Can Dogs Eat Cheese? Which Kinds and How Much

The ASPCA notes that pets do not have much of the enzyme lactase, so dairy products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset. How much a dog can handle varies. Hard, aged cheeses tend to be lower in lactose than soft, fresh ones, but they are still rich in fat, so portion size matters.

Pick the plainest option you can find.

• Better choices: small cubes of plain cheddar, mozzarella or similar, low in salt.
• Be careful with high-fat or very salty cheeses, since salt can cause problems in excess.
• Avoid cheese with garlic, onion or chives, which the ASPCA lists as harmful to dogs.
• Avoid blue cheeses and mouldy cheese, which can contain substances dogs should not eat.
• Skip cheese that is wrapped around pills unless your vet agrees, and check processed cheese for additives.

Cut it into pea-sized pieces and use it as a reward. Start with one small piece and wait a day to see how your dog reacts. If you see loose stools, gas or vomiting, stop. Extras like this should stay a small part of the day's food. A common vet guideline is that treats and extras make up no more than about 10 percent of daily calories.

Skip cheese if your dog has had pancreatitis, has a sensitive stomach, is overweight, or has a dairy allergy. In these cases choose a lower-fat reward and ask your vet.

Note: This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Dogs differ by size, age and health, so ask your veterinarian if your dog has a medical condition, is a puppy, or is on a special diet.

Cheese is a strong motivator, which is why trainers like it. For the best use, cut it into very small pieces, about the size of a pea or smaller, so that a training session adds only a little fat and salt. String cheese and low-fat options can be pulled apart into tiny bits.

If your dog is overweight or you do a lot of training, count the cheese as part of the day's food, and reduce meals a little rather than adding on top.

Many owners wrap pills in cheese. It works, but check with your vet first, since some medications must be given on an empty stomach or should not be mixed with dairy. Use a small piece of plain cheese and make sure your dog actually swallows the pill. Some dogs eat the cheese and spit the pill out.

If you need to give pills regularly, ask your vet about pill pockets or other options.

Because the ASPCA notes that dairy can cause diarrhea in pets, watch for loose stools, gas, vomiting, or a noisy tummy within a few hours of eating cheese. If this happens, skip cheese in future and choose another reward.

Pancreatitis is a more serious concern with very fatty foods. Call your vet if your dog develops repeated vomiting, severe belly pain, or refuses food after eating cheese or other rich food.

Hard, aged cheeses tend to be lower in lactose than soft, fresh ones, and low-fat varieties add less fat. That said, most cheeses are salty, so the best choice is a plain, low-sodium option in tiny pieces. Cottage cheese in a small spoonful is gentler for some dogs.

Cheeses with added herbs, garlic, onion, chives, peppers or fruit are not suitable. The ASPCA lists onion, garlic and chives as harmful to dogs, so check labels on spreadable cheeses and flavoured blocks.

Puppies have sensitive stomachs and should mostly have their puppy food, so offer cheese only in tiny pieces and only occasionally. Senior dogs may be less able to handle fatty foods, and some have kidney or heart conditions where salt matters.

If your dog has pancreatitis, a history of stomach problems, or is overweight, ask your vet about lower-fat rewards. If your dog is on medication that must be given with or without food, ask whether cheese is suitable.

A frequent mistake is treating cheese as a free reward. Because it works so well, owners can give a lot over a day of training, and the fat and salt add up. Another is sharing cheese from pizza, burgers or mac and cheese, which come with onion, garlic, salt, sauces and bread.

Another mistake is giving cheese to a dog with a sensitive stomach and ignoring early signs such as gas or soft stools. These are a signal to choose a different reward.

Cheese rinds and wax coatings are not suitable. Mouldy cheese, such as blue cheese, can contain compounds that dogs should not have. If your dog eats these, watch for vomiting, tremors or unusual behaviour, and call your vet if you see them.