Can Dogs Eat American Cheese?

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Are you wondering if your dog can eat American Cheese? Well, the answer may surprise you! In this article, we will discuss whether or not dogs can eat American Cheese slices, cheese chunks, or whole blocks of cheese.

We will also provide tips on how to feed your dog American cheese safely so that they can enjoy the delicious cheese without any problems.

What Is American Cheese?

Also known as “processed cheese” or “fake cheese” by some, American cheese is the kind of cheese that is either in individual slices, sometimes individually wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerated dairy case or sliced off of a rectangular block at the deli counter.

The yellow American cheese is colored with annatto. Annatto (a.k.a. achiote) is a reddish-orange food coloring derived from the seeds of the annatto tree. You can also find American cheese in white, which does not contain annatto.

But can dogs eat American cheese? Are the processed American cheese, white cheese, and deli yellow American cheese safe for dog consumption? These and some others are questions we’d be discussing in this article.

Can Dogs Eat American Cheese?

Dogs can eat American cheese, but it should be given to them in very minimal quantities. This cheese product contains additives like whey, emulsifiers, fats, and preservatives that while consumed by dogs in very minimal quantities shouldn’t cause any damage. However, these additives aren’t exactly healthy for even humans when consumed in excess, and the same can be said for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat American Cheese Slices?

Dogs should only be given American cheese slices in very minimal quantities. American cheese slices have a high concentration of milk fat, whey protein concentrate, salt, and many other ingredients that are not good for dogs when consumed in excess or when consumed regularly.

American cheese does contain some vital nutrients like calcium and vitamin D3 that can actually be beneficial to the health of both humans and dogs, but the negatives definitely outweigh the positives.

So give them to your dogs as very rare treats, and in as little quantity as possible depending on the size of the dog, and you should be fine.

In cases when dogs eat them in excess, there doesn’t seem to be many immediate risks, with the main issues being troubled stomachs and problems with digestion.

Can Dogs Eat White American Cheese?

Dogs can eat white American cheese just as safely in small amounts, and they’re bound to enjoy it. The same caution here is that it should be fed to dogs in moderation; not too much at a time, and not too often.

Dogs sometimes have problems with digesting American cheese, and can get tummy issues and gassiness, so you want to ensure that your dog can safely consume white American cheese and is only allowed to eat as little as possible.

Can Dogs Eat Yellow American Cheese?

Yellow American cheese is safe for dog consumption. Like white American cheese, you shouldn’t make this type of cheese a regular in your pet’s diet. While some dogs enjoy yellow American cheese, others may not be as into it, and it can cause tummy issues.

You’d also want to make the consumption as little and irregular as possible since large quantities of cheese can be hard to digest for dogs.

What Happens When a Dog Eats Cheese?

A dog that eats cheese should be just fine, unless, in rare cases, the dog is allergic or consumes too much cheese. In any of these two cases, your dog could get diarrhea, stomach upset, and other digestion related issues. A general rule is to contact your vet if you notice your dog reacting strangely.

Another factor is the size of the dog. Larger dogs can get away with consuming slightly larger quantities while small to medium-sized dogs can’t eat as much.

Cheese is often used to entice dogs to take medicine, but it’s best to be cautious with that as dairy can affect how certain medicine is processed by the body.

For example, our vet advised us not to use it when giving Roxy her thyroid medicine. Luckily, she’s easy and takes it like a treat! For a better alternative, try these homemade treats that can be used as pill pockets!