Last reviewed: August 2026

Can Dogs Eat Cheese?

ModerateSmall Amounts, Plain

Small amounts of plain, low-fat cheese are generally fine as an occasional treat, but cheese is high in fat and often in salt, and some varieties carry additional risks.

Why

Cheese carries the same lactose-intolerance consideration as milk, plus a meaningfully higher fat content that matters for pancreatitis-prone dogs. Blue-veined cheeses (like Roquefort or Gorgonzola) are a specific exception worth naming: they contain roquefortine C, a compound produced by the mould culture, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and in some cases tremors or seizures in dogs.

How to serve it safely

Choose low-fat, low-sodium cheese in small amounts
Avoid blue-veined cheeses (Roquefort, Gorgonzola, blue cheese) specifically
Watch for lactose intolerance signs and reduce or stop if they appear
A small cube is a useful training treat, not a snack to feed liberally

Sources

General veterinary toxicology consensus, cross-referenced against the Merck Veterinary Manual and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center food hazard references. See How We Source This for our methodology.

This page is general educational information, not a substitute for veterinary advice.