Can Dogs Eat Cheesecake?

We all love our dogs. Many of us also love our cheesecake. Wouldn’t it be nice of us if we could share our rich, delicious dessert with our canine companions? Would it be safe for them to have? Can dogs eat cheesecake?

Find out from Dr. Jess in the article below before feeding your dog any type of cheesecake.

What Do Dogs Eat?

Movies make it seem that we should feed puppies bowls full of milk to lap up. I do not recommend this – I should write up a completely new article to cover this topic!

We are shown videos and pictures of dogs eating rodents and other small animals, and offered raw meat as meals and treats.

However, the majority of pet dogs in the U.S. are fed commercial pet foods.

Many pet dogs eat some form of dry food, like a kibble, which contains very little moisture, usually less than 10% moisture.

Then there are semi-moist foods with a larger water content, and even moist foods with the highest water content of them all. Semi-moist and moist foods usually come in the form of packets or cans when purchased from a pet food supply store.

No matter which form of food your dog eats, your dog will need a well-balanced diet on a daily basis in order to stay happy and healthy.

What Type of Foods Should We Feed Dogs?

And remember that dogs need a complete and balanced diet, which they can obtain through being offered and eating a complete feed.

A complete feed is one in which the dog gets all of their required nutrients from that food source alone.

The dog’s diet does not need supplementation from any other source to supply the correct amount of the correct nutrients.

These complete foods are intended to supply the required nutrients for the average, healthy dog in order for it to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.

It may not be the best option for a dog with medical issues, as supplementation may be needed.

Whichever complete food you choose for your dog, it needs to have the AAFCO label indicating the diet is complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage.

AAFCO approved foods have gone through testing and compliance to make sure that the diet is safe and healthy for your pet.

Dogs already get all the nutrition that they need from their AAFCO-approved kibble or canned food, so anything else is just meant to be given as an optional treat.

Can Dogs Eat Cheesecake?

There’s a difference between what a dog can eat and what a dog should eat.

Technically dogs “can” eat basic cheesecakes, as there are no ingredients in them that are known to be toxic to dogs.

But cheesecake has no nutritional value in it for them, so dogs shouldn’t eat cheesecake.

In fact, cheesecake may not be the safest food to feed your dog even though they hypothetically could eat it. Let me explain…

Is Cheesecake Safe For Dogs?

Dogs should stay away from cheesecake for multiple reasons.

High Fat Content:

One, cheesecake is full of fat.

A high fat treat for most dogs is not a good thing as many dogs are already overweight.

If your dog is overweight or prone to gaining weight, then think twice before feeding them cheesecake.

Lots of Calories:

Cheesecake has a lot of calories- even more so if there is added sugar in the cheesecake.

Add to the fact that many indoor pet dogs have weight problems already, any extra calories are going to lead to even more weight gain.

Additives:

There are plenty of cheesecakes out there that add ingredients, whether it is for increased shelf life or flavoring.

However, added chemicals or ingredients may negatively affect your dog, depending on the additive.

For instance, some cheesecake may add xylitol to their product as a sweetener. But this chemical is very toxic to many animals and should never be given to your pet.

Another added ingredient in many cheesecakes is sodium, AKA salt.

Increased salt intake can lead to a multitude of health issues for your dog that you don’t want to mess with. So watch that sodium intake!

If you are indulging in a flavored cheesecake, chocolate for instance, the flavoring, in this case, chocolate, can be toxic to your pup.

Other Risks in Feeding Cheesecake to Dogs:

Harmful Reason #1: Loose Stool/Diarrhea

Too much fat can create a hypermotile, or an increase in movement, of your dog’s digestive tract.

This hypermotility can lead to loose stool and in some cases, full-blown diarrhea.

Other dogs will not be impacted by any additional fat in their diet at all.

Harmful Reason #2: Allergic Reaction to Ingredients

A dog can develop an intolerance or an allergy to any food, so there is always the possibility that your dog is allergic to an ingredient in your cheesecake.

If you suspect your dog is allergic to cheesecake , do NOT feed this food to your dog.

If your dog is allergic to a cheesecake ingredient and accidentally ingests it, go to your nearest animal emergency room immediately.

When this happens, the attack sets off a hypersensitivity reaction and can result in any of the following symptoms:

Common symptoms of adverse/allergic reaction to food:

• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Itching/Increased grooming
• Swelling of body parts such as face
• Fever
• Lethargy
• etc.

Harmful Reason #3: Choking Hazards

That’s right, it sounds kind of silly, but even cheesecake can be a choking hazard, especially if your pet is allowed to gobble it down quickly.

Always monitor your dog when they are eating to ensure that if your dog does choke, that you can seek medical attention for them immediately.

Can Dogs Eat These Foods?

• Bananas
• Fish
• Tomatoes
• Brussels Sprouts
• Mayo
• Pumpkin
• Tuna
• Kiwi
• Radishes
• Basil
• Salmon
• Slugs
• Christmas Cactus

Summary:

Even though there is nothing toxic in your basic cheesecakes, you should not feed it to your dog. I repeat, do not feed your dog cheesecake.

There are multiple reasons why cheesecake can be unsafe to your pet, including its high fat and calorie content, and possible additives and added salt or sugar.

So please steer clear of feeding cheesecake to your furry friend- your dog and your veterinarian will thank you for it!