Can Dogs Eat Cheese? A Vet-Backed Guide

The Short Answer

Yes, most dogs can eat cheese — but in small amounts. Cheese is not toxic to dogs, and many will do anything for a small piece of cheddar. The issue is not the cheese itself, but how much you give and what kind you choose.

Cheese is high in fat and contains lactose. Both can cause digestive problems if you overdo it, and fat in particular raises the risk of pancreatitis if given regularly in large amounts.

A small cube as a training treat? Totally fine. A slab off the charcuterie board? That is where problems start.

Why Cheese Can Be Tricky for Dogs

The Lactose Problem

Dogs produce less lactase — the enzyme that digests lactose — than humans. This does not make them severely lactose intolerant the way some people are, but it does mean too much dairy can upset their stomachs.

According to the AKC, signs of lactose sensitivity include diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal discomfort after eating dairy. If your dog regularly gets loose stools after cheese, that is your signal to pull back.

One helpful detail: aged hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan contain less lactose than soft fresh cheeses. The aging process breaks most of it down. So if your dog has a sensitive stomach, a small amount of aged cheddar may actually be better tolerated than ricotta or cottage cheese.

The Fat Problem

Cheese is calorie-dense. A single ounce of cheddar contains around 9 grams of fat. For a 20-pound dog, that is a significant chunk of their daily fat budget from a single small treat.

PetMD recommends following the 10% rule: treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. For a dog eating 500 calories a day, that is just 50 calories from treats — roughly one tablespoon of shredded cheese.

High-fat foods given repeatedly or in large amounts can trigger pancreatitis — a painful inflammation of the pancreas. This is especially true for small breed dogs and dogs that are already overweight.

Which Cheeses Are Safest

Not all cheese is the same. Here is what to reach for and what to skip:

Safe in small amounts:

• Mozzarella — low fat, lower lactose, easy to portion into tiny pieces
• Cheddar — aged, lower lactose than fresh dairy
• String cheese — convenient, easy to break into small training-sized bits
• Cottage cheese — soft and digestible in small portions
• Cream cheese — fine in a tiny pinch, especially for hiding pills

Avoid completely:

• Blue cheese — contains roquefortine C, which can cause vomiting and tremors in dogs
• Brie and camembert — very high in fat and contain mold cultures that can be harmful
• Any cheese with garlic, onion, chives, or herbs mixed in — all toxic to dogs
• Highly processed cheese spreads with artificial additives and high sodium

How Much Cheese Is Safe

Think small. Here is a rough guide by dog size:

• Small dogs (under 20 lbs): a pea-sized piece or two, a few times a week
• Medium dogs (20–50 lbs): a small 1-inch cube, a few times a week
• Large dogs (50+ lbs): up to two small cubes, a few times a week

Cheese works especially well for training because most dogs value it highly. If you are doing repetitive reps, keep each piece much smaller than a pea so you can reward generously without overloading on fat and calories.

If you want to keep an eye on everything your dog eats day to day, DearPup's food scanner grades any food label in seconds — so you always know what is actually going into your dog.

Signs Your Dog Ate Too Much Cheese

Watch for these in the hours after a cheesy treat session:

• Loose stools or diarrhea
• Excessive gas
• Bloating or a distended belly
• Vomiting
• Lethargy or reluctance to move (more serious — may suggest pancreatitis)

Most cases resolve on their own within 12–24 hours if the amount was modest. If your dog snagged a piece that fell on the floor, they will almost certainly be fine.

When to Call Your Vet

Reach out to your vet if:

• Diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours
• Your dog is hunched, lethargic, or seems to be in pain — these can signal pancreatitis
• Your dog ate blue cheese, garlic-herb cheese, or a bread-style cheese product with raisins
• A small dog ate a large amount

Pancreatitis can escalate quickly in small breeds and overweight dogs. When in doubt, a quick call to your vet is always the right move.

For more on what is safe to share from your kitchen, see our guides on can dogs eat eggs, can dogs eat shrimp, and can dogs eat corn. The DearPup blog has practical guides like this covering all the most common food questions.