What happens if a dog eats blue cheese?

It depends on how much roquefortine C that particular cheese carries — you can't tell by looking. Effects range from vomiting and diarrhea to muscle tremors, twitching and seizures, which is why blue cheese is treated as off-limits.

My dog ate a small piece of blue cheese. Should I worry?

A stolen crumb in a large, healthy dog often causes nothing worse than an upset stomach, but watch closely for tremors, twitching or vomiting over the next several hours. Call your vet for small dogs, larger amounts, or any tremor at all.

Why can dogs have cheddar but not blue cheese?

The difference is the mold. Blue cheeses are ripened with Penicillium mold that can produce roquefortine C, which is toxic to dogs. Ordinary cheeses don't carry it — their issues are just fat, salt and lactose.

Are Roquefort, Stilton and Gorgonzola all dangerous for dogs?

Yes. All blue-veined cheeses are made with the same mold family, so treat every one of them the same way — not for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Blue Cheese? Vet-Sourced Answer

Can Dogs Eat Blue Cheese?

Toxic to dogs

No. The mold in blue cheese can produce roquefortine C, a toxin that causes vomiting, tremors and even seizures in dogs. It's also very fatty and salty.

Quick facts

Quick facts
Verdict	Toxic
Risky amount	No safe or toxic dose is established — treat any amount as a risk.
Key symptoms	Vomiting, Diarrhea, Muscle tremors or twitching, Restlessness, High body temperature, Seizures (severe cases)
What to do	If your dog ate blue cheese and shows twitching, tremors, vomiting or a wobbly walk, call your vet right away — tremorgenic mycotoxin poisoning is very treatable when caught early.

Why blue cheese is toxic to dogs

The blue veins in Roquefort, Stilton and Gorgonzola come from Penicillium mold, and that mold can produce roquefortine C — a tremorgenic mycotoxin dogs are notably sensitive to. Depending on the dose, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, twitching and, in serious cases, seizures with dangerously high body temperature.

On top of the mold toxin, blue cheese is among the fattiest and saltiest things in the fridge, so the ordinary cheese problems — stomach upset, pancreatitis risk, salt load — apply with interest. Regular cheese in small amounts is a caution; blue cheese is a no.

What to do if your dog ate blue cheese

There’s no way to know how much roquefortine a particular wedge carries, so play it safe. A single stolen crumb in a large dog often passes with just a grumbly stomach — but if your dog ate more than a crumb, is small, or shows any twitching, tremors, vomiting or a drunken walk, call your vet straight away. Tremor cases treated early usually recover fully.

The rind and the bin

Moldy rinds and forgotten cheese in the trash carry the same family of tremorgenic toxins — see moldy food. Bin-raiding dogs get the identical syndrome, so a latching lid is part of the fix.

If your dog ate it

If your dog ate blue cheese and shows twitching, tremors, vomiting or a wobbly walk, call your vet right away — tremorgenic mycotoxin poisoning is very treatable when caught early.

In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply).

Frequently asked questions

What happens if a dog eats blue cheese?: It depends on how much roquefortine C that particular cheese carries — you can't tell by looking. Effects range from vomiting and diarrhea to muscle tremors, twitching and seizures, which is why blue cheese is treated as off-limits.
My dog ate a small piece of blue cheese. Should I worry?: A stolen crumb in a large, healthy dog often causes nothing worse than an upset stomach, but watch closely for tremors, twitching or vomiting over the next several hours. Call your vet for small dogs, larger amounts, or any tremor at all.
Why can dogs have cheddar but not blue cheese?: The difference is the mold. Blue cheeses are ripened with Penicillium mold that can produce roquefortine C, which is toxic to dogs. Ordinary cheeses don't carry it — their issues are just fat, salt and lactose.
Are Roquefort, Stilton and Gorgonzola all dangerous for dogs?: Yes. All blue-veined cheeses are made with the same mold family, so treat every one of them the same way — not for dogs.