There’s no denying that most huskies love the smell of cheese, but can huskies eat cheese safely, or does it cause problems?
Huskies can eat cheese, but blue or other mold-containing cheese should be avoided, as well as any cheese that contains added flavors. A simple cheese like Swiss cheese is best, and it should be fed in small amounts.
Cheese is very calorie-dense and contains lactose, which can upset their stomachs, so it isn’t ideal for a husky treat.
Stay tuned to learn about feeding huskies cheese safely and some alternative snacks you can try.
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Why Huskies Can Eat Some Cheese
Huskies can eat some cheese because it is mainly protein, fat, and calcium, all of which benefit them.
It has to be fed in moderation, though, as it can cause stomach issues due to the lactose content. It’s also very calorie-dense, so it should be limited to a small amount to not interfere with their usual diet.
The only exception is blue cheese or any cheese containing mold.
Never feed your husky blue cheese or cheese with mold, as it can produce roquefortine C, which can seriously harm your pup.
Huskies And Lactose Intolerance
Huskies, like most dogs, are lactose intolerant.
This means that treats like cheese should not be fed to them in large amounts, or it can lead to stomach problems.
Huskies become lactose intolerant because they lose the ability to produce lactase – the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose – after their puppy stage.
The whole purpose is to ensure they can feed on milk for the first few weeks of their lives to survive; after this, it becomes pointless.
This means that feeding them cheese should be done in moderation, and ideally, you should choose cheeses that contain less lactose than average, like Swiss or Parmesan.
Do Huskies Like Cheese?
In my experience, most huskies love cheese.
I think this is mainly because of its strong fragrance and flavor; there must be a reason why so many dog treats are flavored like cheese!
It’s been a treat that I’ve used for many years now, and it has many benefits if fed in small amounts.
Nutritional Benefits Of Cheese For Huskies
Here is the nutritional content of one ounce of hard cheese (Harvard TH CHAN Source):
- 120 Calories
- 8g Protein
- 6g Saturated Fat
- 180mg Calcium
Cheese is high in calories and saturated fat, so it should only be fed in moderation.
The protein content is helpful for huskies, as well as the calcium and other nutrients found in cheese.
How To Feed Your Husky Cheese
The best way to feed your husky cheese is to give it to them as small treats during training or throughout the day.
Cheese is very calorie-dense, so it isn’t good for topping their regular food or being served as a meal.
What Types Of Cheese Are Best?
The best types of cheese for huskies are those that contain no mold or added ingredients and are naturally lower in lactose.
Most cheeses are high in saturated fat, and fat in moderation is not necessarily unhealthy unless fed excessively over a long period.
It’s better to prioritize cheeses with lower lactose content when feeding cheese in moderation, as this will cause stomach issues immediately.
For example, cottage cheese is low in fat but contains moderate lactose. It’s great when fed in very small amounts due to the low-fat content, but be careful as it can upset their stomachs quickly.
Swiss and parmesan are naturally lower in lactose but contain moderate saturated fats. So, these are better in the short term due to lower lactose content but shouldn’t be fed frequently due to the higher fat content.
Are There Any Types Of Cheese That Should Be Avoided?
You shouldn’t just feed your husky any cheese you have lying around.
Any blue or mold-containing cheese should be avoided entirely, as well as cheese with added flavorings like garlic and herbs.
From there, certain cheeses can be fed to huskies, but they are not the best options due to having a higher content of saturated fat or lactose.
Blue Cheese/Cheese Containing Mold
Any cheeses that contain mold should be avoided completely.
These types of cheese can produce roquefortine C, which can lead to severe symptoms like diarrhea and other complications.
Cheese With Flavorings
Avoid all cheeses with flavorings.
Common flavorings like garlic and onions are toxic for huskies, and it can be hard to know exactly what has been added to some flavored cheeses, so it isn’t worth the risk.
High-Lactose Cheese
Cheeses that are particularly high in lactose shouldn’t be fed often due to the natural lactose intolerance of huskies.
These include cheeses like feta, ricotta, and American cheese,
Can You Feed Your Husky Too Much Cheese?
Cheese should be fed as a treat, which means it is easy to feed them too much, as treats should only make up 10% of their daily calories.
Anything more than a few small pieces of cheese daily is too much for huskies. If you only have high-lactose cheese on hand, then only feed them one or two pieces per day.
Alternative Snacks To Cheese
The most obvious alternative to cheese for your husky is dog treats; you can find our recommendations here.
Dog treats are great because they come with the recommended serving sizes and are more nutritionally balanced than cheese; you can also find treats that are flavored like cheese if your husky loves the flavor.
If you want to stick to natural treats, cooked chicken or eggs work really well and are better for nutrients and calories.
In Summary
If you are going to feed your husky cheese, make sure you limit the amount to 10% or less of their total calories for the day.
Avoid blue cheeses or any cheeses with added flavorings, and opt for a lower-lactose cheese like Swiss, where possible.
Most huskies love cheese, so it can be tempting to feed them lots of it, but this will only lead to stomach issues.
Save cheese to reward them during training or as a treat occasionally.
Want to learn about other husky snacks? Check out some of our other articles below for some quick and easy foods you can give your husky:
