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Is it safe for my dog to eat cheese, ice cream, or drink milk?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | neutered | 2 years and 10 months old

Can dogs eat cheddar cheese, vanilla ice cream, 1% milk?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 22nd, 2017

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dogs typically do not have a complete intolerance to dairy, but as it is not a mainstay of their dietary needs, it can cause GI upset. I typically do not recommend giving dogs straight milk, and lower sugar ice creams can have artificial sugars (such as xylitol) which are toxic to dogs. Regular ice cream or cheese can be fine in small amounts but it based on each individual animal. If you want to give your dog anything dairy as a small treat, only start with one thing in very small amounts to see how Brody tolerates it and ensure he doesn't develop any vomiting/diarrhea.

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    Answered By Rebecca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I would not recommend dairy products for dogs. They lack the proper enzymes to digest lactose and that may result in diarrhea. In addition dogs definitely do not need the added fat and sugar that is found in ice cream. A very small amount of cheese can be used if needed to hide pills or medication but beyond that I would recommend sticking to dog treats

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