Can Dogs Eat Cheez-Its? What the Label Says

Cheez-Its smell like cheese and crunch loud, so dogs notice them fast. If one just hit the floor, here’s what the label says.

What is on the label

I pulled the ingredient list for Original Baked Snack Crackers from Open Food Facts (product code 0024100106851). Ingredients are listed from the most to the least by weight.

Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), vegetable oil (soybean, palm, canola and/or sunflower with TBHQ for freshness), cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey protein, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes, annatto extract color). Contains 2% or less of salt, paprika, yeast, paprika extract color, soy lecithin.

Recipes change, and flavors and package sizes can differ, so read the bag you actually have before you rely on this list.

What matters for your dog

• Salt. ASPCA says excessive salt can cause increased thirst and urination and, depending on the amount, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and even death. Size matters: the same snack is a bigger dose for a small dog.
• Dairy. ASPCA says pets don’t have much lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose, so milk-based foods can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. Whey, cheese, buttermilk and milk powders on a label all count.
• Nothing else from ASPCA’s list. I compared this label to ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid and didn’t find onion, garlic, chives, chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts.

About Cheez-Its

The Original label has no onion powder or garlic powder, which is the first thing I check on a seasoned cracker. The cheese is real cheese made with skim milk, and salt shows up twice, once inside the cheese and once in the “contains 2% or less” group at the end.

That leaves two things to think about: salt and dairy. A dog that licked up a crumb is in a very different spot than a dog that got into the box. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or a dog that suddenly drinks and pees a lot, and call your vet if you see those signs or if the amount was big for your dog’s size.

Other Cheez-It flavors have different ingredient lists, and some seasoned snacks add onion or garlic powder. This page covers the Original only.

If your dog already ate some

Questions people ask

Is white cheddar Cheez-It any different?

I only checked the Original. Flavored Cheez-Its have their own ingredient lists, so check the bag you have for onion powder or garlic powder.

Is cheese itself bad for dogs?

ASPCA says pets don’t have much lactase, so milk-based foods can cause diarrhea or other stomach upset. How much trouble it causes depends on the dog.

How many Cheez-Its can a dog eat?

I can’t give you a number, because it depends on your dog’s size, age, and health. Dogs get what they need from dog food, and crackers add salt and fat they don’t need. Ask your vet what treats fit your dog.

More label checks

• Can Dogs Eat Goldfish Crackers?Onion powder is on the label. Skip these.
• Can Dogs Eat Cheetos?No onion or garlic on this label, but it's salty and full of whey.
• Can Dogs Eat Doritos Nacho Cheese?Onion powder and garlic powder are on the label. Skip these.
• Can Dogs Eat Flamin’ Hot Cheetos?Onion powder and garlic powder are both on the label. Skip these.

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Sources

• ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• Pet Poison Helpline: Salt
• Open Food Facts: Original Baked Snack Crackers (code 0024100106851)

Last reviewed October 31, 2026. I’m not a vet, and this page is general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If you’re worried about your dog, call your vet.