🍨 Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream?

Is sour cream ok for dogs? Is dairy healthy for dogs? We find out

Bowl of sour cream

Dog Eat Guide Summary

Yes, dogs can eat some sour cream, It is healthier to buy non-fat or low-fat. This way you know that most of the fat content is removed which helps greatly reduce the calories. Dog's struggle to digest dairy so since it's a dairy product, your dog may experience diarrhea to being sensitive to lactose, more details below. If your dog is overweight we would steer clear of sour cream.

Sour Cream and dogs 🐕

If you’re a dog owner, you’ve probably heard the debate that dogs shouldn’t eat sour cream, and you’ve probably heard it quite a bit since you’re reading this article. Sour cream contains less fat than other dairy products like cheese or butter, and it’s a good source of calcium having approximately the same as a small glass of milk.

Whilst it’s ok for your dog have some sour cream, first of all, this is a dairy product. Milk is on the list of the top 8 most common food allergies like cow’s milk, goat’s milk, and even cheese. So if your dog has a dairy allergy, then sour cream may cause an allergic reaction. If your dog is sensitive to dairy this could result in diarrhea which in turn can cause them to become dehydrated, be mindful of this! Dogs do not have the natural enzymes to digest the lactose found.

Is it dangerous for dogs to eat sour cream?

The most common misconception about dogs is that they can eat just about anything, but that’s simply not true. Sour cream is a dairy product that dogs cannot digest, and will cause severe gastrointestinal distress if large amounts are consumed.

As an observation bigger dogs seem to tolerate dairy much better than smaller breeds.

So, what about the myth about it being toxic to dogs? There is no evidence to support this claim. The fact is sour cream is not toxic to dogs.

what about normal cream?

it’s generally a bad idea to feed cream to a dog, due to the lactose in it. However, if you have a dog who is lactose intolerant, feeding cream to them is ok as long as the dog has normal kidney and liver functions, and are not overweight. Cream should be one of the dog’s favorite treats!

Ingredients

Sour cream is made from cream, which is the thick, fatty milk from milk-producing animals, including cows, water buffaloes, yaks, camels, goats, and sheep. The cream is separated from the milk by a centrifugal machine. The cream is then heated and mixed with a special type of bacteria that ferments it, causing it to thicken and sour. Sounds a little gross right 🙋‍♀️?

Here’s an example nutritional breakdown per 100g:

  • ⏲Kcals: 130
  • 🧈Fat: 20g
  • 🍞Carbs: 2.9g
  • 🥩Protein: 2.1g

picture of dog licking wisk
Helping with cleanup, licking whisk after baking

Be Mindful Of:

❌ High Fat

Most dogs have a hard time digesting fat properly, also dogs can be lactose intolerant, and this means that they may have a hard time digesting cow’s milk without some help. Given them high fat content can make digestion especially troublesome for your pet pooch 🐶.

❌ High Calories

Due to the high fat content, there’s quite a few calories with a standard serving being 70-90 kcals. Considering small dogs need less than 300 calories day this easily adds up in addition to their food intake. Too much weight gain can cause problems, especially if your dog is getting older, and has other health issues.

Good Points:

✅ Calcium

Given it’s a dairy product it has a reasonable amount of Calcium! This is essential for strong bones and teeth and aids in blood clotting and transmission of the nervous system. Calcium also helps the body produce energy, overall just like in humans, it’s good for us and them.

✅ Vitamin A

While Vitamin A is very important to the health, wellness and well-being of dogs, it is not considered a vitamin that is needed in their diet regimen. This is because pet dogs have the ability to manufacture Vitamin A in their liver when they eat carotene foods.

Vitamin A is vital in the development of a dog’s skin and the mucus membranes lining the body. It additionally assists in the growth of a canine’s eyes, keeps the skin flexible as well as making it possible for a pet to have a healthy and balanced coat.

Final thoughts

  1. Sour cream is a dairy product and dogs cannot digest dairy products
  2. It can cause diarrhea and quite serious health problems for your dog
  3. Don’t feed your dog a lot of sour cream, you will make him/her sick
  4. If you want to be sure that your dog won’t eat sour cream, you’d better keep them away from the fridge

In a nutshell, I can’t think of a dog that doesn’t love a spoonful of sour cream. Many pet owners have found that sour cream is a great treat for their dog because it’s rich in proteins and fats that are good for their coat and skin. The quirky flavor can help with a dog’s dry food, and it can be a tasty addition to their dinner.

If you give your dog some sour cream every once in a while and it’s a small amount, then there shouldn’t be a problem, monitor for any stomach issues as this may be sign of intolerance, avoid in the future should issues arise 👍.

Amanda Brennan
Amanda Brennan

Animal enthusiasts, she works closely with animals that require rehabilitation across the US and writes for several pet websites. Her other interests are photography 📸 and training to run a marathon 🏃‍♀️.

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