Can Dogs Be Fed Cheese?

Can I feed my dog cheese? He seems to love it but I have heard it can make dogs unwell. (Linda Prewitt - Nebraska)

Most adult dogs are lactose intolerant, which means that they don't have the appropriate biochemistry to digest the most abundant sugar in dairy products (see the related links below for more information) - leading to bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea after consuming any significant quantity of cheese. However, the degree of lactose intolerance is thought to vary widely in dogs, as it does in humans. In addition, cheese has an extremely high fat content and should therefore only be fed sparingly on in lactose-tolerant dogs.

However, many dogs love cheese (and other dairy products),  and feeding very small amounts as a treat will generally do no harm. However, should any ill-effects present themselves after feeding a small quantity of cheese, you should not feed it again.