Can pets eat cheese? 🧀
Here’s whether cheese is safe for each kind of pet, based on established veterinary guidance.
Can dogs eat cheese?
In moderationA little plain cheese is fine for most dogs as a treat.
Risk: High in fat and salt and some dogs are lactose intolerant; avoid blue cheese.
Portion: A small cube of low-fat cheese now and then.
Full guidance: can dogs eat cheese? →Can cats eat cheese?
CautionCheese can upset many cats and is not needed in their diet.
Risk: Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so dairy can cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.
Full guidance: can cats eat cheese? →Can rabbits eat cheese?
UnsafeNever feed cheese to rabbits.
Risk: Rabbits cannot digest dairy; it can cause serious digestive illness.
Full guidance: can rabbits eat cheese? →Can guinea pigs eat cheese?
UnsafeCheese is not suitable for guinea pigs.
Risk: Herbivores cannot digest dairy, which can cause severe digestive upset.
Full guidance: can guinea pigs eat cheese? →Can hamsters eat cheese?
In moderationA tiny piece of mild, low-fat cheese is fine for hamsters occasionally.
Risk: High in fat and salt, so keep portions tiny.
Portion: A pea-sized piece of mild cheese now and then.
Full guidance: can hamsters eat cheese? →Worried your pet has eaten too much?
Contact your vet straight away, or call the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 (24/7, UK). This page is general guidance based on veterinary sources and isn’t a substitute for professional advice — amount, preparation and your pet’s health all matter.
Related foods
Sources
Our guidance on whether pets can eat cheese draws on established UK and US veterinary and welfare organisations. Individual pets, quantities and preparation vary — always confirm with your own vet.