Can Dogs Eat…? Safe & Toxic Foods A–Z
Quick, sourced answers on which human foods are safe for dogs, which to limit, and which are an emergency. Looking for cats? →
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🍎 Fruit
ApplesSafe in moderationYes, sliced and without the core or seeds. Apple slices are a crunchy, low-fat treat, but remove the core and seeds first.AvocadoUse cautionNot recommended. The flesh is unlikely to poison a dog, but the large pit can block the gut, and guacamole usually contains onion and garlic, which are toxic. Avocado is far more dangerous for birds and some other animals.BananasSafe in moderationYes, in moderation. Banana is a safe treat for dogs, but it is high in sugar, so a few slices are enough. Don't give the peel.BlackberriesSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Fresh blackberries are a safe, low-calorie treat for most dogs.BlueberriesSafeYes. Blueberries are a safe, low-calorie treat for most dogs, fresh or frozen.CantaloupeSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Cantaloupe flesh is safe for dogs, but it is fairly high in sugar.CoconutSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Coconut flesh is not toxic to dogs, but it is high in fat and can upset the stomach.CranberriesSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Plain fresh or dried cranberries are not toxic to dogs, but many cranberry products are risky.GrapesDangerous — call a vetNo. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and no safe amount is known — some dogs have been poisoned by a handful. Call a vet straight away if your dog eats any.KiwiSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Peeled kiwi is safe for dogs, but cut it up — a whole kiwi is a choking hazard.MangoSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Ripe mango flesh is safe for dogs, but always remove the stone and the skin.OrangesSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. A segment or two of peeled orange is fine for most dogs, but the sugar and acid can upset the stomach.PeachesSafe in moderationYes, fresh peach flesh in small amounts. The stone is dangerous: it can block the gut and contains cyanide-releasing compounds.PearsSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Fresh pear is a safe treat, but remove the core and seeds.PineappleSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. A few chunks of fresh pineapple are a safe treat, but it is high in sugar and fibre.StrawberriesSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Fresh strawberries are a safe, fibre-rich treat for dogs, but they contain sugar, so keep portions small.TomatoesSafe in moderationYes, ripe tomato flesh in small amounts. The green parts of the plant — stems, leaves and unripe green tomatoes — contain solanine and should be avoided.WatermelonSafe in moderationYes, without the rind or seeds. Seedless watermelon flesh is a hydrating summer treat, but the rind and seeds can upset the stomach or cause a blockage.
🥕 Vegetables
BroccoliSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Broccoli is safe for dogs as an occasional treat, but too much can irritate the gut.CarrotsSafeYes. Carrots are a healthy, low-calorie treat for dogs, raw or cooked. Cut them into pieces that suit your dog's size so they can't be swallowed whole.CelerySafeYes. Celery is a safe, low-calorie snack for dogs.CornSafe in moderationCorn kernels are safe in small amounts, but never give a dog a corn cob — cobs are a common cause of dangerous gut blockages.CucumbersSafeYes. Cucumber is a safe, very low-calorie, crunchy treat for most dogs.GarlicToxicNo. Garlic is in the same family as onions and is considered several times stronger — it damages red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Don't give garlic supplements or garlic-seasoned food.MushroomsUse cautionPlain store-bought mushrooms are generally safe, but wild mushrooms can be deadly — treat any wild mushroom as an emergency.OnionsToxicNo. Onions — raw, cooked or powdered — damage dogs' red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Small amounts eaten over days can add up, and onion powder in gravy, stuffing and baby food counts too.PeasSafeYes. Green peas, snow peas and sugar snap peas are safe for dogs.PotatoesSafe in moderationCooked, plain potato is fine in small amounts. Raw potatoes and green parts contain solanine and should be avoided.SpinachSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Spinach is not toxic, but it contains oxalic acid, so it is best as an occasional extra rather than a regular part of the diet.Sweet PotatoesSafe in moderationYes, cooked and plain. Sweet potato is safe for dogs in moderation and is a common ingredient in dog food.ZucchiniSafeYes. Plain zucchini (courgette) is a safe, low-calorie vegetable for dogs.
🍗 Meat & fish
ChickenSafeYes. Plain, cooked, boneless chicken is safe for dogs and is a main ingredient in many dog foods. Cooked bones are dangerous.HamUse cautionNot recommended. Ham is not toxic, but it is very salty and fatty — a small piece is unlikely to harm, a plateful can.PorkSafe in moderationPlain, well-cooked pork is fine in small amounts. Avoid raw or undercooked pork, fatty cuts, bones and processed pork.SalmonSafe in moderationYes, cooked and boneless. Never feed raw salmon — it can carry a parasite that causes salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal.ShrimpSafe in moderationYes, cooked and peeled, in small amounts. Raw shrimp, shells and tails should be avoided.TunaUse cautionNot as a regular food. A little tuna is unlikely to harm, but tuna is high in mercury, so it is best avoided as a treat.TurkeySafe in moderationYes, plain cooked turkey meat. Skip the skin, fat, bones and seasoned stuffing — fatty holiday leftovers are a common cause of pancreatitis.
🧀 Dairy & eggs
CheeseSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts. Most dogs can have a little plain cheese as a treat, but it is high in fat and some dogs are lactose intolerant. Avoid cheeses with garlic, onion or herbs.EggsSafeYes, cooked. Plain cooked eggs are a good source of protein for dogs. Avoid raw eggs, which can carry Salmonella, and don't add butter, salt or seasoning.Ice CreamUse cautionNot recommended. Ice cream is high in sugar and fat, many dogs digest lactose poorly, and some flavours — chocolate, and anything with xylitol or raisins — are toxic.MilkUse cautionNot recommended. Many adult dogs can't digest lactose well, so milk often causes diarrhoea and gas. A small lick is unlikely to hurt, but it shouldn't be a regular drink.YogurtSafe in moderationYes, plain yogurt in small amounts. Check the label: some yogurts contain xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.
🥜 Nuts & seeds
AlmondsUse cautionNot recommended. Almonds are not toxic like macadamia nuts, but dogs don’t chew them well — they can block the gut — and they are high in fat.CashewsSafe in moderationYes, a few plain cashews. They are not toxic, but they are high in fat, so keep it to an occasional treat.Macadamia nutsToxicNo. Macadamia nuts can make dogs weak in the back legs, wobbly, feverish and sick, usually within 12 hours. Most dogs recover in a day or two, but a vet should check them — especially if the nuts were in chocolate.Peanut butterSafe in moderationYes, in small amounts — if it contains no xylitol. Plain, unsalted peanut butter is a popular treat, but check the label: some sugar-free brands contain xylitol (birch sugar), which is very dangerous for dogs.PistachiosUse cautionNot recommended. Pistachios are not toxic, but they are fatty, and the shells are a choking and blockage hazard.
🍞 Bread & grains
BreadSafe in moderationPlain baked bread is fine in small amounts. Raw dough is an emergency, and breads with raisins, garlic, nuts or xylitol are dangerous.OatmealSafe in moderationYes, plain cooked oatmeal in small amounts. It is a good source of fibre.PopcornSafe in moderationPlain, air-popped popcorn is fine as an occasional treat. Buttered, salted or flavoured popcorn and unpopped kernels are not.Raw bread doughDangerous — call a vetNo. Raw yeast dough keeps rising in a dog's warm stomach, which can stretch it dangerously, and the fermenting yeast produces alcohol. Call a vet right away.RiceSafeYes. Plain cooked white or brown rice is safe for dogs and is often recommended by vets for an upset stomach.
🍫 Sweets & snacks
ChocolateToxicNo. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs clear very slowly — they can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.HoneySafe in moderationYes, in very small amounts for healthy adult dogs. Honey is mostly sugar; avoid it for puppies, diabetic, overweight or immunocompromised dogs.XylitolDangerous — call a vetNo. Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, mints and some peanut butters, makes a dog's blood sugar crash within minutes and can cause liver failure. Any amount is a reason to call a vet now.
☕ Drinks
AlcoholDangerous — call a vetNo. Even small amounts of alcohol can cause vomiting, wobbling, dangerously low blood sugar and breathing problems in dogs. Call a vet if your dog drinks any.CoffeeToxicNo. Caffeine in coffee, grounds, tea bags, energy drinks and caffeine pills overstimulates a dog's heart and nervous system. A lick of coffee is unlikely to matter; grounds, beans and pills can be dangerous.HopsDangerous — call a vetNo. Hops used in home brewing can cause a dangerously high body temperature in dogs. Any dog that eats hops needs a vet straight away.
🌿 Herbs & spices
🍽️ Other
🎄 Holiday foods to watch
Thanksgiving:Cinnamon, Cranberries, Garlic, Grapes, Onions, Raw bread dough, Sweet Potatoes, Turkey
Christmas:Alcohol, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Cranberries, Garlic, Grapes, Ham, Macadamia nuts, Raw bread dough, Salt, Turkey
July 4th & BBQs:Alcohol, Avocado, Corn, Ice Cream, Onions, Watermelon
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