Can dogs eat cheese?
Not as a regular treat. Some vet sources allow small bits of plain, lower-fat cheese, but cheese is fatty, many dogs digest dairy poorly, and some cheeses contain onion, garlic or chives. Blue cheeses are a particular worry.
Updated:
Why
Dogs have little lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so dairy can upset the stomach. Cheese is high in fat: too much leads to weight gain and can trigger pancreatitis. Flavoured cheeses may contain onion, garlic or chives, and blue cheeses such as Roquefort contain roquefortine C, to which dogs appear sensitive. Sources differ: the AKC and Dogs Trust allow small amounts, while Cornell lists cheese among fatty foods to avoid, so we use the stricter level.
Signs to watch for
- Diarrhoea or other tummy upset
- Vomiting
- Belly pain, nausea, low energy or poor appetite (possible pancreatitis)
- Muscle tremors after blue cheese
What to do
A small plain piece usually needs nothing more than watching for tummy upset. Call your vet if your dog ate a lot of cheese, ate blue cheese or cheese with onion, garlic or chives, or shows vomiting, belly pain or tremors.
How to give it
If you share at all: a tiny piece of plain, lower-fat cheese such as mozzarella or cottage cheese, never flavoured or blue cheese.
Questions and answers
Is blue cheese worse than other cheese for dogs?
Yes. Roquefort and other blue cheeses contain roquefortine C, and dogs appear sensitive to it; severe cases can bring muscle tremors.
Which cheese is the least risky?
Lower-fat plain cheeses such as mozzarella, cottage cheese or soft goat cheese, in a small amount.
Related foods
All foods: What can dogs eat?Sources
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets — ASPCA Animal Poison Control (no date; ©2026)
- Which Human Foods Can Dogs Eat and Which Are Dangerous? — American Kennel Club (Updated Oct 21, 2026)
- Can Dogs Eat Cheese? — American Kennel Club, Randa Kriss (updated 2025-08-19)
- Poisonous food — The Royal Kennel Club (no date; ©2026)
- Christmas foods – what not to give dogs at Christmas — The Royal Kennel Club (no date; ©2026)
- Holiday hazards for dogs — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center (updated 2024-12)
- Pancreatitis in dogs — PDSA
- Pancreatitis in Dogs — VCA Animal Hospitals, Hunter/Panning/Ward DVM
- What foods are toxic to dogs and the human foods you can feed them — Dogs Trust (no date; ©2026)
General information from the sources below, not reviewed by a vet and not a substitute for veterinary advice. When in doubt, call your vet.
How kids practise this in PetPrep
In PetPrep a child looks after a realistic dog: meals at the right times, water, walks and care. Knowing what is safe to share is part of being ready for a real pet.