Swiss Cheese

Dairies make Swiss cheese by separating cultured milk curds from whey, then salting and aging the curds. The aging cultures create its flavor and holes. A pet food maker uses the finished cheese as an ingredient.⁴

1. 01 // Source Cow's milk Traditional Swiss cheese starts with milk whose fat content is adjusted before cultures are added.
2. 02 // Process Curds formed Starter cultures acidify the milk, and rennet sets it into curds that are cut and cooked.
3. 03 // Process Whey drained The curds are separated from whey, pressed together and salted.
4. 04 // Process Cheese aged Propionic bacteria turn lactic acid into flavor compounds and carbon dioxide, which forms the holes.
5. 05 // Output Swiss cheese The finished, aged cheese is available in blocks that a food maker can portion for a recipe.

1. 01

   Adds a nutty flavor

   Swiss cheese develops its characteristic taste as propionic bacteria act during aging. A cheese supplier markets cheese ingredients for flavor in pet food, though that does not prove dogs prefer a Swiss cheese recipe.^4,5

2. 02

   Provides some dairy nutrients

   The cheese contains protein, fat and calcium. Its contribution to the finished food depends on how much the maker uses, a quantity the ingredient list does not disclose.^4,6,7

3. 03

   Offers a storable form

   Cheese suppliers also sell powders for dry food because they are easier to handle and store at room temperature than fresh cheese. A Swiss cheese listing alone does not identify which form was used.^5,7

How much A typical Swiss cheese percentage was not published in the sources reviewed; an ingredient list shows its rank by weight, not its quantity.⁷

1. Owners say

   Dairy cheese triggers food allergies in dogs

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A review found dairy reactions in 51 of 297 dogs with identified food triggers. That supports avoiding Swiss cheese for a dog with a diagnosed dairy allergy, but the selected cases do not measure allergy risk for dogs generally.²

2. Owners say

   Lactose sensitive dogs can eat Swiss cheese

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A laboratory assay found no detectable lactose in its Swiss cheese sample. Dogs varied in lactose tolerance in a 14-dog feeding study, and neither study tested Swiss cheese in lactose sensitive dogs. Low lactose is not a guarantee for every dog.^1,3

3. Brands say

   Swiss cheese makes kibble more appealing

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A cheese supplier sells cheese powder as a pet food flavor ingredient, and Swiss cheese has a distinct aroma. Its product page provides no controlled dog preference test for Swiss cheese, so better acceptance remains a sales claim.^4,5

4. Brands say

   Swiss cheese boosts the food's protein

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A dairy center puts protein in finished Swiss cheese at about 21 to 23% as sold. That is real protein, but the ingredient list gives no cheese percentage, so its effect on the finished food's protein figure is unknown.^4,7

5. Brands say

   Swiss cheese builds stronger bones

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A USDA table records 1,175 mg of calcium in 132 g of diced Swiss cheese. The bag does not disclose how much cheese it contains, and that nutrient figure is not a dog study showing a bone benefit.^6,7