PupkeeperCaution
Can dogs eat cheese? Safe in small amounts for most dogs
Safe in small amounts for most dogs. Cheese is high in fat and can upset the stomach, and blue or herb cheeses can be harmful.
Cheese and dogs: key facts
- Verdict
- Caution · Watch at home
- What it can do
- Diarrhea, digestive upset and tremors or seizures from blue or moldy cheese.
- How to serve
- Offer a small cube or a few shreds of a lower-fat cheese, such as mozzarella or cottage cheese, as an occasional treat.
- What to do now
- Check the label for garlic, onion, chives or mold. All steps
- Sources
- AKC, ASPCA Animal Poison Control, RSPCA. Reviewed 9 October 2026.
What should I do if my dog ate cheese?
- Check the label for garlic, onion, chives or mold.
- Watch for vomiting or diarrhea over the next day.
- Call your vet if the cheese had garlic, onion or chives, or was blue or moldy.
Don't
- Don't share blue cheese, moldy cheese or cheese with herbs.
How to give it safely
Offer a small cube or a few shreds of a lower-fat cheese, such as mozzarella or cottage cheese, as an occasional treat.
Symptoms to watch for
- Diarrhea
- Digestive upset
- Tremors or seizures from blue or moldy cheese
Why
Some dogs are lactose intolerant, and the fat in cheese can lead to pancreatitis. Some cheeses contain garlic, onion or chives, and moldy or blue cheese can cause tremors.
Sources
- AKC: Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- RSPCA: Christmas Dangers for Pets
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026. Page updated 7 November 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.