Can dogs eat cottage cheese?
AKC recommends low-fat cheeses such as cottage cheese for dogs – it’s lower in fat, sodium and lactose than other cheeses. Some dogs still don’t tolerate dairy well and get diarrhea (ASPCA).
How to serve it: plain and low-fat (low-fat quark or cottage cheese), no herbs, onion or garlic
Good to know: None of the sources covers quark, a German fresh cheese, on its own. Like cottage cheese and yogurt, it’s dairy: choose plain low-fat quark and go by how well your dog tolerates dairy (AKC).
How much is okay
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. Enter your dog’s weight:
Cottage cheese
up to 2.7 oz a day
78 g
10% of 629 kcal a day, for a spayed or neutered dog with normal activity. If your dog gets other treats too, give less.
Questions
What amount of cottage cheese is okay for my dog?
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. For a spayed or neutered dog with normal activity weighing 22 lb, that’s up to 2.7 oz (78 g) a day. Work out the amount for your dog above.
Can cats eat cottage cheese?
Better not. Cottage cheese is a dairy product that contains lactose; many cats are lactose-intolerant and can develop digestive problems from dairy (Cornell). Cats Protection says no type of cheese is good for cats.
Sources
- AKC – Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
- AKC – People Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Blue Cross – Bland diet for dogs and cats (low-fat cottage cheese)
- Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central (81 kcal per 100 g)
Last checked: October 2026