Can Dogs Eat Mac and Cheese? Not a Good Idea — Here's Why

Why mac and cheese is a poor choice for dogs

Macaroni on its own is cooked wheat pasta, and the American Kennel Club notes that plain, fully baked bread and other plain grains are fine for most dogs in small amounts. The problem is the sauce, which combines butter, milk and cheese into one rich, salty mix.

The ASPCA explains that pets have little lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, so dairy can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset. The AKC adds that cheese is high in fat and some dogs have trouble digesting dairy, which is why it suggests lower-fat cheeses even as an occasional treat.

Garlic, onion and other hidden ingredients

Some boxed mac and cheese powders, frozen meals and restaurant recipes include garlic or onion powder for flavor. The ASPCA lists onions, garlic and chives as able to damage a dog's red blood cells, and the AKC notes garlic is three to five times more potent than onion. Powders are concentrated, so read the label.

Baked mac and cheese may be topped with bacon, sausage, jalapeños or buttered breadcrumbs, each adding fat or salt. Lobster and truffle versions add rich ingredients too. The more is added, the more likely a dog is to have an upset stomach.

If your dog ate mac and cheese

A spoonful of plain mac and cheese stolen from a plate will usually cause nothing worse than soft stool or gas in a healthy adult dog. Offer water, keep feeding their normal meals and watch for vomiting or diarrhea over the next day.

If your dog ate a large bowl, a whole tray or a version with garlic or onion, call your vet. If the label lists garlic or onion in quantity, or your dog is small, you can also call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply.

How much is too much by weight

There is no portion of mac and cheese that does a dog good, so it should not be a planned treat. As a guide to how worried to be: a teaspoon or two is unlikely to upset dogs under 20 lb, a tablespoon or two is unlikely to upset dogs of 20 to 50 lb, and up to a few tablespoons for dogs over 50 lb.

More than that, especially a plateful, is a big hit of fat and salt and more likely to cause vomiting, diarrhea or pancreatitis. Dogs that are overweight, have had pancreatitis or have kidney or heart disease should not have any.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

Puppies and mac and cheese

Puppies have small, sensitive stomachs, and a rich, cheesy food is more likely to give them diarrhea. They also need their calories from puppy food balanced for growth, so there is no room for comfort food.

If a puppy grabbed a mouthful, watch for loose stool or vomiting and keep it drinking. Call your vet if diarrhea lasts more than a day, contains blood, or if the puppy seems tired or will not eat.

Signs of trouble and when to call a vet

Most dogs that eat mac and cheese show mild signs within a few hours: gas, a gurgling belly, soft stool or one vomit. These usually settle within a day. Excessive thirst and urination can follow a very salty meal.

Call your vet the same day for repeated vomiting, a hunched or painful belly, refusing food or lethargy, which can follow a fatty meal. If garlic or onion was involved, watch over the next few days for weakness, pale gums, fast breathing or dark urine, and call your vet if you see any.

Better options for your dog

If you want to share pasta night, set aside a few pieces of plain cooked macaroni before the sauce goes on. A spoonful of plain cooked pasta is a better occasional treat than the finished dish.

For a cheesy reward, the AKC suggests lower-fat cheeses such as a small cube of part-skim mozzarella or a spoonful of cottage cheese, for dogs that tolerate dairy. Keep it small, and save it for training rather than mealtimes.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.