Is mozzarella the best cheese for dogs?

It's one of the better ones — relatively low in fat and salt compared with aged or brined cheeses, which is why trainers reach for string cheese. It's still a treat to measure in shreds, not slices.

Can dogs eat fresh mozzarella balls?

A small piece is fine for most dogs. Fresh mozzarella is stored in brine, so give the surface a rinse and keep the portion small; the marinated versions with garlic and herbs should be skipped.

Is string cheese okay for dogs?

In small pieces, yes — it's a training-treat classic. Pull it into shreds rather than handing over a whole stick, both for calories and to avoid gulping.

Can dogs eat burrata?

Only a small taste. Burrata is mozzarella wrapped around cream, which pushes the fat well above plain mozzarella — closer to the rich cheeses that upset stomachs.

Can Dogs Eat Mozzarella? Vet-Sourced Answer

Can Dogs Eat Mozzarella?

Feed with caution

In small shreds, yes. Mozzarella is one of the mildest cheeses — lower in fat and salt — but it's still dairy, so keep portions tiny.

Quick facts

Quick facts
Verdict	Caution
Risky amount	No safe or toxic dose is established — treat any amount as a risk.
Key symptoms	Gas and bloating, Soft stool or diarrhea, Vomiting in lactose-sensitive dogs
What to do	A mozzarella mishap rarely needs a vet. Call if vomiting or diarrhea persists beyond a day, or if a small dog ate a very large amount.

The dog-friendliest cheese, within reason

If a dog is going to get cheese at all, mozzarella is a sensible pick: it carries less fat and salt than most of the cheese family, and its mild, rubbery shreds make ideal high-value training rewards. The caution flag stays up because it’s still dairy — many adult dogs handle lactose poorly — and still calorie-dense enough that “a little” is doing real work in that sentence.

Which mozzarella, and how much

Low-moisture or part-skim blocks and string cheese are the practical choices: easy to shred, easy to portion. Fresh mozzarella in brine is fine in small pieces (rinse it), while burrata’s cream filling moves it toward the rich cheeses better left alone. Marinated mozzarella with garlic, chili or herbs is a skip — the marinade, not the cheese, is the problem.

Keep pieces pea-sized and occasional, and count them against the day’s treat budget. Dogs that get gassy or loose after dairy are telling you to use something else — plain cottage cheese in small spoonfuls sits gentler for some, and non-dairy treats sidestep it entirely.

If your dog stole the mozzarella ball

Most dogs shrug it off or produce a day of soft stool and gas. Persistent vomiting or diarrhea beyond a day, especially in a small dog after a large haul, is worth a call to your vet.

If your dog ate it

A mozzarella mishap rarely needs a vet. Call if vomiting or diarrhea persists beyond a day, or if a small dog ate a very large amount.

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

Is mozzarella the best cheese for dogs?: It's one of the better ones — relatively low in fat and salt compared with aged or brined cheeses, which is why trainers reach for string cheese. It's still a treat to measure in shreds, not slices.
Can dogs eat fresh mozzarella balls?: A small piece is fine for most dogs. Fresh mozzarella is stored in brine, so give the surface a rinse and keep the portion small; the marinated versions with garlic and herbs should be skipped.
Is string cheese okay for dogs?: In small pieces, yes — it's a training-treat classic. Pull it into shreds rather than handing over a whole stick, both for calories and to avoid gulping.
Can dogs eat burrata?: Only a small taste. Burrata is mozzarella wrapped around cream, which pushes the fat well above plain mozzarella — closer to the rich cheeses that upset stomachs.