Can Dogs Eat String Cheese?

If you’ve ever tried to snack on a stick of string cheese around your four-legged friend, you might have found yourself struggling to calm them down as they begged for a nibble. You might hesitate to let your lovable pet indulge as you wonder: Can dogs eat string cheese?

The answer is yes, dogs can eat string cheese in moderation. However, it’s important to understand how you can responsibly add this palatable snack to your pup’s diet and what alternatives your pet might love even more.

Why Do Dogs Love String Cheese?

Dogs love string cheese simply because it delights their senses – it tastes good and smells delicious, plus they may subconsciously crave it for the health benefits it can provide. String cheese contains calcium, protein, and essential fatty acids that are great for your pup’s body.

String cheese is a particularly great choice for cheese-loving dogs because it has lower levels of lactose compared to other cheeses. However, if your dog has severe lactose intolerance, then even this type of cheese should be avoided.

Keep in mind that the stringy texture of mozzarella cheese can be a choking hazard if you give an entire stick or strand of cheese to your pet. Dogs can eat string cheese easily if you cut the sticks into bite-sized pieces before giving them to your dog.

No matter how crazy your dog is about string cheese, though, it is important to limit how much you feed them per day. A balanced canine diet will limit snacks and treats to 10% or less of the pet’s overall caloric intake. This means that about half a stick of string cheese is the max that you should give to most dogs in a single day.

What Types of Cheese Can a Dog Eat?

Can dogs eat string cheese? A lab begs for a slice of cheese at the kitchen counter.

Many humans love an easy snack of cheese and olives, and while dogs can eat olives, not every type of cheese is suitable for their digestive systems. A general rule of thumb you can follow is that cheeses or cheese products with high lactose are poor choices to feed to your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Parmesan Cheese?

Parmesan cheese seems like an easy treat to give your dog, especially when shredded, but your pet may actually shy away from this snack because of its strong odor. Additionally, parmesan is high in sodium, making it an unhealthy treat regardless.

Can Dogs Eat Swiss Cheese?

Swiss cheese's ripening process makes it low in lactose, so it is a safe snack for your dog in moderation. As with other cheese snacks, make sure to only feed it to your pet in bite-sized pieces.

Can Dogs Eat Mozzarella Sticks?

While mozzarella sticks are often little more than sticks of string cheese coated in breading and deep-fried, you should not feed them to your dog. While dogs can eat string cheese, the fried coating of mozzarella sticks is high in fat, oil, and salt, all of which can contribute to an upset stomach.

What Are Some Alternatives to String Cheese for Dogs?

String cheese is an easy and convenient snack for your pet, especially if you are a string cheese lover yourself. However, your furry friend might be even more fond of these specially formulated dog snacks using cheese as a main ingredient:

If your dog loves the taste of cheese but has a lactose intolerance that makes cheese-based snacks unviable, consider a product like Himalayan Yaky Yum Dog Treat made with a process that removes lactose but retains that yummy cheese flavor.

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