Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

Plain cottage cheese is one of the better dairy options for dogs: it is high in protein, lower in lactose than milk and often used in bland diets. Choose low-fat, low-sodium versions and serve small amounts.

Cottage Cheese for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 10 kcal per 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese
Main benefit	High in protein and calcium
Main risk	Some dogs are lactose intolerant and get gas or diarrhea
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How much cottage cheese can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese has about 10 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if cottage cheese were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max cottage cheese per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	3 × 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	5.5 × 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	9.5 × 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	13 × 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	16 × 1 tablespoon low-fat cottage cheese

Benefits and risks

Benefits

High in protein and calcium
Lower in lactose than milk
Soft and bland, useful for upset stomachs (with your vet's advice)

Risks

Some dogs are lactose intolerant and get gas or diarrhea
Full-fat versions are high in fat
Flavored versions may contain chives or fruit with added sugar

How to feed cottage cheese to your dog

Choose plain, low-fat cottage cheese
Start with a teaspoon to check tolerance
Mix into food as a topper

What if my dog ate too much cottage cheese?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Cottage Cheese and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have cottage cheese?

Yes. Plain cottage cheese is one of the better dairy options for dogs: it is high in protein, lower in lactose than milk and often used in bland diets. Choose low-fat, low-sodium versions and serve small amounts.

Is cottage cheese good for dogs with diarrhea?

Vets sometimes include a little cottage cheese in a bland diet with rice, but ask your vet first; dairy can make diarrhea worse in lactose-intolerant dogs.

Can puppies eat cottage cheese?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Cottage Cheese?