Can Dogs Have Cheesecake

Cheesecake is packed with lots of sugar and has high amount of calories which is not very healthy for humans and can also pose a threat to your dog’s health if he consumes it in excess. It is okay to share some cheesecake with your dog (especially the older ones) every once in a while if done in moderation.

Cheesecake is particularly good for your older dogs occasionally as it provides him with nutritional benefits like essential fatty acids, vitamin A and lactic acid. Cheesecake would only affect your dog’s health negatively if he has dairy allergies, lactose intolerant, suffers from obesity or literally consumes it in large amounts too frequently.

Although it is a known fact that cheesecakes contain lots of sugar, some products are artificially sweetened with a toxic chemical called xylitol. This chemical is toxic and very harmful to your dog as it can cause muscle tremors, kidney failure and in extreme cases, death.

That being said, it is important that you check the ingredients contained in any cheesecake you are purchasing to be sure you are not buying cheesecake filled with xylitol for your dog. Better still, prepare homemade treats for your dog to be on the safe side.

If your dog accidentally eats cheesecake that is sweetened with xylitol, you must pay a visit to your vet doctor immediately.

Nutritional Value Of Cheesecake

The following are the nutritional values and composition of cheesecake:

Calories – 321cal
Total Fat – 23g
Saturated fat – 10g
Cholesterol – 55mg
Sodium – 438mg
Potassium – 90mg
Total Carbohydrate – 26g
Dietary fiber – 0.4g
Sugar – 22g
Protein -6g

Cheesecake also contain nutrients like calcium, vitamins, iron and magnesium but these are only mildly present and are inconsequential for your dog.

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Popular Cheesecake Flavors

There are varieties of popular cheesecake flavors available. For the purpose of clarity, I will be dividing these flavors into two categories. The first category would be the cheesecake flavors that are healthy and safe for your dog’s consumption. They are:

New York Cheesecake
Pumpkin
Blueberry: This flavor is healthy and safe for dogs as it provides antioxidants for your dog.
Grain-free cheesecakes: This is a healthy cheesecake choice for dogs with gluten allergies.
Lemon
Strawberry
Plain or Regular Cheesecake
Cherry: This flavor is only safe without the kernels
Vanilla
Peanut Butter: this is only healthy for dogs without peanut allergies.
Raspberry

The second category is that of the cheesecake flavors that are highly unhealthy and unsafe for your dog’s consumption. These include:

Chocolate: Dogs should not be given chocolate in any form.
Raisin: Raisin is a toxic ingredients for your dog.

Health Issues Associated With Cheesecake In Dogs

Cream cheese is an ingredient used in making cheesecake. This ingredient is packed with lactic acid and is toxic for dogs with lactose intolerance. Some cheesecake are also made with milk, which inevitably increases the lactose level of cheesecake.

Symptoms your dog who is lactose intolerant would experience include diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy and stomach upset. Dogs with dairy allergies would experience include issues like sneezing and itching.

Cream cheese is not only packed with lactic acid but also has high fatty content which can cause health issues in your dog, if consumed in excess. Some of the health issues are obesity, heart disease, weight gain and pancreatitis.

There is hardly cheesecake without sugar but quite sadly, the sugary content in cheesecake can lead to health issues in your dog like diabetes or obesity. Due to its sugary content, frequent consumption of cheesecake can also cause cavities in your dog’s teeth.

Homemade treats are healthier for your dog as you would be able to regulate the sugary content and prevent decay in your dog’s teeth.

Depending on their preferences, some people like to consume different cheesecake flavors. This is not a bad idea but while you are eating your flavored cheesecake, ensure not to feed your dog with these flavored cakes as they can cause ill health for your dog.

The chocolate flavor is one to keep away from your dog at all cost, as consuming this particular flavor can make your dog begin to experience issues like diarrhea, nausea, seizures and in worse cases, death.

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Healthy Substitutes For Cheesecake

When you are eating some cheesecake, your dog is likely to put on a begging show with his puppy eyes, tempting you to just share a bit of your cheesecake with him – after all, it won’t hurt. Of course, it won’t hurt but there are healthier alternative to give your dog instead of cheesecake. Some of them are:

Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a cheesecake substitute that your dog would most certainly enjoy. However, you must make sure that your dog does not have peanut allergy.
Apple: This fruit has high amounts of fiber and nutrients that are good for your dog. Ensure to remove the seeds and skin before giving apples to your dog.
Strawberry: This strawberry flavor cheesecake is safe for your dog and so is the strawberry fruit. It is packed with vitamin C, but also has high sugar content. Ensure not to feed your dog too much of it.
Cottage cheese: This treat is very healthy for your dog and provides him with quite a number of benefits.
Carrot: This is a naturally sweet treat and dogs would mostly enjoy its tasty crunchiness.
Banana : This fruit provides your dog with potassium and other essential nutrients. It is also very tasty and your dog is likely to enjoy eating it. However, it is important that you feed banana to your dog in moderation as it has a high level of natural sugar.
Pumpkin: Not only does this fruit contain fiber, it also helps to boost your dog’s immune system and aid digestion.
Watermelon: Watermelon is a refreshing fruit that keeps your dog hydrated. It is also very tasty. You must however make sure not to feed watermelon to your dog with the seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Dogs Lick Cream Cheese?

As long as your dog is neither allergic to dairy products nor lactose intolerant, it should be okay for him to have some cream cheese.

However, because it has high sugar and an even higher fatty content than your dog needs daily, we do not advise that you feed your dog cream cheese. If you insist on giving him some of your cream cheese, only a small bite is enough and nothing more.

What If My Dog Eats Too Much Cheesecake?

Eating cheesecake should not be a cause for worry in your dog so long as he only has a small quantity of it. However, if you begin to observe some developments in your dog’s health that is causing concern, do consult your veterinary doctor for medical advice.

While at it, confirm just how much cheesecake your dog consumed, also confirm what cheesecake flavor he ate (hopefully not chocolate or raisin flavor), check to know if it has xylitol in it and take note of any sign or symptoms your dog is showing.

Final Thoughts

With the exception of dogs with dairy allergies and lactose intolerance, every other dog can consume and handle some cheesecake now and then. However, you must resist the urge to feed your dog so much cheesecake as it has high fatty content, calories and sugar, and can result in weight gain, heart disease and diabetes in your dog.