Pet parents have a number of questions and doubts that revolve around what to feed their beloved pooches. One popular question is, “Can dogs eat brie rind?”. Let us answer this in detail below.
Table of Contents
Eating cheese in a small amount can be healthy for your dog, but eating a lot of it can be harmful to your dog. However, the outer rind of Brie is nothing but a layer of safe and edible mold which your dog can eat.
We will explain how Brie and other cheeses can be harmful to your dog. So please keep reading to know more about what you should keep in mind before feeding your dog cheese.
How Eating Brie Rind Can Be Harmful to Your Dog
Brie can be bad for your dog, but the rind is edible, and you can feed it to them.
Feeding your dog a few heavy items from time to time will be healthy for them, but excessive amounts of it can be very harmful.
Cheese is rich in fat.
Brie is very rich in fat, and feeding it to your dog can prove to be fatal for them. However, the hardened outer layer called rind is a layer of mold formed during the fermentation process, which is harmless and perfectly edible.
A high-fat diet can cause a lot of damage to your dog, including being the number one cause of Pancreatitis, which can be deadly.
Brie and other cheeses have a higher fat content than other foods, and they should not be fed regularly to your dog. Cheese might not be immediately toxic for your dog, but feeding high fat and cholesterol diets is very dangerous over the long term. In an excessive amount, it can prove to be fatal for them.
Cheese is rich in salt.
Commercially produced cheese also has a high amount of salt in them, which can hamper the level of blood pressure of your dog. Having a large amount of salt is another item on the FDA list of no-no food items for dogs.
Cheese might have garlic, onion, or chive, which is toxic to dogs.
Many common flavoring elements added to cheese for humans are dangerous for dogs. For example, onion, garlic, and chives are all toxic for dogs in large quantities.
Your dog may be allergic to milk-based products.
The two most common allergens for dogs are Beef and milk-based products. If you have never fed lactose-based products to your pup, you should start by giving it a very small amount to see its reaction to the product.
Things to keep in mind before feeding cheese to your dog:
If your dog has obesity, Pancreatitis, or any other medical condition, then don’t feed cheese.
Your dog may have been eyeing your cheese for itself, but it’s better to consult a vet before feeding it, especially if your dog has been suffering from any previous digestion problem like Pancreatitis or other medical issues.
In that case, it is best to consult your vet before feeding them any cheese.
What Kind Of Cheese Can Dog Eat?
Lower fat cheeses such as cottage cheese
Cheese, if eaten in lower-fat varieties and in a controlled manner, can also bring good results to your dog. The only problem with having a large amount of cheese is its large amount of fat and salt.
So, it is safe to say that it is better to feed your dog cheese with lesser quantities of fat and salt. Cottage Cheese has the lowest amount of fat and is the safest to feed your dog. You can also feed them some other cheese like Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, and other Cheese with low-fat content.
Can Dogs Eat Moldy Cheese?
Moldy food, in general, is bad for dogs, but specially molded cheeses such as Brie are not harmful in small quantities.
While the FDA seems to be telling us not to feed any moldy items to your dog, they are talking about mold that caused food to go bad, not moldy cheese that has intentionally been fermented for taste.
Giving it in a very small amount may not cause any significant harm to them, but any more than that can prove to be fatal for them.
However, dogs do have weaker digestion when it comes to lactose and its derivatives, and it may happen that feeding them lactose products in excessive amounts can cause some serious damage.
Harmful effects of eating Moldy Cheese on your dog
We are talking about cheese that has become moldy here, not specially molded cheese like Brie.
Dogs get attracted to things that might not be healthy for them, and if you find your dog trying to eat your rotten and moldy cheese, it is better to keep it away from them. Eating moldy items like that can cause many digestive problems in them like improper digestion, loose bowel movements and many more.
If you have moldy foods in your home, dispose of them carefully, and don’t let the dog get near the garbage can where you are disposing of them.
Can Dogs Eat Pepper Jack Cheese?
Pepper Jack Cheese is one of the most popular types of cheese found in a common household. Its spicy, tasteful flavors and easily melting nature make it everyone’s favorite. But it may not be as healthy for your dog as it has been for you.
Let us compare 1oz Pepper Jack Cheese with Brie Rind:
| Nutrient | Pepper Jack Cheese | Brie Cheese |
| Calories | 110 | 100 |
| Total Fat | 9g | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 4g |
| Protein | 7g | 4g |
| Sodium | 200 mg | 120 mg |
| Vitamin A | 6% of DV | 6% |
| Vitamin B12 | 20% | |
| Riboflavin | 11% | |
| Calcium | 20% | 20% |
Source: Healthline, Cabotcheese
As you can see, Pepper Jack Cheese has a lot more sodium than brie cheese but the same fat content. So if you had to make a choice for your dog, Brie might be a (slightly) better option.
Other Harmful Effects of Peeper Jack Cheese on your Dog:
Pepper Jack cheese is spicy (it contains Jalapeno). While dogs are not as discerning of spicy food and its taste, their tongues do hurt when they eat such food.
Secondly, spicy food can cause many digestive problems. Many problems like stomach pain, diarrhea, and loose bowel movement can be caused due to excessive consumption of food items.
Can Dogs Eat Cheddar Cheese?
Cheddar Cheese has one of the lowest lactose presence compared to its peers, so if your dog has a problem with lactose, then this might be a good option for it.
That said, 1oz cheddar cheese has about 185mg of sodium and a higher amount of fat as well. So this cheese is also not a very good product for your pup.
A Few Final Words
Dogs are often drooling for cheese, but it is the owner’s responsibility to feed their dog only a safe amount and quality. Cheese has a large amount of lactose and salt, and you should always try to purchase the one with the lowest lactose and salt content.
We thank you for reading this article and hope we were able to give you all the answers that you were looking for. If there are more doubts, please write to us in the comments, and we will help answer them for you.
We have written extensively about various food items and whether they are dangerous for your dogs or not: smoked turkey necks, A1 sauce, Popeye’s biscuits, quail bones, and many more. Do read them and keep your dog safe at all times!