There are plenty of “people” foods that are safe to share with your dog — but there are also certain foods or ingredients that are dangerous, and should be avoided. Taking a moment to research what a dog can’t eat can help keep your canine companion safe, and in some cases, even save their life.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you. Here's a list of common foods toxic to dogs, and what to do if your pup consumes them.
Foods Toxic To Dogs
What can dogs not eat? Well, there are foods that aren’t great for your pup — and then there are foods that are downright toxic. The foods and ingredients listed in this section are toxic for dogs. Read on to learn about the most dangerous foods for your dog.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweetener commonly found in candy, gum, yogurt, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods. If ingested, it can cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and cause liver failure.
Early symptoms of xylitol ingestion include: vomiting, lethargy, and coordination problems. Eventually, your dog may have seizures, and liver failure can happen within just a few days.
Because xylitol is an ingredient and not a whole food, it’s not always obvious which foods contain xylitol and which don’t. For example, some peanut butter, yogurt, ice cream, and packaged baked goods may all contain xylitol. For this reason, it’s important to always read ingredient labels before feeding your dog human foods, and make sure that they’re safe for your pup.
If you suspect that your dog has ingested xylitol, contact your vet immediately.
Alcohol
Alcohol has the same effect on a dog's liver and brain as it does on people. However, it takes a lot less alcohol to harm your dog than it would to harm you. Just a little beer, liquor, wine, or food that contains alcohol can be hazardous for your pup.
Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma, even death. The smaller your dog, the worse it can be. So, avoid giving your pup alcohol — and if they do ingest it, call your vet right away.
Garlic, Onions, and Chives
Although cats are more sensitive to alliums, dogs can be also affected by eating garlic, onions, chives, leeks, and related plants.
Sulfur-containing compounds in these plants can affect red blood cells, resulting in a form of anemia called Heinz body anemia. This can cause weakness, exercise intolerance, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in respiratory and heart rate, red urine, collapse, and even death.
Garlic and onions are used to season many foods, so always double check the ingredients in a dish before giving your pup a bite.
Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine
If you want to perk up your pup, give them a treat or a toy. But please, skip the caffeine — it can be fatal for dogs.
Beware of letting your dog consume tea or coffee — even the beans or the grounds. Also keep them away from cocoa, sodas, energy drinks, and even cold medicines and pain killers that may contain caffeine.
Think your pup had some caffeine? Get them to the vet as soon as possible.
Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins are amongst the foods toxic for dogs. Even a little bit can make your pup very sick and cause kidney failure or even death.
Don’t give your pup foods that may contain any variety of grapes or raisins (be extra aware of baked goods that may contain raisins as an ingredient). It’s also a good idea to make sure that your trash can and/or compost bin have secure lids so that your pup can’t access any discarded grapes or raisins.
Vomiting is an early sign of raisin or grape ingestion. Your dog may also get sluggish and depressed, and within a few days show signs of kidney issues including: increased thirst and/or urine production, diminished amount of urine, or not urinating at all
If your dog has ingested grapes or raisins, immediate treatment is absolutely critical. Contact your vet immediately.
Macadamia Nuts
Keep your pup away from macadamia nuts and foods that may have macadamia nuts in them, like baked goods. As little as six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make your dog sick.
Look out for symptoms like muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in their back legs. Eating chocolate covered macadamia nuts will make symptoms worse, and can even lead to death — be sure to contact your vet right away.
Chocolate
You likely already know that chocolate is toxic for dogs. But what makes it so bad for them?
The problem is actually something called theobromine, a bitter-tasting compound found in chocolate, tea, and certain other plants. Dogs metabolize theobromine much more slowly than humans, which can cause it to build up in their system and lead to chocolate toxicity.
Theobromine is found in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. However, the most dangerous types of chocolate for dogs are the more bitter varieties, like dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate.
Ingesting chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and even death. If your pup has eaten chocolate, seek medical attention straight away.
Yeast Dough
While most fully-baked bread is fine for dogs to eat, yeast dough can cause large amounts of gas to accumulate in your pup’s intestinal tract. This is not only painful for dogs, but can also lead to a potentially fatal condition called gastric bloat and torsion.
Additionally, the yeast in bread dough produces ethanol, which can cause your dog to become intoxicated, similar to signs you might see with alcohol ingestion. Even small amounts of yeast-containing dough can be problematic for dogs, so be sure to keep it away from your pup.
What Foods Should Dogs Not Eat?
Some foods aren't considered toxic for dogs, but they can still cause health problems. These foods are best avoided, even if your pup has previously eaten them with no side effects.
If your dog does eat any of the foods listed in the following section and shows signs of illness, contact your vet.
Fat Trimmings and Bones
Fat trimmed from meat — both cooked and uncooked — can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, although it may seem natural to give a dog a bone, the reality is that it’s a major choking hazard. Bones can also splinter and cause cuts in your dog's digestive system, or an intestinal blockage.
Milk and Dairy Products
Many dairy products are high in fat, which can lead to gastrointestinal upset in dogs, and trigger pancreatitis. Additionally, many animals lack the enzyme lactase, which helps break down the sugars in dairy products. Dogs who ingest dairy may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.
Raw Eggs
Some people feed their dogs a raw diet that includes uncooked eggs. However, major veterinary medical associations don't recommend it. If you feed your dog raw eggs, there’s a risk of them getting food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Before putting your pup on a raw diet, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet first.
Salt (And Salty Snacks)
While ingesting a large amount of salt is indeed considered toxic for dogs, most pups aren’t likely to consume enough salt to be poisoned. However, dogs who are prone to high blood pressure, or have heart or kidney disease, are more sensitive to the effects of salt.
Salty foods can lead to excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression in pups. In severe cases, these signs can progress to tremors, seizures, and death. So, while the occasional potato chip dropped on the floor is unlikely to cause a problem for your pup, it shouldn't be a regular part of their diet.
Raw Meat and Fish
Like raw eggs, raw meat and fish can have bacteria that causes food poisoning. Some fish, like salmon, trout, and sturgeon can also have a parasite that causes "fish disease" or "salmon poisoning disease." So, skip sharing the sushi.
Signs of food poisoning from raw fish include vomiting, fever, and swollen lymph nodes — if you witness any of these in your dog, you’ll want to contact your vet right away. Cooking fish kills the parasite and lowers your dog’s chances of getting food poisoning, so it’s best to give your pup fully-cooked fish instead.
Citrus
The occasional piece of an orange or other citrus fruit is safe for your dog, but these fruits should be given in moderation.
The peels, seeds, and leaves in citrus fruits tend to contain large amounts of essential oils, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system damage in dogs when eaten in large amounts. Be sure to remove these before giving your pup a bite of citrus (or any fruit, just to be safe).
Coconut and Coconut Oil
Although small amounts of coconut-containing products are not likely to cause serious harm to your dog, they may trigger diarrhea or gastrointestinal upset. Coconut water is also high in potassium, which could cause electrolyte problems in dogs who have heart or kidney issues.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats a Toxic Food
Now that you know the answer to “What can dogs not eat?” you’re equipped with the knowledge to help keep your dog safe. However, accidents can happen. So, what should you do if your dog does eat a food that’s harmful for them?
If your dog eats any of the toxic foods discussed in this article, the most important thing to do is to contact your vet immediately. You can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.
Some general signs that your dog may have eaten one of the foods toxic to dogs include: vomiting, diarrhea, pain, and lethargy. Sometimes, a dog's stomach will also become bloated from gas and feel hard to the touch. This painful condition can cause the stomach to burst if not treated.
Treatment varies widely depending on the type of toxin ingested. In some cases, your vet may induce vomiting or walk you through how to induce vomiting — but it’s not a good idea to do this on your own accord. Some situations may get worse if you induce vomiting, so always talk to a vet first.
Treatments are typically more successful and hospitalization is shorter if your dog gets help fast. Don’t wait — contact your vet as soon as you realize your pup may have eaten something dangerous for them, even if they aren’t showing symptoms right away.
For more information about what dogs cannot eat, check out this article.
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