Can Dogs Eat Cheese? - Which are Safe for Dogs?

There is no doubt that dogs love cheese as much as humans do. They have a natural affinity towards it, and chances are it’s likely one of their favourite treats.

However, as with many human foods, you must be careful when feeding them cheese, as there are certain types of cheese which can cause harm to your dog's health.

So, before you start giving them a whole wheel of Gouda, read below to see what is safe, and what isn't.
Let’s get started!

First, a comment from Waggel’s resident vet, Aimee Warner:

“My take-home message is that whilst some cheeses are safe, all cheeses are harmful if too much is eaten, and there can be some serious consequences like gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis if too much cheese is ingested.

A little morsel as a rare treat only is ok - think a mouthful of cheese like you get on an 80’s style cocktail stick canape (but don’t give them a cocktail stick!). However, if your dog has been put on a low-fat diet, then cheese must not be given even as a rare treat. If you are unsure, please ask your vet before feeding any cheese!”

To answer that question in short, yes, dogs can eat cheese. But only certain types of cheese! Most of these safe cheeses do have a nutritional benefit as they contain protein, calcium, and fatty acids, making it an ‘OK’ food source for dogs as a special treat.

They also contain vitamins A and B-complex vitamins, which boost their immunity and protect them from diseases.
It is important to note here, that their usual complete dog food contains all the nutrients they need.

Also, because of its rich components, cheese can also be harmful to dogs depending on how they are being fed and which type of cheese you want to feed them.

Firstly, cheese should be only treated as a snack in your dog’s overall diet and not given in large portions.
Remember, this is a "people food", and our portion sizes are not suitable for animals in general.

They should be offered cheese only occasionally to prevent your dog from getting affected by high sodium or fat, which are the main components of most cheeses.

Besides these, you should be aware of your dog’s lactose tolerance levels. As most cheese types have high amounts of lactose, they can have a negative effect on your dog’s digestive system.

If your pup is lactose intolerant, it is best to avoid giving cheese to them at all.

Therefore, on the flip side of cheese being a tasty treat for dogs, it is also a food source that can cause them upset or illness if not given carefully.

Apart from these, even the best types of cheese can cause digestive health issues and stomach upset if eaten in large amounts.

It is the absolute responsibility of all dog owners to know exactly which types of cheese are harmful and which are the safe ones.

Without wasting any more time, let’s get into some of the more popular cheeses and if they are suitable for your pup.

Absolutely not! Blue cheese is composed of fungus, which is extremely sensitive to most dogs. Components such as stilton in blue cheese produce toxins like roquefortine C, which triggers allergic reactions and is toxic to dogs.

Symptoms of an adverse reaction to blue cheese can be intense diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures, and high temperatures.

In case of extreme health issues accidentally caused by consumption, you need to immediately contact a vet for treatment.

Yes, you can feed your dog cottage cheese without any fear. This low-fat cheese also has lower sodium content making it just the right type of food for your dog’s occasional cheesy treat.

It is also low in lactose which is owed to its long fermentation process. The high protein and calcium content make it better than most other types of cheese for dog food.

There are also some brands that mix cottage cheese with other food products. However, you should be careful about the amounts you feed your dog with cottage cheese as too much of it might cause ill effects in their system.

Feta is a kind of cheese which is considered safe for dogs with caveats. This cheese (and most goat cheese) contains saturated fats and sodium at much higher levels, which are the very enemies of dogs.

Not only that, feta cheese is often mixed with other ingredients like garlic, spices, herbs, and more. All these reasons make feta cheese unfit for your dog. If you do give them feta, ensure it is plain and has no additives and is highly moderated.

Yes! Cheddar is a ‘good cheese’ for your dog. It is commonly used in most households because of its low fat and salt content compared to other cheese types. This makes it easy for your dog’s digestive system and also quite tasty in flavour.

However, you must make sure that your dog is not lactose intolerant before you offer them cheddar cheese.

No matter how much better this seems than some other harmful types of cheese, it is still not the best overall snack for your dog’s system, especially if given in large amounts.

Hence, it should be given in small portions and only occasionally. We know most dogs find cheddar cheese irresistible, so just treat them with a 'lil bit of cheese' at a time to keep them in optimal health.

Dogs can eat cream cheese however, it is not the ideal cheese option for your dog.

As its name suggests, the cheese has a lot of cream, which makes it high in lactose.

The cream adds this extra layer of fat and lactose which can badly affect your dog’s digestive system and cause them an upset stomach. This is not just bad for lactose-intolerant dogs but for all dogs in general.

Cream cheese is, in fact, known to contain about 33% fat, and it is best to avoid any additional fat content in your dog’s diet. There are several other options that you can choose for your dog’s sneaky treat but cream cheese is not a great treat for your dog.

Additionally, cream cheese can contain garlic, onions, or chives, which are part of the allium family.

Our guide, "can dogs eat leeks?" explains this further.

Yes, mozzarella is a good choice. Its low sodium and fat content make it a comparatively safer cheese type. As with other safe cheeses, it is, however, advisable that they are fed in small portions as a dog treat occasionally.

An oversized amount of mozzarella can affect your dog’s digestive system. It should therefore be treated as a part of a larger balanced diet for your pup.

Apart from these, the rubbery texture of this cheese can be difficult for dogs to swallow. It should be cut and given in small bits to prevent them from choking or being uncomfortable.

No, brie cheese is not at all a healthy choice for dogs. It is composed of highly saturated levels of sodium and fat, which are once again very bad ingredients for your dog.

It should therefore be avoided in all forms, even as a snack for your dog. There are countless other alternatives to brie, and you should keep away from it if you want your pup to remain healthy.

Yes! Parmesan cheese is another hard cheese, like cheddar with much lesser lactose content than others. It does not have too much fat, although it has a slightly high salt level which makes it a desirable and tasty option for a dog in small quantities.

However, this crumbly cheese has got a strong pungent smell that is almost impossible to ignore. This often makes it an unpleasant cheese type for dogs.

Yes, dogs can eat Babybel cheese. It is a common household cheese like cheddar and mozzarella and is generally given to dogs as a snack.

Its low salt level, as compared to other harmful types of cheese, makes it feedable for dogs. It is nutritious as well as tasty and can be given with a mix of other ingredients too.

Just like every other cheese, Babybel should also be consumed as an occasional treat.

Overfeeding dogs with this cheese can make them gain unhealthy weight very quickly, which is something that no dog owner would want.

As we have discussed, cheese is generally a very fatty food and one of the more salty foods in certain varieties.

Cheese being a dairy product, is something that is a tricky choice for all dog owners. It’s okay to treat your dog with their favourite cheese snacks from time to time but as a responsible dog parent, you need to sometimes resist them. (We get it, those sad puppy eyes are hard to resist!)

Most dogs will experience lactose intolerance at some stage in their lives and you should be cautious with it.
Although cheese has a few benefits, it has a number of downsides too. You must also remember all the negative effects of cheese as discussed in this article.

Supervision is the most important ingredient that can save your dogs from any unhealthy food.

Interested in finding out what other human foods your dog can eat? Look no further, as we’ve got guides on the safety of crisps and turnips, as well as mangoes and strawberries.

Lastly, there are always vets and pet companies to rely on if you ever feel clueless about what should be the best for your dog.

Waggel provides our policyholders with access to the online vets, Joii so you can ask these questions 24/7 and ensure your pup is in the best health, anytime.

Waggel members can also benefit from nutrition consultations from our in-house expert Junior Hudson. You can book some time with him to go over any questions or issues you may have about the types of food which are safe for your dog.