Give Goat Cheese to Dogs?
Sometimes, you can give your dog snacks vets typically ask you to avoid. Such snacks, in moderation, can be a nutritious boost for dogs.
However, I don’t recommend serving goat cheese to your dog at all, not even when you think your dog can handle it.
Goat cheese isn’t toxic for dogs, but its nutritional components can be dangerous.
You mustn’t serve goat cheese as an occasional snack or a reward for your pupper. It is best to look for goat cheese alternatives for dogs.
How Much Goat Cheese Can Dogs Eat?
Remember, you shouldn’t let your dog have goat cheese since it’s unhealthy.
Some dogs have a better tolerance for food than other dogs, so their owners let them have unsuitable snacks once in a while. But goat cheese isn’t an ideal snack, and you can find healthier alternatives, so it’s best to avoid serving even a small quantity.
I can’t say that dogs can eat a set amount of goat cheese because you’ll rarely find a vet who recommends it. So let’s just settle on no serving of goat cheese for dogs.
It might help you to understand the potential risks of goat cheese when you look at the following factors; these factors affect a dog’s digestive response to any food:
➔ Size and Weight
A dog’s size and weight greatly impact its ability to digest something.
The smaller the dog, the smaller the stomach, so a small dog cannot digest something as efficiently as a big dog.
But a big dog doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. Overweight dogs can’t digest foods as quickly and properly as dogs with healthier weights.
Healthy dogs can digest better than unhealthy and over/underweight dogs, but they still won’t react positively to high-fat foods like goat cheese.
➔ Underlying Health Conditions
Pre-existing health conditions can make it extremely difficult for a dog to digest something. It can be difficult to digest even light foods for dogs with underlying conditions.
Common underlying conditions that prevent a dog from properly digesting include gastrointestinal problems and severe conditions like pancreatitis.
Dogs with such health problems can’t eat much and will experience severe discomfort.
What Happens When a Dog Eats Goat Cheese?
I keep asking you not to serve goat cheese to your dog. What’s the worst that could happen?
Although it might be possible for a dog to unexpectedly digest goat cheese, it’s an extremely rare possibility.
Some dogs might be able to handle the lactose and fat content to some extent, but you can’t tell for sure if your dog is among them.
A dog can get extremely sick from eating goat cheese. A dog’s health can even worsen days or weeks after eating goat cheese.
Here are just some of the risks to dogs from eating goat cheese:
Upset Stomach
Eating goat cheese will trigger an upset stomach in dogs.
Symptoms of such an upset stomach can be mild to severe; milder symptoms include nausea and headaches, while the more serious ones include severe stomach pain, diarrhea, body aches, and discomfort.
In some cases, an upset stomach from eating goat cheese can trigger more severe and long-lasting health problems.
Adverse Reaction
Eating goat cheese most probably won’t sit too well with a dog. A dog might experience an upset stomach or a different adverse reaction from even a small serving.
There are two main possible reasons behind an adverse reaction to eating goat cheese:
➔ Lactose Intolerance
A dog’s stomach can’t handle dairy products too well, so all those cartoon scenes with dogs drinking milk were partially untrue.
Some dogs can drink milk and bear dairy products, but most grow out of their digestive ability as they grow up. While some dogs can bear a minute quantity of lactose, eating dairy products can trigger an upset stomach for most of them.
A lactose-intolerant dog will get extremely sick from eating any type of cheese. Eating goat cheese will cause stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in a lactose-intolerant dog.
Some dogs might even get chronic gastrointestinal problems from overeating goat cheese.
➔ Pancreatitis
The inflammation of the pancreas is pancreatitis. Dogs with pancreatitis cannot digest most foods since their ability weakens with the severity of their condition.
A dog with pancreatitis can’t properly digest simpler dog-safe foods, let alone goat cheese. Serving goat cheese to a dog with pancreatitis will trigger stomach issues.
In some cases, eating goat cheese might even lead to death in dogs with pancreatitis.
Obesity
Goat cheese has high calcium and fat count. While dogs can safely consume controlled quantities of fat and calcium, overeating each can be extremely dangerous.
Over-consuming fats can push a dog toward obesity, triggering cardiac and other health problems.
Serving Goat Cheese to Dogs
You’ll find a few internet sources telling you to occasionally serve goat cheese to your dog. While this may sound tempting, it can be dangerous if you want your dog to have everything.
I won’t suggest looking for a safe frequency or serving of goat cheese for a dog because there isn’t any. Most sources claiming dogs can eat goat cheese are just risking your pupper.
You might consult your dog’s vet if you want your dog to have goat cheese, but the vet will probably say no.
In rare cases, a vet might allow a dog to eat goat cheese, but such cases are rare and depend on the dog’s health.
I also wouldn’t recommend serving goat cheese to your dog because there are better and yummier alternatives.
You don’t have to risk your dog’s health for a cheesy bite.
Digging Deeper into Cheese and Dogs
You don’t have to completely ward off cheese just because your dog can’t have goat cheese. Various cheese types are relatively safer for dogs, so let’s discuss them.
You can find out more here.
Cheese You Can Safely Serve to Your Dog
Cheese with fewer carbs and fats is generally safer for your dog. There are a few kinds of cheese your dog can eat, including:
➔ Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese has a lower fat count than most cheese types and has fewer calories too. It is safer for dogs to eat cheddar cheese, but you must only serve it in moderation.
➔ Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese has lower sodium and fat count, so it is better than goat cheese.
You may serve cottage cheese to your dog in moderation.
➔ Edam Cheese
Unflavored Edam cheese has a lower fat count, so it is safe to eat in moderation.
Edam cheese also has a low-calorie count, making it safer for dogs to count their gains.
➔ Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese is low-fat and has low sodium and lactose count, making it one of the healthiest cheeses for your dog.
Cheese to Avoid
Let’s review the cheeses your dog must not eat:
➔ Goat Cheese
Goat cheese is rich in saturated fat. Consuming saturated fats can trigger pancreatitis and even worse health problems.
➔ Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese contains roquefortine C, a common substance in some food products. Roquefortine is extremely toxic for dogs and can trigger diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, and seizures.
➔ Brie Cheese
Brie is rich in fat, so it’s not safe for dogs.
➔ Feta Cheese
Feta is another fat-rich cheese unsafe for dogs.
➔ Flavored Cheese
You must never serve any flavored cheese to dogs because even dog-safe flavored cheese might contain highly toxic seasonings.
Dog-safe Alternatives for Goat Cheese
Can dogs eat goat cheese?
No.
Are there alternatives to goat cheese for dogs?
Yes. You can always serve these as snacks instead:
Unflavored Ricotta or Gouda Cheese
Ricotta and gouda cheese have a lower fat and lactose count, so they are the best goat cheese alternative for dogs.
Peanut Butter
You can always switch it up and serve xylitol-free peanut butter to your dog.
Cooked Chicken
Boiled chicken without seasoning is an ideal snack for your dog.
Frozen Chicken Broth
Chicken broth made without any seasoning is safe for your dog to eat.
Conclusion | Can Dogs Eat Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese is rich in saturated fat, so it’s not the safest snack for your dog.
Eating goat cheese will make your dog extremely sick and even trigger serious conditions like pancreatitis.
It is best to serve your dog safer snacks like peanut butter or frozen chicken broth instead of goat cheese.
