Can Dogs Eat Brie Cheese?
Did you prep a decadent cheese board for your wine and cheese night? Chances are that your dog may be quite interested in the delicious cheese, charcuterie, crackers, dried fruits, and nuts on it too.
But can dogs eat Brie?
According to the American Kennel Club, an occasional small piece of Brie is a perfectly safe snack for most dogs.
But keep some of the other potentially harmful and dangerous ingredients from the cheese board, such as the macadamia nuts, away from your pup’s menu.
Only give your furbaby some brie as a reward or a treat for a special occasion. Eating large quantities of this creamy French cheese can lead to adverse effects, such as digestive problems. Too much fat can lead to more severe repercussions such as painful pancreatic inflammation or chronic pancreatitis. It can also cause obesity, which is known to shorten the lifespan of canines if left unmanaged.
Plus, only give your furry friend small bits of the cheese, but when it doesn’t have added ingredients such as garlic, onion, spices, or chives in it.
And even though brie cheese is a better snack option for dogs than high carb and high sugar human foods, it is still only suitable as an occasional treat rather than a primary meal.
Some Cheese Types are Better for your Dog than Brie
Cheese is among the favorite foods for most pups, which is why it is often used as a training reward but in tiny bits.
If you are a dog parent, you may have noticed just how quickly your furbaby appears in the kitchen as soon as you open the cheese wrapping.
But if you are looking for the most suitable cheese to use for training your four-legged companion, then Brie may not be the best or healthiest choice.
Instead, you can opt for lower fat and low sodium options such as cottage cheese or mozzarella.
Your furry companion will appreciate these healthier treats too!
Brie is Not Suitable for All Dogs
Like us humans, not all dogs are the same regarding food sensitivities. Many dogs become intolerant to dairy products and lactose as soon as they grow out of puppyhood.
For these dogs, a piece of Brie or other dairies can lead to unpleasant digestive upsets, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and distress.
This is why you should avoid giving a lactose intolerant pup any dairy.
If you are giving your furry friend cheese for the first time, only give it a tiny piece at first, and watch it closely for any of the abovementioned adverse reactions.
Lactose Intolerant Dogs Will Gladly Eat Some Brie if Given a Chance
If your dog displays unpleasant reactions after eating the cheese, you should speak to your vet to determine whether it has lactose intolerance or to find the reason for its digestive issues.
Even if your pet has been diagnosed with an intolerance to lactose, chances are that it will happily gobble up any Brie or other cheese it can get its paws on.
This is why you should keep any dairy products out of reach by your lactose intolerant furbaby.
Instead, you can stick to other healthier treats and snacks, which you can add to its main healthy and balanced dog food diet.
Treat Your Pup to Healthier Snacks Instead
If you want to treat your four-legged companion to some delicious treats, we recommend that you choose snacks that are free of lactose and have a low fat and sodium content.
Some healthy snack recommendations for pups include small portions of fruits, such as apples (seeds and core removed), bananas, watermelon (rind and seeds removed), or berries. The safe and beneficial vegetables for canines include carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, and broccoli.
You can add small amounts of the veggies or fruits to your dog’s main meal, but do not add seasoning, onions, garlic, or salt.
Related: Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat
What if Your Dog Craves Brie Rather than Healthy Fruits?
As mentioned earlier, small pieces of Brie are safe for dogs. But don’t overdo it with the frequency or quantities when giving your pup soft French cheese.
While adding some carrots or peas to its diet is a healthy option with multiple benefits for your pup, you can still reward your furbaby with a few little pieces of Brie from time to time.
Remember that good quality dog foods are created with the dog’s natural dietary needs in mind. So, if you feed your furry friend high-quality dog food, you can be confident that it is getting all the essential nutrients and ingredients needed to stay healthy, fit, and happy.
Why Give Brie to Your Dog?
We dog parents love spoiling our furry companions with everything we love eating. If you love Brie, you probably want to share this delicious cheese with your pet too. And Fido will most likely appreciate it very much as well.
But to prevent any harmful side effects of feeding your pup with high fat, high sodium, or other foods that are not good for it, make sure to give it treats such as Brie in small quantities and only on certain occasions.
The treats for your pup should provide only up to 10% of the calories which your dog needs to stay healthy. The remaining 90% should be from balanced complete dog food.
Should Dogs Eat Brie at All?
If you are really keen on making your dog happy, and it seemingly adores Brie, then there is nothing wrong with feeding it a tiny bit of the cheese from time to time.
But it is essential to control the quantities of snacks and treats you give to your pup on a daily basis. Make sure to calculate the calories and not go overboard with too many salty or fatty foods, such as cheese.
It is an excellent idea to coordinate with other family members at home about who is feeding the dog and with what throughout the day.
Keep in mind that even the smallest treats and snacks can add up to an unhealthy quantity and too many calories at the end of the day.
What Should a Dog Eat to Stay Healthy and Well?
The best way to ensure that your furry companion gets all of the essential nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants needed to lead a happy, healthy, and long life is to rely on high-quality dog food.
The reputable manufacturers of dry and wet dog foods use a scientific approach to create recipes based on the needs of canines. They employ professional nutritionists, veterinarians, and other experts, who determine which ingredients to use and how to mix them for the best results without adding extra calories, fat or harmful contents.
Brie is Not a Primary Ingredient in the Best Dog Foods
It is doubtful that you will stumble upon a dog food that contains Brie as a primary or another ingredient.
Instead, most dog foods have real meat, poultry, or fish as the main ingredient and primary protein source.
Look for food that contains real meat and ingredients which are not highly processed.
Fruits and veggies can add some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to the pup’s diet.
Omega-3 fat is good for the heart, coat, and skin and is an anti-inflammatory agent.
Some foods contain grains that provide fiber and carbs as the primary energy source but keep in mind that there are canines that are sensitive to or allergic to particular grains. Thankfully, there are many excellent grain-free dog food options on the market too.
Exercise Portion Control with the Brie
Brie to dogs is like a candy chocolate bar to us humans. While one chocolate bar will hardly harm you, if you eat one or more every day, the added calories can lead to a significant weight gain.
The same goes for dogs. A small bit of delicious Brie will not harm your pet. But suppose you overdo it with the quantities or feed Brie to your furbaby every day. In that case, chances are that it may suffer mild to severe side effects, including obesity, pancreatitis, and other related health problems.
Studies show that obesity can shorten the life span of a dog by 2.5 or more years.
So, instead of giving your pup brie or other dairies, high fat and high sodium human treats, it is better to stick to the healthier options such as some veggies, fruits, or pieces of lean cooked meat.
An ounce of Brie contains about 0.04 oz. (1000mg) of salt, which is about half the recommended daily intake for adult humans. So, when you give your furry friend some Brie, keep this and the high-fat content of the cheese in mind too.
How to Give Brie to My Pup?
If your dog is healthy and doesn’t have lactose intolerance, then you can reward it with a small piece of Brie or other cheese from time to time.
Cheese is a highly appreciated and efficient training treat for dogs too. But only given in tiny cubes.
Brie is great for giving your four-legged friend pills. Use a tiny cube as a pod for the pill you need to give your pet, and you won’t have any problems ensuring that it has taken the medication.
You can also use a bit of Brie to add flavor to a Kong or other chew toy and keep your pup entertained while you are gone or busy.
Final Verdict
If your pup is not lactose intolerant, you can reward it with a small cube or two of this favorite soft French cheese.
But remember that it is high in fat, sodium, and calories, so you should be very careful with the quantities you offer to your pet.
You may want to stick to lower fat and less salty cheese options such as mozzarella or cottage cheese if you are determined to feed your furbaby some cheese.
Or even better, you can reward your dog with some fresh and healthy carrots or other veggies and fruits, which can benefit its health and overall wellbeing.
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