Can Dogs Eat Provolone Cheese? (7 Clear Food Facts)

Provolone cheese has a heavenly taste. Therefore while enjoying some provolone cheese, you may be tempted to share it with your dog. Yet before doing so, you – as a responsible dog parent – will want to know whether the provolone cheese is actually good for dogs. Read on, to find the answer.

Can dogs eat provolone cheese? Most dogs are able to tolerate provolone cheese, because the process of making it eliminates lactase, converting it into galactose and glucose. Moreover, provolone cheese is a relatively low carb cheese: with typically only 0.5 grams of sugar in every 1 oz of it.

The major problem with feeding dogs on dairy products is usually in the fact that these products have lactose, which dog’s digestive systems are unable to handle. But provolone cheese is made through a process that converts lactose into galactose and glucose.

Therefore provolone cheese has very little (if any) lactose: and this is what makes it well-tolerated by most dogs.

Even then, a dog should only have very little provolone cheese, and only once in a very long while.

What Is Provolone Cheese?

Before diving into the can dogs eat provolone cheese question, it is essential for us to pause, and first find out what the provolone cheese in question is.

As it turns out, provolone cheese is a form of cow milk cheese, which originated from Southern Italy.

It is a semi-hard aged form of cheese – with a taste that can range from sharp to mild sweet.

In the process of making this cheese, the lactose in it is converted into galactose and glucose. Therefore by the time it gets to the table, there is very little (if any) lactose in provolone cheese.

Having thus understood what is provolone cheese, we can proceed with our exploration of the can dogs eat provolone cheese subject.

Are Dogs Capable Of Eating Provolone Cheese?

What we are trying to find out here is whether provolone cheese is edible for dogs. In other words, can dogs have provolone cheese? And the answer is ‘yes’. Provolone cheese is edible by dogs.

When a dog happens to encounter a piece of provolone cheese, it will usually proceed to devour it with relish.

In fact, thanks to the somewhat pungent smell that this cheese has, most dogs will enjoy eating it greatly.

All in all, provolone cheese is edible by dogs.

After establishing that provolone cheese is edible by dogs, there are two other key aspects of the can dogs eat provolone cheese question we need to tackle.

Firstly, if we are to answer the can dogs eat provolone cheese question properly, we will need to know whether provolone cheese is safe for dogs.

And secondly, if we are to answer the can dogs eat provolone cheese question properly, we will need to establish whether the provolone cheese is beneficial to the dogs in any way.

Is Provolone Cheese Safe For Dogs?

Most of the people who ask, can dogs eat provolone cheese are interested in the safety profile of this type of cheese for dogs.

Some of them will actually frame the question along the lines of, is provolone cheese harmful to dogs, is provolone cheese suitable for dogs or is provolone cheese ok for dogs.

Someone may be more forthright and ask, will provolone cheese hurt my dog?

So what is the true position? Is provolone cheese safe for dogs? The answer is that provolone cheese, when given in small quantities and only occasionally, is safe for dogs.

But if you give a dog too much provolone cheese and/or too frequently, then it can indeed be harmful.

The good thing about provolone cheese is that it has very little (if any) lactose in it. This is because the process of making it is one in which lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose.

Lactose is a huge concern, when it comes to dogs: because many of them lack the enzyme necessary to digest it. That is why we are always wary of feeding dogs with dairy products.

But because the process of making provolone cheese turns lactose into glucose and galactose, the end result is a product that is well tolerated by dogs.

This being said, it is important to note that spiced or smoked varieties of provolone cheese aren’t safe for dogs.

Moreover, all dogs are different, and whereas most dogs may tolerate provolone cheese well, there are a few that are unable to do so.

Therefore when introducing your dog to provolone cheese, it is important to start with very small pieces. Then observe the reaction, to tell whether it is safe for that particular dog or not.

Is Provolone Cheese Beneficial To Dogs?

Anyone posing the can dogs eat provolone cheese question is likely to have concerns about the nutritional benefits of this variety of cheese for dogs.

The truth of the matter is that provolone cheese can be beneficial to dogs. It has nutrients that dogs can benefit from.

 The nutrients in provolone cheese that a dog can benefit from include protein and minerals such as calcium. It also has essential fatty acids and vitamins. Noteworthy is vitamin B complex and vitamin A, which a dog can tap from this cheese.

Can Dogs Eat Provolone Cheese?

Provolone cheese is edible by dogs. It is also safe: if dogs eat it once in a long while, and in small quantities. And it is beneficial.

Therefore the answer to the can dogs eat provolone cheese question is ‘yes’.

The most important thing, when it comes to feeding a dog on provolone cheese, is to ensure that you do it only on occasion. Also ensure that the cheese you give to the dog is not of the spiced or smoked varieties.

When feeding your dog on provolone cheese, you may notice that the dog seems to relish the cheese a great deal.

That may then lead to the question, why do dogs love provolone cheese? Or more generally, why do dogs love cheese? And the answer is that the smell and taste of cheese is very pleasant to dogs. This is why dogs love it so much.

At this point, someone may ask, can dogs eat salami and provolone cheese? (This is because many people normally have salami and provolone cheese together. And they figure that if the provolone cheese is good for the dogs, so must be the salami).

But whereas dogs may safely eat small amounts of provolone cheese, they shouldn’t have salami. This is because salami normally has salt, as well as other spicing agents like garlic powder. These can be toxic to a dog.

Thus, whereas a dog can have provolone cheese, it shouldn’t eat salami.

Can Dogs Eat Provolone String Cheese?

A natural extension to the can dogs eat provolone cheese question is this one: on whether dogs can eat provolone string cheese.

A good place to start, in answering this question is by establishing, can dogs eat cheese string generally? And the answer is yes. Dogs are usually able to eat cheese string.

Therefore dogs can eat provolone cheese string. But as with all other forms of cheese, you need to ensure that you give the provolone cheese strings in small quantities, and only once in a while.

Further, you need to understand that some dogs may have trouble swallowing the string cheese. Therefore you may need to cut the cheese strings, before presenting them to your dog.

How To Introduce Dogs To Provolone Cheese?

Right after the can dogs eat provolone cheese question is likely to come this one: on how to introduce dogs to provolone cheese. It is a natural question, after establishing that dogs can indeed eat provolone cheese.

Now the way to introduce dogs to provolone cheese is gradually. So you start by giving the dog a very small piece of provolone cheese, then watching how it reacts.

If the dog doesn’t suffer major stomach upsets or other issues after eating the provolone cheese, you can give it somewhat bigger pieces.

Just ensure that you don’t fall into a pattern of giving the dog too much provolone cheese or too frequently.

How Often Can Dogs Eat Provolone Cheese?

Another natural extension to the can dogs eat provolone cheese question is this one: on how often dogs can eat provolone cheese.

Ideally, dogs should eat provolone cheese only occasionally. At most, you should only give your dog provolone cheese once a week.

Remember, although this is a low carb cheese, it still has too many calories for a dog.

This is what brings us to the question on the safe quantity of provolone cheese for dogs. And the answer is that you should only give your dog one, maximum two cubes (or sticks) of provolone cheese per feeding.

What Other Types Of Cheese Can Dogs Eat?

In answering the can dogs eat provolone cheese question, we saw that the answer is ‘yes’. Dogs can eat provolone cheese, in small quantities, and once in a while.

This leads to the question, what other types of cheese can dogs eat?

And the answer is that those should be the salt-free cheeses. They should also be low-fat cheeses, ideally without preservatives.

Cottage cheese is usually good for dogs.

Ideally, go for low lactose cheese: examples of which are Swiss cheese, cheddar and mozzarella.

Someone may ask, can dogs eat French cheese? Dogs can eat some types of French cheese, and not others. The blue French cheeses, for instance, are out of question for dogs.

But French cheeses that are lactose-free, salt-free and without spices may be suitable for dogs.

What Cheese Can Dogs Not Eat?

The cheeses that dogs cannot eat include those that are higher in lactose, as well as those that contain salt. Cheeses with preservatives are also not ideal for dogs.

More specifically, dogs shouldn’t eat blue cheeses – examples of which are gorgonzola and Roquefort.

Others to avoid that are spiced cheeses.

My Dog Ate Too Much Provolone Cheese – What To Do?

In answering the can dogs eat provolone cheese question, we saw that they should only have it in small quantities.

But what if my dog ate too much of the cheese? What should I do?

Firstly, you need to know, what symptoms do dogs show after eating provolone cheese excessively? And those are things like vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and flatulence.

The best you can do then is observe the dog’s reaction to the cheese. You should expect some level of stomach upset, perhaps with a bit of vomiting.

But if the dog has a severe stomach upset, or if there is severe diarrhea, severe vomiting and other such symptoms, it is best to take the dog to a vet.

Of course, it is important to understand what ‘too much’ provolone cheese means, in this context.

Like if my dog ate a whole pack of provolone cheese, I would have reason to worry. Even if my dog just ate a half-pound of sliced provolone cheese, I would have reason to worry.

But if it is just 4 or 5 cubes or sticks of provolone cheese, chances are that it would be alright.

All in all, you also need to figure out how to prevent dogs from overeating provolone cheese. This would include strategies like keeping the provolone cheese out of the dog’s cheese and securing the cheese containers well.

Final Verdict – Can Dogs Eat Provolone Cheese

Can dogs eat provolone cheese? Dogs can eat provolone cheese: in small quantities, and only occasionally.

In the process of making provolone cheese, the lactose in it is largely converted into glucose and galactose. Therefore because this cheese has little (if any) lactose, most dogs are able to tolerate it well.

Ideally, you should start feeding your dog on very small pieces of the cheese. If the dog doesn’t get an adverse reaction from eating the cheese, you can continue feeding it on it.

Smoked or spiced provolone cheese isn’t ideal for dogs.

If a dog eats too much provolone cheese, it may end up with an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

If a dog has a very severe reaction after eating too much provolone cheese, veterinary treatment may be necessary.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet dog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️