Can Dogs Eat Sour Cream? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

A small lick of plain sour cream is not toxic to dogs, but it is high in fat and contains lactose. Avoid dips and toppings with garlic, onion or chives. Plain yogurt is a better choice.

Sour Cream for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 10 kcal per 1 teaspoon plain sour cream
Main benefit	Not toxic in plain form
Main risk	High fat can upset the stomach or trigger pancreatitis
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How much sour cream can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One 1 teaspoon plain sour cream has about 10 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if sour cream were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max sour cream per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	3 × 1 teaspoon plain sour cream
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	5.5 × 1 teaspoon plain sour cream
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	9.5 × 1 teaspoon plain sour cream
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	13 × 1 teaspoon plain sour cream
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	16 × 1 teaspoon plain sour cream

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Not toxic in plain form
Small amounts are usually tolerated
Plain yogurt offers similar texture with more benefit

Risks

High fat can upset the stomach or trigger pancreatitis
Lactose can cause diarrhea
Dips often contain onion or garlic

How to feed sour cream to your dog

Plain sour cream only, a teaspoon at most
Never serve sour cream dips
Prefer plain, unsweetened yogurt

What if my dog ate too much sour cream?

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.

Sour Cream and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have sour cream?

A small lick of plain sour cream is not toxic to dogs, but it is high in fat and contains lactose. Avoid dips and toppings with garlic, onion or chives. Plain yogurt is a better choice.

Can dogs eat sour cream and onion chips?

No. They are salty and greasy, and the onion powder is toxic to dogs.

Can puppies eat sour cream?

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 Sour Cream?