Can pets eat cheese?
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | A useful training treat. Watch the fat and salt, and avoid blue cheese specifically. |
| Cats | In moderation | Not toxic, and lactose applies as it does to milk. |
What it actually does
Hard cheese is low enough in lactose that most dogs tolerate it, and it is one of the most effective high-value training rewards there is. Two caveats: the fat content can trigger pancreatitis in a predisposed dog, and blue cheese is a separate case — the Penicillium roqueforti used to make it can produce roquefortine C, a tremorgenic compound, which is why blue cheese and mouldy dairy are on the avoid list while cheddar is not.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Dairy
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk and cream | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Yoghurt | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat cheese?
- Fine in small amounts. A useful training treat. Watch the fat and salt, and avoid blue cheese specifically.
- Can cats eat cheese?
- Fine in small amounts. Not toxic, and lactose applies as it does to milk.
- What does cheese actually do?
- Hard cheese is low enough in lactose that most dogs tolerate it, and it is one of the most effective high-value training rewards there is. Two caveats: the fat content can trigger pancreatitis in a predisposed dog, and blue cheese is a separate case — the Penicillium roqueforti used to make it can produce roquefortine C, a tremorgenic compound, which is why blue cheese and mouldy dairy are on the avoid list while cheddar is not.
Related pages
- Can pets eat milk and cream? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat yoghurt? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods