What not to feed dogs? A list of foods to avoid
Dogs hoover up anything that hits the floor, and it isn't always safe. Some foods cause nothing worse than an upset stomach, while others are genuinely dangerous: chocolate, grapes, xylitol. Below is a short reference you can keep handy.
If your dog has already eaten something (especially from the "toxic" column) β don't wait for symptoms, call your vet or a 24-hour clinic right away. Many poisonings are far easier to prevent in the first hour than to treat a day later.
π¦ Quick-reference table
| Food | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled chicken/turkey, unsalted | β Yes | A great treat β no bones, skin, or seasoning |
| Boiled egg | β Yes | In moderation; raw is not recommended |
| Carrot, courgette, apple without seeds | β Yes | Healthy, low-calorie treats |
| Plain unsweetened yogurt | β οΈ With care | Many dogs are lactose intolerant |
| Cheese | β οΈ With care | Fatty β extra calories, risk of pancreatitis |
| Nuts (almond, walnut) | β οΈ With care | Fatty and hard to digest |
| Avocado | β οΈ With care | The flesh is fairly low-risk, but not the pit or skin |
| Raw meat | β οΈ With care | Risk of salmonella; not for puppies |
| Chocolate | β Toxic | Theobromine and caffeine. Learn more β |
| Grapes and raisins | β Toxic | Kidney damage. Learn more β |
| Onion, garlic, leek | β Toxic | Damage red blood cells; dangerous in any form |
| Xylitol (sweetener) | β Toxic | Sudden blood-sugar crash and liver damage |
| Alcohol | β Toxic | Dangerous even in small amounts |
| Caffeine | β Toxic | Racing heartbeat, seizures |
| Macadamia | β Toxic | Weakness, tremors, hyperthermia |
| Raw yeast dough | β Toxic | Swells and ferments in the stomach |
| Bones (especially cooked) | β Dangerous | Splinter into sharp shards |
The "never allowed" list
If you remember just one thing β keep these away from your dog: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion and garlic (in any form), xylitol, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia, and raw dough. Also: cooked bones, especially poultry bones β they splinter into sharp shards that can puncture the oesophagus or intestines.
And a separate word on medicines: paracetamol, ibuprofen, and many antidepressants are extremely toxic to dogs. Never give your dog human painkillers "by guesswork" β even a single tablet can be fatal.
What to do if your dog has already eaten something on this list
- Clear away the leftovers so your dog can't finish them.
- Estimate how much was eaten and how long ago. Your vet needs this to calculate the dose.
- Grab the packaging or a photo of the food.
- Call your vet. If your local clinic is closed, call a 24-hour one. Don't wait for symptoms: by the time they appear, the poisoning has usually already taken hold.
Don't try to induce vomiting yourself unless you're sure it's appropriate. With some toxins (alkalis, petroleum products, sharp objects) vomiting only makes things worse.
"She only ate a tiny bit β is that scary?"
It depends on the food, the dose, and the dog's weight. A piece of milk chocolate for a thirty-kilogram Labrador is almost certainly safe. The same amount of dark chocolate for a five-kilogram dog is a reason to head straight to the vet. One clove of garlic in a soup won't kill, but half a bulb might.
Safe treat alternatives
- Boiled chicken or turkey with no salt or seasoning
- Carrot and courgette β raw or boiled
- Apple without seeds or core
- Pumpkin β boiled or as unsweetened purΓ©e
- Bananas β in moderation
- Watermelon without seeds or rind
- Blueberries β antioxidants, and almost every dog loves them
The main rule: treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories.
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