Human foods dogs can and cannot eat

Never give these

These are toxic to dogs. Each links to a page on what it does and how it shows up on a label.

• Chocolate and cocoa, worst when dark or for baking
• Xylitol, the sweetener in sugar-free gum, sweets and some peanut butters
• Grapes, raisins and currants
• Onions, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol and raw yeast dough
• Coffee, tea and energy drinks
• Nutmeg and avocado

Garlic is in the same family as onion. It is less potent, but it is still best kept off your dog’s plate. If your dog has eaten something on this list, call your vet straight away, even if they seem fine.

Be careful with these

• Cooked bones: they splinter and can cut or block the gut.
• Fatty food: bacon, fried food, skin and fat trimmings can upset the stomach and are linked to pancreatitis.
• Salty and seasoned food: chips, cured meats, sauces and stock cubes, which often hide onion or garlic too.
• Peanut butter: fine in small amounts only if it has no xylitol and little salt. Check the label every time.
• Dairy: many adult dogs digest lactose poorly, so milk and cheese can cause an upset stomach.

Usually safe in small amounts

• Plain cooked chicken, turkey, beef or fish, with no bones, skin or seasoning
• Plain cooked egg
• Plain cooked rice or oats
• Carrot, cucumber, green beans and plain cooked pumpkin
• Apple slices without the core or seeds, blueberries, banana, and seedless watermelon without the rind

“Plain” matters. The same chicken cooked with onion, garlic or a salty sauce is no longer a safe snack.

How much to share

Keep extras, treats included, under about 10% of your dog’s daily calories so they do not unbalance a complete diet. Introduce one new food at a time in a small amount, so you can tell what caused it if your dog has an upset stomach. Dogs with health conditions or on a special diet should only get extras their vet has approved.

The same foods turn up on labels

Toxic ingredients are not only a kitchen risk. Raisins appear in some baked treats, xylitol in sugar-free products and garlic in jerky. SnoutScan checks every label for them first, before anything else, and the junk treat guide covers what else to look for.

Common questions