Dogs do not have the same diet as humans! Their digestive systems are not wired like that of humans and so they cannot really process human foods the way we humans process our foods, including dairy products. In the same way, all dogs are different and they each have their different reactions to foods that they consume.
A dog might react more severely to cheese than another dog so it is important to know your dog’s limits, what he can and cannot eat, and apply caution when it comes to his diet.
To answer the question Can dogs eat cheese balls?, we would be discussing the ingredients that are contained in cheese balls so as to determine how safe they are for your dog’s consumption. Read on!
Can Dogs Have Cheese Balls?
If your dog is not lactose intolerant, then he can very well accommodate and digest a few natural cheese balls without any complications.
You can safely feed your dog some cheese balls without having any concerns of health issues developing. It is however important that like every other human food, you feed cheese balls to your dog in moderation and only as an occasional treat, not a part of their regular diet.
Feeding your dog a diet that is high in salt, corn and carbohydrates, which are all present in cheese balls, are not healthy for your dog and can lead to health issues like obesity and other issues alike.
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Ingredients Contained In Cheese Balls
Even though dogs can eat cheese balls in moderate quantities, many dog owners are very skeptical about feeding their dogs any cheese balls at all because of two singular reasons: the ingredients contained in cheese balls and the fact that it is a processed cheese snack.
Well, let’s take a detailed look at these ingredients contained in cheese balls that make them unhealthy for your dog’s consumption.
- Salt
It is important to note that a dog that weighs 33pounds has a limit of less than 100mg of salt per day, which is opposed to the 300mg of salt contained in a 35oz can of UTZ Cheese Balls.
While it might be safe to feed your dog small amounts of cheese balls from time to time, you should look out for cheese balls that high sodium content and keep them away from your dog or only give in small quantities. Most cheese balls are processed and so they contain lots of sodium as preservatives.
Feeding your dog cheese balls in excess quantities can result in sodium poisoning, which could give rise to urinary tract infection and kidney issues in your dog.
To avoid salt poisoning in your dog, as soon as you notice that he has consumed a ton of these cheese balls containing excessive salt, ensure to keep a bowl of fresh, cool water around, to help him stay hydrated before medical help arrives. Some of the symptoms of salt poisoning includes;
Extreme dehydration, vomiting, excessive urination, stomach upset, swollen tongue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, muscle tremor, labored breathing, rapid heartbeat, fluid accumulation in your dog’s body, kidney failure, seizure, coma or even death in extreme cases.
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- Corn meal
The predominant ingredient contained in cheese balls is corn. Unfortunately, this is one food item that dogs do not need as their systems are not able to easily process any food with corn, they are however found in most dog foods as fillers. Basically, cheese is only added to the cornmeal cheese balls for that cheesy flavor.
Cornmeal does not provide your dog with any nutritional or health benefit and this makes cheese balls not so healthy for dogs’ consumption.
- Vegetable Oils
Corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil and sunflower oil are the most commonly used vegetable oils in UTZ cheese balls. Of all these oils, only the sunflower oil is healthy for dogs. Every other vegetable oil listed here are unhealthy for dogs. Not necessarily toxic, but unhealthy for dogs’ consumption.
Here is a list of the most healthy types of oil that can help your dog’s skin and coat health:
Fish oil, Coconut oil, Flaxseed oil, Sunflower oil and Olive oil.
- Other ingredients contained in cheese balls include:
Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk fat, Buttermilk Solids, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Yellow 5 & 6, Cheddar Cheese and Semisoft Cheese, Sodium Phosphate, Artificial Flavor, Disodium Guanylate, and Lactic Acid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Give My Dog A Cheeto?
It is okay to give your dog some Cheetos occasionally but you should not make this a habit. Although cheeto is not toxic in itself, they contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs and this make them not very healthy for your dog’s consumption.
Consuming cheetos containing these toxic ingredients can lead to diabetes, obesity or even heart disease in your dog. For this reason, it is important that you give your dog only plain cheetos, ones that do not contain any dangerous ingredients and are not high in carbohydrates, fats and salt.
Will A Little Bit Of Cheese Hurt My Dog?
Most dogs lack the lactase enzyme that is required to digest the sugar in milk, which is known as lactose; this is what gives rise to lactose intolerance in dogs.
For this reason, dairy products like milk and cheese can be difficult to digest and may lead to stomach upset, diarrhea and other digestive issues. If you must give your dog any cheese, let it be in moderation and not more than as an occasional treat. This should not cause any harm to your dog.
Conclusively
While it okay to feed some cheese balls to your dog, you must pay attention to how much of it they consume and if your dog begins to show any signs or symptoms after eating cheese balls, immediately consult your vet doctor before the situation worsens.
It is always advised that before you introduce a new food to your dog’s diet or treat, you should consult your vet doctor and confirm if that food is safe for your dog or if he has an allergy to that food item. To be safe, it is best to feed your dog only natural foods that contain the essential nutrients that your dog needs, such as beef, chicken and green vegetables.
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