Can Dogs Eat String Cheese? Yes, in Small Pieces

Why string cheese is one of the better cheese choices

String cheese is usually low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, stretched so it pulls apart in strings. The AKC lists mozzarella among the lower-fat cheeses it recommends for dogs, alongside cottage cheese and soft goat cheese, so string cheese is a sensible pick when you want to use cheese at all.

The AKC also notes that cheese has little lactose compared with whole milk, and that it is a good way to hide pills for dogs that need medication. A pinch of string cheese wrapped around a tablet works well for many dogs.

Fat, calories and lactose

Lower fat is not low fat. The AKC warns that cheese is high in fat, that regular feeding can lead to weight gain, and that fatty cheese can cause pancreatitis, which can be serious and potentially fatal. A whole stick is a big treat for a small dog.

The AKC also says dogs with severe lactose intolerance may react even to small amounts of cheese. The ASPCA notes pets do not make much lactase, so dairy can cause diarrhea. If your dog gets loose stool after cheese, stop it and choose a non-dairy treat.

Choking: tear it, do not hand over the stick

A whole string cheese stick is soft, but it is also dense and the right shape to slide to the back of a dog's throat if swallowed in one gulp. Peel it into thin strings and then tear those into short pieces before offering any.

For a dog under 20 lb, pieces about the size of a pea make good training treats. For larger dogs, pieces the size of a fingertip are plenty. Hand them over one at a time rather than dropping a pile on the floor.

Flavored and smoked sticks to skip

Smoked, pepper jack, garlic and herb, and other flavored cheese sticks add salt and seasonings, and the AKC warns that some cheeses contain toxic ingredients such as garlic, onions and chives. Cheddar and colby-jack twists are richer than mozzarella.

Snack packs that bundle cheese with crackers, pretzels or salami add more salt and fat. If your dog ate flavored cheese with garlic or onion, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

How much string cheese by dog size

The AKC suggests cheese as an occasional treat, such as a small cube or a few shreds. As a guide for a healthy adult dog: under 20 lb, about a quarter of a stick a day at most; 20 to 50 lb, up to half a stick; over 50 lb, up to one stick, broken up.

Use it a few days a week rather than every day, or as a pill wrap when needed. The AKC advises seeing your vet first if your dog has obesity or food sensitivities, and dogs with a history of pancreatitis should skip cheese.

If you like to share small snacks, a lick mat or a treat ball makes a little go further and slows a fast eater down.

Puppies and string cheese

Weaned puppies can have a few tiny pieces of plain string cheese, and it makes a high-value training reward. Keep pieces the size of a grain of rice to a pea, depending on the puppy's size, because puppies gulp.

Introduce it on its own and watch the stool for a day, since a puppy's stomach is easily upset by dairy. Keep the total small, so most of what your puppy eats is its complete puppy food.

Signs cheese disagreed with your dog, when to call a vet, and alternatives

Gas, a soft stool or one bout of diarrhea within a day usually means too much dairy. Stop the cheese and the stool should settle within a day or two. Call your vet the same day if vomiting repeats, your dog hunches or seems sore in the belly, or stops eating.

Go straight to a vet if your dog is choking or gagging after swallowing a stick. For a non-dairy reward, try small pieces of plain cooked chicken, green beans or blueberries.

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