You always see them on cheese boards at parties and served up with crackers. You might see it in your lunch sandwich or melted on a baked potato. It’s a popular food among humans because of its taste, texture, and nutrients.
So it’s no wonder that many Great Dane owners ask themselves, “Can my Great Dane eat cheese?”
The short answer is yes, you can feed cheese to your Great Danes. But there are lots of things you should know before you do. This article will answer every question you have about feeding your Great Dane cheese, so let’s get started!
Is cheese safe for Great Danes?
Yes, cheese can be safe for Great Danes to eat in moderation.
However, like most human foods, it is important to ensure that there are no harmful ingredients added, like xylitol or raisins. You’ll also want to introduce cheese slowly, by mixing it into your Great Dane’s regular diet and serving it in small pieces.
If you are feeding your Great Dane cheese for the first time, watch for any abnormal signs of illness or discomfort after eating. Although rare, some Great Danes can show a food intolerance or allergic reaction to certain foods.
If you observe any abnormal symptoms such as hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy after your Great Dane eats cheese, contact your vet immediately.
Benefits of feeding cheese in Great Danes
Cheese is a great food to feed your Great Dane.
Here’s why:
Protein: Protein can help build muscle and maintain healthy skin and coat. Cheese is a great source of protein for your Great Dane.
Essential fatty acids: Essential fatty acids, like those found in cheese, can help keep your Great Dane’s coat shiny and skin supple.
Calcium: Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, which can support the health and strength of your Great Dane’s bones.
Vitamins: Cheese is full of vitamins that are good for your Great Dane, like vitamin A, which can support healthy vision.
Training tools: When you’re training your pup, cheese makes a great treat! It’s easy to break into small pieces, relatively low in calories (compared to other treats), and most Great Danes love it.
Concealing pills: If you need to give your pup a pill but she won’t take it? Try hiding it in a bite of soft cheese!
Do all Great Danes like cheese?
Unfortunately, not all Great Danes like cheese. Just like people, Great Danes have different food preferences. Some Great Danes love cheese, some don’t. If your Great Dane doesn’t seem to like cheese, don’t force it! Instead, try other Great Dane-friendly treats like peanut butter or yogurt.
And before introducing any new food to your Great Dane, consult with your vet first to be sure it is safe and healthy for them
Can my Great Danes have cheese every day?
We don’t recommend that your Great Dane eat cheese every day. Cheese is a great treat for Great Danes, but the reason it’s great is that it’s a treat. Variety is important when you’re treating your Great Dane, and if you give them the same treat every day, they’re going to get bored. It’s also important to remember that different treats contain different levels of fat—cheese can have a lot of fat. If your Great Dane eats nothing but cheese all day every day, they could gain weight, which could lead to other health issues like diabetes and heart disease.
Can Great Dane puppies eat cheese?
Great Dane puppies, just like people, love cheese. And it is great for training your puppy! But there are a few things to keep in mind before using cheese as a training tool.
First, wait until your puppy is at least 2 months old. During the first two months of life, puppies should be eating a specialized puppy diet. After 2 months, you can introduce other foods gradually—but start with just a small bite. A puppy’s digestive system is delicate, so consult with your vet before introducing any new food to your puppy’s diet.
How much cheese can Great Danes eat?
Great Danes might love cheese, but it’s important to give them small, occasional servings.
The best way to know how much cheese your Great Dane can eat is to consult with your vet. They can help you determine how much serving size will work for your Great Dane given their age, size and lactose tolerance level. If your Great Dane has a very sensitive stomach or is lactose intolerant, it’s best to avoid feeding them any cheese at all.
If you want to feed your Great Dane cheese, portion control is important for your Great Dane’s diet and treats. Start out with a small piece and if there are no negative reactions, then you can offer more. It’s also important that if you do feed your Great Dane cheese, you follow the 90/10 rule: 90% of their diet should be high-quality food and 10% should be treats or snacks.
What kind of cheese can Great Danes eat?
1. Mozzarella: low in fat and a great source of protein. It’s also high in vitamins A, B, and K.
2. Cottage cheese: also low in fat, and a good source of protein. It’s also high in vitamins A, B, and K.
3. Swiss cheese: low in lactose, but higher in fat than other types of cheese. It’s a good source of vitamins A, B12, and D.
4. Cheddar: low level of salts and a good source of protein and calcium.
5. String cheese: low levels of lactose and salt, but this is not considered a “safe” type of cheese for your Great Dane to eat because it may cause trouble swallowing if eaten whole or not chewed thoroughly.
What types of cheese are bad for Great Danes?
Blue cheese contains Stilton fungus, which produces a substance called roquefortine C. This is toxic to Great Danes.
Goat cheese contains more lactose than cow’s milk, so it’s also not recommended for Great Danes to eat.
Cheesecake is very high in fat content and can lead to pancreatitis in your Great Dane.
Cream cheese has a very high fat content, and can lead to obesity in your Great Dane if fed regularly.
Parmesan cheese has a very high sodium content, so it’s not healthy for your Great Dane to eat regularly.
Cheese puffs have a lot of fat and sodium and are also not recommended for Great Danes.
How to serve cheese to your Great Danes?
Here are a few ways I recommend serving cheese to your Great Dane:
First, you can give it to them straight-up. Just cut it into small bites and let them eat it!
Second, you can mix it with their regular food. A sprinkle of cheese makes a nice food topper for Great Danes.
Third, you can make cheese sauce by melting some shredded cheese over low heat until it becomes sauce-like and then pour it over harder Great Dane foods. This will make the food easier for them to eat.
And last, if your Great Dane has a sensitive stomach, you can cook white rice and cottage cheese in equal parts and then feed that mixture to your Great Dane mixed in with their regular food. This will help them absorb the nutrients from their food better when they have stomach trouble.
What are the risks of feeding cheese to your Great Dane?
While cheese may seem like a beneficial treat for your Great Dane, it can actually be dangerous sometimes.
A common ingredient in cheese is fat. This is good for humans, but Great Danes cannot digest fat very well. If you give your Great Dane too much cheese, they could end up with a stomach ache or diarrhea. If you want to feed your Great Dane cheese as a treat, it’s best to find a low-fat kind of cheese and only give them small amounts.
Another problem with feeding your Great Dane cheese is that some cheeses contain high amounts of lactose. Great Danes cannot process lactose easily, so giving them too much can lead to diarrhea and stomach cramps. Watch out for cheeses like mozzarella (the highest in lactose), cheddar, and Swiss.
You should also be careful about what kinds of additives are in the cheese you feed your Great Dane. Many cheeses contain harmful herbs like garlic and onion powder that are dangerous for pets. Excess salt is also something to be monitored when feeding your Great Dane any kind of snack—too much salt can cause dehydration or even kidney problems.
Other human foods Great Danes can eat
What other human foods can Great Danes eat? Here is a list of some other human foods your Great Dane can eat.
So, can Great Danes eat cheese?
Yes, Great Danes can eat cheese, but not all cheeses are created equal. Some cheeses are more dangerous to Great Danes than others.
The safest cheeses for Great Danes are cheese with low acidity and low lactose. Cheese with these qualities include swiss, mozzarella, cottage cheese, and cheddar.
Cheese that is safe for human consumption can still hurt your Great Dane’s stomach if it has too much lactose in it or is too acidic for their system. If you’re worried about your Great Dane’s ability to digest certain cheese properly, avoid giving them any blue-veined cheese, and be extra careful with parmesan and goat cheese.
Cheese is rich in protein and calcium, making it an excellent treat for your Great Dane (in moderation). However, don’t overfeed your Great Dane—if you do decide to give them a treat of cheese, be sure to stick to the 90/10 rule: only 10% of your Great Dane’s diet should be treats—including cheese.