I Dream of Doggies

Can Dogs Eat Halloumi? (Only If You Follow These Rules…)

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Everybody knows dogs love cheese, and I’ve even heard plenty of vets say you should wrap your dog’s pills in a piece of cheese to get them to take their medicine; but not every type of cheese is good for dogs. In fact, some cheeses are downright toxic.

Halloumi
Grilled halloumi.

Halloumi is not a good cheese to feed your dog due to its high fat and salt content, but if you just want to give them a tiny taste as a special treat, you can safely do so by following these rules…

Why Halloumi Is Bad for Dogs

First, let’s go over why halloumi isn’t good for your pup. The primary reason halloumi is bad for dog is because it’s a high-fat cheese that is exceptionally salty due to the fact that it is soaked in a brine, sometimes for a considerably long time, as is the case with aged halloumi.

Vets warn against feeding dogs foods that are high in fat and/or salt, because consuming too much of either can lead to health problems.

That said, giving your dog a small sample of something fatty and salty, like a few McDonald’s french fries, is not going to harm them.

How to Safely Feed Your Dog Halloumi

Remove the Mint

Halloumi is typically garnished with fresh mint, and sometimes it even comes wrapped with mint already on it.

Mint is typically safe for dogs, but only in small quantities. Experts recommend no more than a few leaves per day, but your safest bet is to just remove it.

Also, one variety of mint, known as English pennyroyal, is toxic to dogs, and you probably won’t know what kind of mint is on you halloumi if it came wrapped with it.

Don’t Fry It

Most people like to fry halloumi in olive oil, due to its high melting point, but fried foods are bad for dogs. Their bodies can’t handle high amounts of fat as well as ours can. I’d only recommend feeding your dog fresh or grilled halloumi.

Only Give Them a Tiny Amount

No matter what kind of cheese you feed your dog, you should only give them a small amount as a special treat. Halloumi is an especially fatty and salty cheese, so you should really keep the portions small and infrequent.

Other Cheeses That Are Better for Dog

If you want to give your dog some cheese as a treat more frequently, here are some better choices:

  • Cottage cheese
  • Mozzarella
  • Cheddar
  • Colby
  • Swiss
  • Monterey Jack

Even though the cheeses listed above are much safer for your dog, they should still only be given to them as a small treat.

Cheeses You Should Never Give Your Dog

There are two groups of cheeses you should never risk feeding your dog:

French Cheeses

French cheeses, like blue cheese, are not only the fattiest and saltiest cheeses, they can also produce roquefortine, a mycotoxin that is lethal to dogs.

Cheeses Made with Herbs and Spices

Any cheese that contains garlic, onion, or a variety of herbs and spices should not be fed to your dog. Garlic and onion are toxic to dogs, as well as other herbs and spices, such as black pepper and nutmeg. Even herbs that may be beneficial to dogs, like fennel and oregano, can be dangerous in large amounts.

Consult Your Vet

If you are feeding your dog cheese as a treat, talk to your vet about it. Also, be on the lookout for negative symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

References:

Christin Perry. 3 Types of Cheese to Never, Ever Feed Your Dog. Retrieved from https://www.littlethings.com/can-dogs-eat-cheese

Cecily Sailer. Can My Dog Eat Mint? Retrieved from https://www.rover.com/blog/can-dog-eat-mint/

Wikipedia. Halloumi. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloumi

Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, MS (January 14, 2020). What Spices Are Safe for Dogs? Retrieved from https://www.dogster.com/dog-food/spices-for-dogs-what-spices-are-safe-for-dogs

Jason Jensen
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