- Yes, dogs can eat some types of cheese
- Cottage cheese and hard cheese are the most digestible
- Many dogs are lactose intolerant: introduce it slowly
Yes: in small amounts, cheese is safe for most dogs. It provides calcium, protein and vitamins, and works well as a training treat. Many dogs are lactose intolerant, though, and the high fat and salt content of many cheeses limits how much makes sense.
Which types of cheese are suitable?
The most digestible varieties for dogs:
- Cottage cheese: low in fat, low in lactose, easy on the stomach
- Mozzarella: low in fat, mild, good as a treat
- Hard cheese (Parmesan, Cheddar, Gouda): low in lactose, but higher in salt
Cheeses to avoid: blue cheese (contains roquefortine C, toxic to dogs), and heavily cured or seasoned cheese.
What to watch out for
Too much cheese can upset the stomach, since it is high in fat and salt. Dogs that get stomach pain or diarrhea after eating cheese are probably lactose intolerant. In that case, avoid cheese and milk completely.
Never use cheese as a regular food, only ever as a small treat.
How to feed cheese
Offer small pieces as a training treat, mixed into the food, or plain as a snack. Choose low-fat, unsalted cheese.
Nutritional values and amount
Nutritional values per 100 g vary a lot by type: cottage cheese provides about 98 kcal, 11 g protein and just 0.5 g lactose. Gouda has about 356 kcal, 25 g protein and under 0.1 g lactose, but 27 g fat and 820 mg sodium. Mozzarella comes in at about 280 kcal, 28 g protein and 0.7 g lactose.
Guideline by body weight (low-fat cheese such as cottage cheese):
- Small dogs (up to 10 kg): 1 teaspoon (about 10 g)
- Medium dogs (10 to 25 kg): 1 tablespoon (about 20 g)
- Large dogs (over 25 kg): 2 tablespoons (about 30 g)
For hard cheese (Gouda, Parmesan), halve the amount, because the fat and salt content is twice as high. Cheese works especially well as a training treat: cut it into 5 mm cubes so a small amount lasts for many repetitions.
Related topics
Quick check
Question 1 of 3Why is blue cheese dangerous for dogs?
Everything about dog care at Hundeo Pro. From training to nutrition to health: structured courses with video guides, training tracking, and personal help from real trainers when you need it.
