Foods that are toxic to dogs
These can make a dog seriously ill even in small amounts. Keep them out of reach, and call a vet if your dog eats any of them:
- Grapes, raisins and currants: can cause sudden kidney failure. There is no known safe amount.
- Chocolate, coffee and tea: theobromine and caffeine affect the heart and nerves. Check a dose with the chocolate toxicity calculator.
- Onions, garlic, chives and leeks: in any form, including powders in sauces and baby food, they damage red blood cells.
- Xylitol (birch sugar): in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters and baked goods. It can cause a dangerous sugar crash within an hour and liver failure.
- Macadamia nuts and walnuts: weakness, tremors, vomiting and fever.
- Alcohol and raw yeast dough: dough keeps rising in the stomach and makes alcohol.
- Cooked bones and corn cobs: not poisons, but they splinter or block the gut and often need surgery.
Safe foods dogs can eat
Plain, unseasoned versions of these are fine as treats: carrots, green beans, cucumber, apples without seeds, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon without seeds, bananas, plain pumpkin, cooked chicken, turkey and lean beef, cooked eggs, plain rice, and xylitol-free peanut butter.
The 10% rule
Treats, including people food, should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. The other 90% should come from a complete dog food. The dog food calculator shows your dog's daily calories and treat budget.
All foods in the checker
| Food | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | Safe | Yes, sliced, without the core and seeds. Seeds contain small amounts of cyanide compounds. |
| Apricots | Careful | The flesh is fine in small pieces, but the pit, stem and leaves contain cyanide compounds. Remove the pit. |
| Asparagus | Safe | Yes, cooked and cut small. Raw stalks are tough and hard to chew. |
| Avocado | Careful | Not recommended. The flesh can upset the stomach and is very fatty, and the pit can block the gut. |
| Bacon | Careful | Not a good idea. It is very fatty and salty and can trigger pancreatitis. |
| Bananas | Safe | Yes, in small pieces as a treat. They are high in sugar, so keep it occasional. |
| Beef (cooked, lean) | Safe | Yes, plain, lean and cooked, with no seasoning, onion or garlic. |
| Beer | Toxic | No. Alcohol is toxic to dogs, and hops can cause dangerous overheating. |
| Bell peppers | Safe | Yes, raw or cooked, without seeds or seasoning. |
| Blackberries | Safe | Yes, a few as a treat. |
| Blueberries | Safe | Yes, a good low calorie treat. |
| Bread (plain) | Safe | A small piece of plain bread is fine. Avoid raw dough and bread with raisins, garlic or nuts. |
| Broccoli | Safe | Yes, in small amounts. Large amounts can irritate the stomach. |
| Brussels sprouts | Safe | Yes, cooked, in small amounts. They can cause gas. |
| Candy | Careful | Avoid. Sugar-free candy may contain xylitol, which is very toxic, and chocolate candy is toxic too. |
| Cantaloupe | Safe | Yes, without the rind and seeds, in moderation because of the sugar. |
| Carrots | Safe | Yes, raw or cooked. A good crunchy low calorie treat. |
| Cashews | Careful | A few plain, unsalted, roasted cashews are not toxic, but nuts are fatty. Never salted or mixed with other nuts. |
| Cauliflower | Safe | Yes, plain, in small amounts. |
| Celery | Safe | Yes, cut into small pieces. |
| Cheese | Safe | Small amounts are fine for most dogs. Choose low fat, and skip it if your dog is lactose intolerant. |
| Cherries | Careful | Avoid. The pits, stems and leaves contain cyanide compounds and the pit can block the gut. |
| Chicken (cooked) | Safe | Yes, plain, boneless and cooked. Never give cooked chicken bones. |
| Chives | Toxic | No. Chives are in the onion family and damage red blood cells. |
| Chocolate | Toxic | No. Theobromine and caffeine are toxic. Use the chocolate toxicity calculator to check the dose. |
| Cinnamon | Careful | Not toxic in small amounts, but it can irritate the mouth and stomach. Not a treat. |
| Coconut | Safe | Small amounts of the flesh are fine. Remove the shell. |
| Coffee | Toxic | No. Caffeine is toxic to dogs. |
| Cooked bones | Toxic | No. Cooked bones splinter and can tear or block the gut. |
| Corn (kernels) | Safe | Yes, plain kernels off the cob. |
| Corn on the cob | Toxic | No. The cob can block the intestines and often needs surgery. |
| Cottage cheese | Safe | Yes, plain, in small amounts. |
| Cranberries | Safe | Yes, a few plain cranberries. Avoid sweetened dried mixes with raisins. |
| Cucumber | Safe | Yes, a good low calorie treat. |
| Edamame | Safe | Yes, plain and out of the pod. |
| Eggs (cooked) | Safe | Yes, cooked plain. A good source of protein. |
| Eggs (raw) | Careful | Not recommended because of the risk of salmonella. |
| French fries | Careful | Not a good idea: too much fat and salt. |
| Garlic | Toxic | No. Garlic, including garlic powder, damages red blood cells. It is more toxic than onion. |
| Grapefruit | Careful | The flesh is not toxic but it is sour and can upset the stomach. The peel and seeds should be avoided. |
| Grapes | Toxic | No. Grapes can cause sudden kidney failure, even in small amounts, and the toxic dose is unpredictable. |
| Green beans | Safe | Yes, plain, raw or cooked. |
| Gum | Toxic | No. Most sugar-free gum contains xylitol, which can cause a sudden sugar crash and liver failure. |
| Ham | Careful | Not a good idea: very salty and fatty. |
| Honey | Safe | A small amount is fine for healthy adult dogs. Not for puppies or diabetic dogs. |
| Hot dogs | Careful | Not a good idea: very salty, fatty and often seasoned with onion or garlic. |
| Ice cream | Careful | Not recommended. Dairy and sugar upset many dogs, and some flavors contain chocolate, raisins or xylitol. |
| Kale | Careful | Small amounts are OK, but large amounts can cause stomach and bladder problems. |
| Ketchup | Careful | Avoid. It often contains onion powder, garlic and lots of sugar. |
| Kiwi | Safe | Yes, peeled and cut small. |
| Lemons | Careful | Not toxic in a lick, but the acid upsets the stomach, and the peel and plant are irritating. |
| Lettuce | Safe | Yes, plain. |
| Macadamia nuts | Toxic | No. They cause weakness, wobbling, vomiting and fever in dogs. |
| Mangoes | Safe | Yes, peeled and without the pit. |
| Marshmallows | Careful | Avoid. They are pure sugar, and some contain xylitol. |
| Milk | Careful | Small amounts are OK for some dogs, but many are lactose intolerant and get diarrhea. |
| Mushrooms (store-bought) | Safe | Plain cooked store-bought mushrooms are fine. Never wild mushrooms. |
| Mushrooms (wild) | Toxic | No. Some wild mushrooms are deadly. Call a vet right away if your dog ate one. |
| Nutmeg | Toxic | No. Nutmeg contains myristicin, which can cause tremors and seizures. |
| Oatmeal | Safe | Yes, plain and cooked, without sugar or raisins. |
| Onions | Toxic | No. Onions in any form (raw, cooked, powder) damage red blood cells. |
| Oranges | Safe | A few peeled segments are fine. Skip the peel and seeds. |
| Pasta (plain) | Safe | Yes, plain cooked pasta in small amounts. |
| Peaches | Safe | The flesh is fine in small pieces. Remove the pit, which contains cyanide compounds. |
| Peanut butter | Safe | Yes, plain, unsalted, and only if the label has no xylitol (sometimes called birch sugar). |
| Peanuts | Safe | Yes, plain, unsalted and shelled, a few at a time. |
| Pears | Safe | Yes, without the core and seeds. |
| Peas | Safe | Yes, green peas, snap peas and snow peas. Avoid canned peas with added salt. |
| Pecans | Careful | Avoid. Pecans can carry toxic molds and the fat can cause pancreatitis. |
| Pineapple | Safe | Yes, fresh, peeled and cored, in small pieces. |
| Pistachios | Careful | Avoid. They are fatty and often salted, and the shells can block the gut. |
| Pizza | Careful | Avoid. The sauce and toppings often contain onion and garlic, and it is very fatty. |
| Plums | Careful | Avoid. The pit, stem and leaves contain cyanide compounds and the pit can block the gut. |
| Popcorn | Safe | Plain, air-popped popcorn is fine. No butter, salt or unpopped kernels. |
| Pork (cooked, lean) | Safe | Small amounts of plain, lean, cooked pork are fine. Avoid fatty cuts and processed pork. |
| Potatoes (cooked) | Safe | Plain cooked potato is fine. Raw potato and green skin contain solanine. |
| Pumpkin | Safe | Yes, plain cooked or canned pumpkin. Not pumpkin pie filling. |
| Raisins | Toxic | No. Like grapes, raisins can cause kidney failure. |
| Raspberries | Safe | Yes, a few as a treat. |
| Raw dough | Toxic | No. Yeast dough rises in the stomach and produces alcohol. |
| Rice | Safe | Yes, plain cooked white or brown rice. |
| Salmon (cooked) | Safe | Yes, cooked and boneless. A good source of omega-3. |
| Salmon (raw) | Toxic | No. Raw salmon and trout from the Pacific Northwest can carry a parasite that causes salmon poisoning disease. |
| Sardines | Safe | Yes, canned in water with no added salt. |
| Shrimp (cooked) | Safe | Yes, cooked, peeled and plain. |
| Spinach | Careful | Small amounts are OK, but spinach is high in oxalates. Not a regular treat. |
| Strawberries | Safe | Yes, fresh, in small pieces. |
| Sweet potatoes | Safe | Yes, plain and cooked. |
| Tea | Toxic | No. Tea contains caffeine. |
| Tofu | Safe | Small amounts of plain tofu are fine. |
| Tomatoes | Careful | Ripe tomato flesh is fine in small amounts. The green parts, stems and leaves contain solanine. |
| Tuna | Careful | Occasionally, canned in water. Tuna is high in mercury, so not a regular food. |
| Turkey (cooked) | Safe | Yes, plain, boneless and skinless. No cooked bones or seasoned skin. |
| Walnuts | Toxic | No. Walnuts, especially black walnuts and moldy ones, can cause tremors and seizures. |
| Watermelon | Safe | Yes, without seeds and rind. A good hydrating treat. |
| Xylitol | Toxic | No. Xylitol (birch sugar) in sugar-free gum, candy and some peanut butters can be fatal to dogs. |
| Yogurt (plain) | Safe | Plain yogurt with no sugar or xylitol is fine in small amounts. |
| Zucchini | Safe | Yes, raw or cooked plain. |
Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets"; American Kennel Club food guides; Merck Veterinary Manual toxicology chapters. This list is general guidance: dogs with health problems may need a stricter diet.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat grapes?
No. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and even a few can be dangerous for some dogs. If your dog ate any, call your vet or a poison hotline right away.
Can dogs eat bananas?
Yes, in small pieces as an occasional treat. Bananas are safe but high in sugar.
Can dogs eat cheese?
Yes, small amounts of cheese are fine for most dogs. Choose low fat cheese, and skip it if your dog gets an upset stomach from dairy.
Can dogs eat peanut butter?
Yes, plain unsalted peanut butter is fine in small amounts, as long as the label has no xylitol (also called birch sugar).
Can dogs eat watermelon?
Yes, without the seeds and rind. It is a good low calorie, hydrating treat.
What should I do if my dog ate something toxic?
Call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away. Have the food package and your dog's weight ready, and do not make your dog vomit unless told to.
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Guides for this calculator
- Can Dogs Eat Apples?
- Can Dogs Eat Avocado?
- Can Dogs Eat Bananas?
- Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?
- Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
- Can Dogs Eat Chicken bones?
- Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
- Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
- Can Dogs Eat Grapes? No: Here Is Why and What to Do
- Can Dogs Eat Peanut butter?
- Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?
- Can Dogs Eat Strawberries?
- Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
- Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
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Last updated October 2026.