Probably if you try to give your Australian Shepherd a piece of cheese – he would never give up. Some people use cheese as a treat during dog trainings. However, cheese is classified as a dairy product and dairy products are not highly recommended for dogs. So, how do we know if our Australian Shepherds can be given cheese to eat?
Can Australian Shepherds Eat Cheese? Yes, Australian Shepherds can be given cheese, but its composition needs to be considered. Due to the lactose in the cheese, some dogs may not digest the cheese well, so it is necessary to give it in moderation. Cheese is usually advised to be used as a treat for dogs during trainings, but not as a daily food.
Cheese Is a Dairy Product – Can Australian Shepherds Eat It?
You have probably heard that dairy products are not a very good idea for dogs. But why is that? This is because dogs are low in lactase, a digestive enzyme that breaks down milk sugar. As mammals grow older, they seem to lose this ability because they no longer need breast milk. It is worth mentioning that if an adult dog does not tolerate lactose, it does not in any way mean that something is wrong. Just so nature is.
Whether an adult dog can tolerate a small amount of lactose or not at all can vary from dog to dog individually. If you have given your Australian Shepherd cheese or certain dairy products from time to time, it is probably not completely lactose intolerant, otherwise you would have noticed. An example of an indigestion could be diarrhea, constant farting or an unwillingness to eat.
It should be mentioned that if you notice your dog diarrhea after eating cheese or other dairy products, you should stop feeding them or look for better alternatives. For example, there are number of different cheeses that are lactose free. Therefore, this option would be much more appropriate and most importantly available to your dog without loading it with lactose.
What Cheese Australian Shepherds Can Eat?
1. Hard Cheese
Hard cheese is distinguished by the fact that it is matured for a long time and has very little water. The most popular types of hard cheese include Cheddar, Parmesan, Emmental, Pecorino and so on. Australian Shepherds, like any other dogs, can eat hard cheese. Hard cheese is good in that the longer cheese is matured, the less lactose it contains. The explanation for this is that during maturation, lactose is converted to lactic acid.
During ripening, all the moisture is removed from the cheese, but nutrients accumulate. This means that the mineral content is particularly high here. However, there is a downside to this, as fat also accumulates. If your Australian Shepherd has no problems with being overweight, occasionally snacking on hard cheese isn‘t a bad thing, as a few extra calories won‘t hurt. Of course, it is best to choose as little fat and unsalted cheese as possible.
2. Sliced Cheese
The main difference between sliced cheese and hard cheese is that it is much wetter. That is , it has a much higher water content. Sliced cheese is also suitable for dogs, but also do not forget to pay attention to its composition. The best option would be a cheese that contains as little salt, fat and hardly any lactose.
3. Sheep and Goat Cheese
A good alternative for dogs that are allergic to cow‘s milk is cheese made from goat‘s or sheep‘s milk. One nuance is that such cheeses are often greasy, so as always pay attention to the composition.
What Cheese Australian Shepherds Should Not Be Fed?
1. Blue Mold Cheese
Moldy cheeses are distinguished by the fact that the live fungus present in the cheese during the maturing process produces various metabolic breakdown products. These are mycotoxins that can be toxic. One of them is Roquefortin C. Roquefortin C can be tolerated by most people without any problems. But in dogs, roquefortin C is highly toxic.
Therefore, any mold cheese for dogs is strictly prohibited. If your Autralian Shepherd accidentaly ate your mold cheese, look out for symptoms such as stiff limbs, tremors, or vomiting. The best to consult or go to a veterinarian immediately to be safe.
2. Processed Cheese
Processed cheese should not be given to dogs as it is no longer a real cheese and often has a lot of salt. There are also other phosphates, which are rather unhealthy for dogs.
3. Cheese Rinds
It is better not to feed the cheese rind to the dog. Cheese rind is like the rind of a cheese, in other words the skin of the cheese. The manufacturing process of some cheeses is such that the cheese is washed with certain liquids to stop the ripening process. Also, the rind of the cheese is sometimes rubbed to give it a certain aroma. So even if that cheese rind looks edible, non-plastic or waxy, it is still better to trim it.
How Much Cheese Can an Australian Shepherd Eat Daily?
Well, it depends on what size and age your Australian Shepherd is. As well as from his way of life, that is how active his life is. Most nutritionists advise that various treats should not make up more than 10 percent of a dog‘s daily diet.
An active adult Australian Shepherd weighing 50 pounds should get an average daily caloric intake of 1353 calories (source). Thus, cheese is best used as a delicacy, for example during training. However, this should not exceed the above norm. Calculate proportionately how many calories your Aussie should collect and what the possible amount is.
Can Cheese Cause Dog Allergies?
As mentioned above, there are dogs that have little or no tolerance for milk. Because cheese contains milk protein, some dogs may not digest it well. However, if your Australian Shepherd does not tolerate cow‘s milk products, it may well be that he is still digesting goat‘s or sheep‘s cheese well.
If you are going to try cheeses from other types of milk, first make sure they are not mixed. Sometimes only goats are shown on the main label, but a further reading shows that the cheese is made from a mixture of goat‘s and cow‘s milk.
Final Thoughts
So you can give your Australian Shepherd cheese, but stick to it in moderation, even if it is very tasty to him. It is best to start with a smaller amount at first to see how your puppy digests such food. It can be a great delicacy to sometimes pamper your puppy or motivate with cheese snack.