My dog

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Can dogs eat it?

Can dogs eat quinoa?

Yes, in moderation Yes, plain and cooked. Quinoa is used in some dog foods. Do not share quinoa dishes made with onion, garlic or salt.

Why

Dogs Trust lists quinoa among foods dogs can usually eat, and AKC says it is generally safe and appears in some dry dog foods. It contains saponin, which may irritate the gut, but usually too little to matter, and rinsing removes most of it (AKC). Some dogs find it hard to digest. AKC also lists quinoa among foods high in calcium oxalate, which dogs prone to kidney or bladder stones should avoid.

How to give it safely

Rinse, cook plain and offer a small amount first. Stop if your dog has vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation afterwards (AKC).

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.

Other foods people ask about

Bread Only with care Plain white or wholemeal bread in small amounts will not hurt most dogs, but it adds nothing. Never raisin, garlic or mouldy bread. Fruit cake and Christmas pudding No, toxic No. Fruit cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies are packed with raisins, sultanas and currants, which can cause kidney failure in dogs. Oatmeal and porridge Yes, in moderation Yes, cooked with water and plain. Oatmeal is a good fibre source, but skip instant, flavoured and milky versions. Pasta Yes, in moderation Yes, a small amount of plain cooked pasta. Keep the sauce away: many contain garlic and onion. Raw bread dough No, toxic No. Raw yeast dough keeps rising in the stomach and makes alcohol as it ferments. Both can be life threatening. Rice Yes, in moderation Yes. Plain boiled rice is easy to digest and is often used in a bland diet after a stomach upset.

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Last reviewed 2026-09-29.