Lauryn Dell
Cheese is one of the most common “human foods” dog owners reach for, whether it’s a training reward or a way to hide a pill. So can dogs eat cheese?
In most cases, yes — small amounts of plain, low-lactose cheese are safe for most dogs and make a high-value treat.
The part to watch is portion size and the type of cheese. Many dogs have some degree of lactose intolerance, and certain cheeses come loaded with added salt, garlic, onion, or mold that make them a poor (or dangerous) choice.
This guide covers exactly which cheeses are safe, how much your dog can have, the risks worth knowing, and what to do if your dog gets into a cheese they shouldn’t have.
Is Cheese Safe for Dogs?
Yes—plain, low-lactose cheese is generally considered safe for dogs in moderation. Cheese contains protein, calcium, and healthy fats, and its strong smell and taste make it a useful tool for administering medication or as a high-value training treat.
So can dogs eat cheese straight from any block in the fridge? Not quite — safety comes down to the type.
- Low-lactose, plain cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, and cottage cheese): Safe, in small amounts.
- Hard, aged cheeses (parmesan): Lower in lactose, but often high in salt — feed sparingly.
- Cheese with garlic, onion, chives, or herbs baked in: Avoid entirely — these ingredients are toxic to dogs on their own.
- Blue cheese, gorgonzola, or other mold-ripened cheeses: Avoid — the mold used to make these can produce a compound that’s toxic to dogs.
Why Does Lactose Matter So Much for Dogs and Cheese?
Most adult dogs produce less lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) than they did as puppies, which means many dogs are at least somewhat lactose intolerant. This doesn’t make cheese off-limits, but it does mean quantity matters a lot.
Before answering “can dogs eat cheese” with a yes for your specific dog, it helps to know that harder, aged cheeses (like cheddar or parmesan) are naturally lower in lactose than soft cheeses, making them a gentler choice.
If you’re rotating in other treats, our guides on dogs and apples and dogs and carrots are good lower-fat options to have on hand, too.
How Much Cheese Can Dogs Eat?
Cheese is calorie-dense and often high in fat and sodium, so portion size should scale with your dog’s weight. A rough guide:
| Dog Size | Safe Amount |
|---|---|
| Small dogs (under 20 lbs) | A small pea-sized cube, 2–3 times a week |
| Medium dogs (20–50 lbs) | A dice-sized cube, 2–3 times a week |
| Large dogs (over 50 lbs) | A few dice-sized cubes, 2–3 times a week |
Treats, including cheese, should make up no more than about 10% of a dog’s daily calories. If your dog is prone to weight gain or pancreatitis, cheese should be an occasional reward rather than a regular addition to meals.
What Are the Risks of Feeding Cheese to Dogs?
The short answer to “can dogs eat cheese” is yes, but a few risks are worth knowing before you share:
- Lactose intolerance — many dogs struggle to digest dairy well, and cheese can cause gas, bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea, especially in larger amounts.
- High fat and calorie content — cheese is calorie-dense, and regular overfeeding can contribute to weight gain or, in some dogs, pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas often triggered by fatty foods.
- High sodium — many cheeses are salty, which isn’t ideal for dogs, especially those with heart or kidney conditions.
- Toxic mix-ins — cheese made with garlic, onion, or chives (common in flavored cheese spreads) can cause serious harm even in small amounts.
- Mold in blue-veined cheeses — can produce a compound called roquefortine C, which may cause tremors or seizures in dogs.
What Are the Symptoms to Watch For?
If your dog eats too much cheese, or a type they shouldn’t have, watch for:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Gas or bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Tremors or muscle twitching (a possible sign of mold toxicity from blue cheese)
Mild digestive upset from too much regular cheese is common and usually resolves within a day. Tremors, seizures, or repeated vomiting after eating blue cheese, garlic-seasoned cheese, or a large quantity of any cheese is a reason to call your vet right away.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats the Wrong Kind of Cheese?
- A small amount of plain, low-lactose cheese: Not typically a concern — monitor your dog and move on.
- Cheese containing garlic, onion, or chives: Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to talk through next steps, especially if a meaningful amount was eaten.
- Blue cheese or moldy cheese: Contact your vet, particularly if you notice tremors, twitching, or vomiting.
- A large amount of any cheese eaten at once: Monitor for digestive upset or signs of pancreatitis (vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain), and call your vet if symptoms appear or don’t resolve.
Bringing the packaging or a note of roughly how much your dog ate helps your vet assess the risk quickly.
How to Choose and Serve Cheese Safely
- Always check the ingredient list first, especially with flavored or spreadable cheeses.
- Choose plain, low-lactose cheese like cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or plain cottage cheese.
- Skip blue-veined and heavily seasoned cheeses entirely.
- Cut into small cubes rather than large chunks, both for portion control and to reduce choking risk.
- Introduce slowly the first time, to check how your individual dog tolerates dairy.
Can Dogs Eat Other Dairy Products?
- Plain cottage cheese: Safe in small amounts and often easier to digest than harder cheeses.
- Plain Greek yogurt: Safe in moderation, and a good source of probiotics.
- String cheese or cheese sticks: Safe as an occasional treat, though often high in sodium.
- Cream cheese: Safe in very small amounts, but high in fat, so use sparingly.
- Cheese-flavored crackers or snacks made for humans: Avoid — these usually contain salt, seasoning, and other additives not meant for dogs.
The Bottom Line
So, can dogs eat cheese? Yes — small amounts of plain, low-lactose cheese are a safe, high-value treat for most dogs. The main things to watch are portion size, added ingredients like garlic or onion, and steering clear of blue-veined or heavily salted varieties.
If your dog ever eats blue cheese, garlic-seasoned cheese, or shows signs of tremors, repeated vomiting, or lethargy after eating cheese, don’t wait it out — contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. Handled correctly, cheese remains one of the easiest and most effective treats in a dog owner’s toolkit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs and Cheese
In small amounts, a few small cubes a few times a week is fine for most healthy dogs. Daily feeding in larger amounts can contribute to weight gain and digestive upset given how calorie-dense cheese is.
Yes — cheddar is one of the safer options since it’s naturally lower in lactose than many soft cheeses, though it should still be given in small amounts.
No — blue cheese and other mold-ripened cheeses can contain a compound that’s toxic to dogs and may cause tremors or seizures.
Yes, in small amounts, as long as it’s plain. Keep an eye on sodium content, since many string cheeses are salted.
Yes, in very small amounts and only plain, low-lactose cheese. Introduce slowly, as with any new food, since puppies can be more sensitive to dairy.
Yes, for most dogs — a small cube of soft cheese is a common vet-recommended way to give a pill, as long as your dog doesn’t have a dairy sensitivity or dietary restriction.
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