Does your dog get jealous when you are enjoying a treat? How about when you eat cheesecake; can dogs eat cheesecake? If you are like most dog owners, you want to experience and share almost everything with your dog. Unfortunately, sometimes that isn’t the best idea because it might not be safe.
In this article, we are going to explore all things cheesecake and answer the question of can dogs eat cheesecake.
Can Dogs Eat Cheesecake?
No, your dog cannot eat cheesecake with you. Cheesecake is a wonderful dessert for us, but it can be extremely harmful to dogs. There are certain ingredients inside of cheesecake that can be harmful to dogs if given too much, so it is important that you know what those are. If you keep reading on, I will discuss those ingredients in the next section.
The only way I would tell you that you feed your dog cheesecake is if you made a dog-friendly version yourself. It would need to be made of dog-friendly ingredients. Of course, if you’re not up for that challenge, you can always give your dog other dog-friendly alternatives.
What is Cheesecake Made Out Of?
The few ingredients that make up this dessert are truly magical. It is a simple combination of sugar, dairy products, and sometimes fruits or chocolate added. So let’s dive deeper into why these ingredients are so harmful.
Sugar
Sugar is obviously one of the most notable and used ingredients inside of cheesecake. Humans can consume more sugar than dogs. Dogs really shouldn’t have sugar, but a little bit will be fine but seriously, do not go overboard.
Unfortunately, cheesecake contains a lot of sugar, even for humans. All brands will have different levels of sugar content, but it really isn’t suitable for your furry friend. If you want to give your dog a sweet treat, peanut butter is a great alternative, with most natural peanut butter brands having lower sugar contents.
Cheese
Lactose is another issue that dogs can have. Their digestive system can have a hard time processing the lactose. Cheesecake is made from a soft cheese called cream cheese. I am sure you have tried it before, and of course, it is delicious but not so safe for your pooch. Cream cheese also has quite a large fat content which can cause issues for your dog in the way of weight.
Sometimes other cheeses are used, such as curd cheese which would also be something to stay away from since it is so high in lactose. If you do give your dog dairy and notice the following symptoms, it means your dog consumed too much.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gassiness
- Your dog may become lethargic
Cookie Crust
Most companies use a cookie crust when it comes to cheesecakes. A lot are made out of crushed-up graham crackers, but some can be made out of different cookies. Sometimes a dog can digest a cookie okay but remember what cookies are made out of.
They are made of a whole lot of sugar, butter, dairy products, etc. Even though they contain these ingredients that are much safer than the actual creamy part of the cheesecake.
Chocolate
Have you ever seen the decadent ones covered in chocolate or have chocolate mixed into it? Yeah, those ones are absolutely delicious, but they are absolutely not safe for your dog. Remember that chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. So please do not give your dog any products made from or that use chocolate.
Fruits
Sometimes these types of cakes can have fruit served with it or even fruit jams that are swirled into it. Both are delicious but can dogs eat fruit cheesecake? No, remember dogs should not be sharing cheesecake with you. Now there are certain fruits that your dog can enjoy in the raw form.
Side Effects of Dogs Eating Cheesecake?
If your dog gets into the cheesecake, it can be very frightening, especially if it has consumed a lot. In addition, your dog could get extremely sick, so it is important to watch out for the following symptoms:
- Stomach upset
- Lethargic
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or uncontrollable diarrhea
- Increased thirst
- Your dog is acting strange
If you notice these symptoms, it is very important that you contact your veterinarian or go to an emergency vet. If your dog is really bad, the vet may induce vomiting. Your dog may have a few rough days ahead with diarrhea.
Allergic Reaction
Your dog may be allergic to something, and you may not even know it. Dogs can essentially have allergic reactions to anything from food to even grooming products like shampoo. So be mindful of what your dog has consumed to figure out what caused the allergic reaction.
Dogs can also have allergic reactions from cheesecake because of the lactose. Of course, this will not happen to all dogs, but something to be mindful about. Definitely report to your veterinarian if your dog has any allergic reactions.
Can Dogs Eat Cheesecake Crust?
This will really depend on what the crust is made out of. If it is made from a graham cracker crust, your dog could enjoy a small piece of that. Remember that moderation is key when it comes to cheesecake crust for dogs.
If you decide to make a crust out of other cookies or digestive cookies, I suggest that you read through the ingredients and see how safe they will be for your pooch. If you are unsure about something on the list, you can search it or ask your local veterinarian.
Can Puppies Eat Cheesecake?
No, you cannot feed your puppy cheesecake. Adult dogs should not consume cheesecake, so a puppy definitely shouldn’t. Puppies cannot digest all of that sugar and harsh ingredients. Puppies need a very strict diet that consists of puppy formulated food.
If your puppy has gotten into the cheesecake, please call your veterinarian right away and look out for those signs above. Please take these symptoms seriously because something bad could happen, and you don’t want it to be fatal.
Alternatives to Cheesecake for Dogs
There are some many things that your dog can eat instead of cheesecake. We actually have a lot of articles written on a variety of human foods that you can share with your dog. Some examples of sweet, safe, and healthy foods for dogs are:
Various Fruits – Fruits are a great thing that you can give your dog. Fruit in the raw form has natural sugar that your dog can enjoy as a sweet treat. Some of these safe dog-approved fruits are apples, watermelon, and strawberries.
Various Vegetables – Well, vegetables are not always very sweet but can be a great snack to give your dog while you enjoy your cheesecake snack. Your dog won’t feel left out because your dog can enjoy something too. Some great vegetables that you can give your dog are asparagus, carrots, and even broccoli.
Dog Made Treats – you can always go the easy route and just hand your dog a dog treat. Dog treats are very easy as you can buy a lot of different types at the grocery store. I have even made my own dog treats, and that is an amazing treat for your dog.
Homemade Cheesecake for Dogs
All you have to do to make a dog-friendly cheesecake is by replacing the bad or toxic ingredients with good ones for your dog. for example:
Swap cream cheese for low-fat Greek yogurt. You could even swap for cottage cheese.
Swap cookie crust for a rolled oat blend with an egg.
If the process seems too daunting, I suggest giving your dog an alternate treat.
Overall
So, can dogs eat cheesecake? No please keep your cheesecake away from your dog and keep it all for yourself. Make sure that you watch your dog if it did consume cheesecake to ensure no horrible side effects happen or allergic reactions.
Let me know if you have ever made your own dog-friendly cheesecake recipe. If you want to read more articles about things that dogs can eat, definitely explore the site further.
