Dogs love cheese of all kinds and can’t get enough of it.
Your dog will almost certainly lick its mouth and drool because it wants some of your delicious cheese.
But what about mozzarella? Is it even healthy for dogs?
Can dogs eat mozzarella?
Here you can find out!
In a nutshell: Can my dog eat mozzarella?
No, your dog should not eat mozzarella. Mozzarella contains a lot of lactose and therefore many dogs cannot tolerate it. If your dog eats too much of it, it can cause stomach pain and diarrhea. Low-lactose cheeses, such as hard or semi-hard cheese, are an alternative.
Is mozzarella bad for dogs?
Mozzarella provides a lot of proteins, vitamins and minerals. The delicious cheese is rich in calcium and phosphorus.
However, the delicious cheese has one disadvantage: compared to other types of cheese, mozzarella contains a lot of lactose.
Unfortunately, some dogs cannot tolerate lactose. If this is also the case with your four-legged friend, then you should not feed him mozzarella. Your fur nose can get severe stomach pains and diarrhea from this.
The reason for lactose intolerance is that many dogs lack the enzyme lactase. The enzyme is important for digesting milk sugar (lactose). If your dog doesn’t have the enzyme and eats mozzarella, the lactose it contains ends up in the large intestine undigested. This leads to the uncomfortable abdominal pain.
Another disadvantage is the fat content in mozzarella.
Mozzarella contains an average of 17g of fat per 100g. Although the fat content of other cheeses is usually higher, too much fat can be unhealthy.
Reading tip: You should definitely read our article on the question «Can dogs eat Harz cheese?» to get all the important information on this topic.
My dog ate mozzarella. How do I know if he tolerates him?
Maybe your dog just stole a piece of mozzarella and you’re wondering if you need to go to the doctor right away.
If your fur nose has eaten mozzarella for the first time, then you should watch it closely over the next few minutes and hours.
If you notice your dog suddenly acting differently, it’s a good idea to call your vet and explain the situation.
Your dog’s digestive tract can be sensitive to lactose if there are too many dairy products.
Stomach pain, flatulence, diarrhea and vomiting can be the result.
If your dog develops a rash, scratches more, or develops gastrointestinal problems, you should go to the vet. The vet knows how your pet is feeling and will be able to treat them accordingly.
What are the benefits of mozzarella for dogs?
Compared to other cheeses, mozzarella contains only 17% fat on average. It is therefore considered to be significantly lower in fat than other types of cheese.
If your dog is overweight, you can feed a piece of mozzarella instead of fatty cheese. However, only if you are sure that your fur nose tolerates lactose.
How Much Mozzarella Can My Dog Eat?
If your dog is not lactose intolerant, you can occasionally give him a piece of mozzarella. Don’t overfeed, though, because mozzarella, like other cheeses, contains fat.
Although the fat content of mozzarella is lower, the disadvantage of the cheese is that it is hardly filling. As a result, it can quickly happen that your dog eats too much and gains weight.
Especially if you have a small dog, you should be very careful not to feed too much mozzarella.
As a small snack, a small amount is fine. It shouldn’t be more than that though.
Important: Don’t overdo it!
Only feed your dog small amounts due to the fat content. And only if you are sure that he is not lactose intolerant.
Conclusion: Can dogs eat mozzarella?
No, your dog should not eat mozzarella because the cheese contains a lot of lactose.
Many dogs are lactose intolerant and therefore cannot tolerate dairy products. Your dog can get gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain, restlessness and diarrhea.
If your dog tolerates dairy products and you would like to give him a piece of cheese, then you should always prefer low-lactose cheese.
Do you have questions about mozzarella and dogs? Then leave a comment now!