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Toxic foods for dogs

If your dog has eaten something on this list, call your vet or an animal poison line now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to.

If your dog has eaten something toxic

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.

Australia: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
  • Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. £35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
  • National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

The foods that poison dogs

Acorns No, toxic No. Acorns are poisonous to dogs. Their tannins can cause a bad stomach upset and, rarely, kidney or liver failure, and they can block the gut. Alcohol No, toxic No. Alcohol is absorbed fast and can cause wobbliness, low blood sugar, low body temperature, seizures and coma in dogs. Blue cheese No, toxic No. Blue cheese is made with a mould and contains roquefortine C, which can cause tremors and seizures in dogs. Chives and leeks No, toxic No. Chives and leeks belong to the same family as onions and garlic and can damage a dog's red blood cells. Chocolate No, toxic No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most dangerous. Coffee, tea and caffeine No, toxic No. Caffeine overstimulates a dog's heart and nervous system. Coffee grounds, beans, tea bags and energy drinks are the biggest risks. Conkers (horse chestnuts) No, toxic No. Conkers, the seeds of the horse chestnut tree, are poisonous to dogs if chewed and eaten, and a swallowed conker can block the gut. Cooked bones No, toxic No. Cooked bones splinter into sharp pieces that can choke a dog, cut the gut or cause a blockage. Never give them. Corn on the cob (the cob) No, toxic No. Swallowed pieces of corn cob can block a dog's gut, which is an emergency. Plain kernels cut off the cob are fine. Energy drinks No, toxic No. Energy drinks carry a lot of caffeine, often with other stimulants such as guarana. Call your vet if your dog drank some. 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. Garlic No, toxic No. Garlic is in the onion family and 3 to 5 times more toxic than onion. It can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia. Grapes and raisins No, toxic No. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and some dogs react to a very small amount. Gravy No, toxic No. Gravy often contains onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs even when cooked, and rich gravy is fatty. Hops No, toxic No. Hops used for brewing beer are toxic to dogs: they can cause a dangerously high temperature, panting and seizures, and can kill. Macadamia nuts No, toxic No. Macadamia nuts cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting and a raised temperature in dogs. Call your vet if your dog eats any. Nutmeg No, toxic No. Nutmeg contains myristicin. A trace in baking is unlikely to harm, but larger amounts can cause disorientation and seizures. Onions No, toxic No. Onions damage a dog's red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Raw, cooked, dried and powdered onion are all toxic. Pecans No, toxic No. Pecans contain juglone and can carry toxic moulds, and like other nuts they are very fatty. Keep them away from your dog. 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. Rhubarb No, toxic No. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to dogs and can damage the kidneys. The stalks hold far less of the toxin, but keep dogs away from the plant. Wild mushrooms No, toxic Treat it as an emergency. A few wild mushrooms, such as the death cap, can cause liver failure, and they are hard to tell apart. Xylitol (sugar-free gum and sweets) No, toxic No, never. Xylitol, found in sugar-free gum, sweets, some nut butters and medicines, is poisonous to dogs and can crash their blood sugar within 30 minutes.

And the ones that are only safe with care

Almonds Only with care Best not. Almonds are not toxic like macadamias, but they are hard to digest, fatty, and can block the throat or gut. Avocado Only with care Best avoided. The flesh is low risk, but the stone can block the gut, the skin and leaves contain persin, and guacamole has onion. Bacon Only with care Best not. Bacon is very fatty and salty, and a large amount can trigger pancreatitis, which can be serious. 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. Butter Only with care Only a lick. Butter is very fatty, and a large amount can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis. Cashews Only with care One or two plain, unsalted cashews will not hurt most dogs, but they are fatty, often salted, and mixed packs can hide macadamias. Cat food Only with care A mouthful now and then will not harm most dogs, but cat food is too rich to be a regular part of their diet. Cheese Only with care A small cube of plain cheese is fine for most dogs. It is fatty, some dogs cannot digest it, and never give blue cheese. Cherries Only with care Not recommended. The flesh is not toxic, but pits, stems and leaves contain cyanide compounds, and a pit can block the gut. Cinnamon Only with care Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, but it can irritate the mouth and gut. The amount in a bite of baking is fine; the oil is riskier. Coconut Only with care Small amounts of plain coconut flesh are fine for most dogs, but it is fatty and can cause diarrhoea. Never the husk or shell. Grapefruit Only with care Best avoided. A little flesh is not toxic but can irritate the gut. The peel and rind contain oils that are toxic to dogs. Ham Only with care A small sliver now and then will not hurt most dogs, but ham is salty and fatty, so it is a poor regular treat. Hazelnuts Only with care Best avoided. Hazelnuts are not toxic, but they are fatty, a choking risk, and the hard shells can block the gut. Honey Only with care A little honey is safe for most adult dogs, but raw honey is not for puppies, and diabetic dogs should not have it. Ice cream Only with care Best avoided. Ice cream is sugary and hard to digest, chocolate flavours are toxic, and sugar-free ones can contain xylitol. Lemons and limes Only with care No, best avoided. The flesh is not toxic, but the juice is acidic and the peel and oils can make a dog ill. Most dogs dislike them anyway. Marshmallows Only with care Best not. Marshmallows are nearly all sugar, and any made with xylitol are toxic to dogs. Check the label. Milk Only with care Best not. Many dogs cannot digest lactose well, and RSPCA Australia says not to give dogs or puppies milk. Water is all they need. Mint Only with care Best avoided. Large amounts of mint can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and mint sweets, gum and toothpaste often contain xylitol. Mushrooms (shop-bought) Only with care Plain shop-bought mushrooms are generally safe, but RSPCA Australia says never feed them and cooked ones often carry garlic. Skip them. Olives Only with care Only plain, pitted olives, and only a few. Most olives are soaked in brine, and the stones can choke a dog or block the gut. Parsley Only with care A small sprinkle of curly parsley is fine. Large amounts can make skin sensitive to sunlight. Peanut butter Only with care Yes, if it has no xylitol. Check the label for xylitol or birch sugar every time, and keep it small because it is high in fat. Peanuts Only with care A few plain, unsalted, shelled peanuts will not hurt most dogs, but they are fatty and salted or flavoured ones are best avoided. Pine nuts Only with care A few will not harm most dogs, but they are fatty and best avoided. Pistachios Only with care Best avoided. Pistachios are not toxic in themselves, but they are fatty and salty, the shells choke, and mouldy ones carry aflatoxin. Plums Only with care Best avoided. Plum stones, stems and leaves contain cyanide compounds, and a stone can choke a dog or block the gut. Pork Only with care A little plain, well cooked, lean pork is fine for most dogs. Never raw, seasoned, fatty or on the bone. Potatoes Only with care Cooked and plain, in small amounts, yes. Never raw or green potato, which contains solanine, and no butter, salt or chips. Raw meat Only with care Not recommended. Raw meat often carries bacteria such as salmonella and listeria that can make dogs and the people they live with ill. Salt and salty food Only with care Do not add salt or share salty food. A large dose at once, such as rock salt, salt dough or sea water, can poison a dog. Sausages and hot dogs Only with care Best not. Sausages and hot dogs are fatty and salty, and often seasoned with onion or garlic. One stolen sausage is rarely an emergency. Spinach Only with care A little steamed spinach is fine for most dogs, but it is high in oxalates. Skip it if your dog has kidney or bladder stones. Sunflower seeds Only with care A few shelled, unsalted seeds are fine. Never the shells, which can block the gut, and never salted seeds. Sweets and sugar Only with care No. Sugary sweets are not poisonous in themselves, but they can trigger pancreatitis, and many hide xylitol, chocolate or raisins. Tomatoes Only with care Only ripe red flesh, and only a little. Green tomatoes, leaves and stems contain toxins, and RSPCA Australia says avoid tomato. Tuna Only with care A little tinned tuna in spring water now and then is fine, but tuna is high in mercury, so it should not be a regular treat. Walnuts Only with care Best avoided. Mouldy walnuts can cause tremors and seizures, black walnuts are toxic, and all walnuts are fatty and a choking risk. Yoghurt Only with care Plain, unsweetened yoghurt in small amounts suits many dogs. Never flavoured, sweetened or "light" yoghurt that may contain xylitol.

Every food we have checked, safe ones included.

On this page

If your dog has just eaten something

  1. Stay calm and move your dog away from the food. Take away anything left, or tempt them to drop it with a treat or toy, so they do not gulp it down.
  2. Check they are breathing and acting normally. If your dog has collapsed, is fitting or is struggling to breathe, go straight to the nearest vet.
  3. Call your vet or an animal poison line now, even if your dog seems fine. Many food poisons take hours or days to show.
  4. Do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to, and never use salt water. It can do more harm than good.
  5. Do not give home remedies or antidotes.
  6. Keep the packet, wrapper or a sample, or photograph it, and take it with you to the vet.

Collapse, seizures or breathing trouble: go straight to a vet. A phone line cannot treat those.

What your vet or the poison line will ask

Have these ready before you call. Your dog's weight matters as much as what they ate, so give it if you know it.

How dogs get poisoned by food

Most cases are accidents. Dogs scavenge and will eat almost anything left within reach, from a dropped raisin to a box of chocolates. Festive seasons are the peak: RSPCA says chocolate is one of the most common causes of poisoning in pets, especially over Christmas, and PDSA flags Easter too.

The rest are well meant. Owners share food without spotting a hidden ingredient: onion or garlic in sauces, stuffing and some baby food, raisins in cereal bars, trail mix and baking, xylitol in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters and liquid medicines.

Bins and compost are the third route. Mouldy leftovers carry mycotoxins that can cause vomiting, tremors and seizures, so keep food waste and compost bins sealed.

Even a small amount can be dangerous

Do not try to work out for yourself whether the amount your dog ate was safe. The harm depends on the food, the product and your dog, and some dogs react to very little. Grapes and raisins have no known safe amount (VCA, PDSA), and AKC warns that a little sugar-free gum or salt can harm a small dog.

If your dog has eaten anything on this list, call your vet or an animal poison line straight away, even if they seem fine. They will ask for your dog's weight and the exact product, and they will judge the risk. Puplr does not publish toxic doses or amounts.

Chocolate: the type matters most

The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more theobromine it holds, so cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most dangerous (MSD Veterinary Manual, VCA). Milk chocolate holds less but can still poison a dog, especially a small one. Whatever the type, call your vet or an animal poison line straight away and have the wrapper to hand.

TypeRisk
Cocoa powderHighest
Unsweetened baking chocolateVery high
Cocoa shell garden mulchHigh, unless the methylxanthines were removed in manufacture
Dark and semisweet chocolateHigh
Milk chocolateLower, but still dangerous in quantity, especially for small dogs
White chocolateNegligible theobromine, but the fat and sugar can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis

Chocolate products from most to least theobromine (MSD Veterinary Manual, VCA)

Do not try to work out a safe amount yourself. Your vet or a poison line will ask for the type and the wrapper and make that call.

Why a dog that seems fine may not be

Some poisons act within the hour, others take days. That is why every source says call now rather than wait and see.

FoodWhen signs start
XylitolFrom 30 minutes; up to 12 to 18 hours with some gums. Liver damage can show 1 to 2 days later (MSD).
Alcohol30 to 60 minutes (MSD)
Caffeine and coffee30 to 60 minutes (AKC)
Chocolate6 to 12 hours (MSD); PDSA says often 2 to 4 hours
Macadamia nutsWithin 12 hours (MSD)
Grapes and raisinsVomiting or diarrhoea in 6 to 12 hours; kidney failure at 24 to 72 hours (MSD)
Onion and garlicUsually a few days; anaemia 1 to 5 days after eating (PDSA)

When signs usually start

Why puppies are more at risk

Teaching "leave it" early is one of the most useful things you can do. AKC calls it extremely effective and easy to teach.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. How much is dangerous depends on the food, the amount and the size of the dog. If in doubt, phone. A vet would much rather hear from you early.

Common questions

What is the most toxic food for dogs?

There is no single answer, because the harm depends on the food, the product and the dog. Xylitol and grapes or raisins are the ones where a small amount can do serious harm, and cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most concentrated form of chocolate. Onion and garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and raw yeast dough are on every vet list too.

My dog ate chocolate but seems fine. What should I do?

Call your vet or a poison line now with the type and amount. Signs often take 6 to 12 hours to appear (MSD), and if it was within about 2 hours your vet may be able to make your dog vomit before more is absorbed.

Should I make my dog throw up?

Not unless a vet tells you to. PDSA and RSPCA both say never do it at home, and never use salt water. With xylitol, blood sugar may already be falling, and sharp bones can do more damage coming back up.

How long after eating something toxic will a dog show symptoms?

Anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Xylitol, alcohol and caffeine can act within 30 to 60 minutes and chocolate usually within 6 to 12 hours, while kidney damage from grapes shows at 24 to 72 hours and anaemia from onion after a few days.

Is one grape enough to hurt a dog?

It can be. Some dogs react to very small amounts and nobody can predict which ones, and VCA and PDSA say there is no safe amount. Call your vet or an animal poison line straight away.

Can dogs eat food cooked with onion or garlic?

No. Cooking does not destroy the toxin, and AKC says food cooked with onion or onion powder is unsafe even if the pieces are picked out. Gravy, stuffing, sauces and some baby food are the usual culprits.

Are animal poison lines free?

Usually not. ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply, Pet Poison Helpline charges USD 89 per incident, Animal PoisonLine in the UK charges £35 to £45 per call, and Australia's Animal Poisons Helpline lists consultations from $75 AUD. Your own vet or an emergency vet is always an option.

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How we worked this out

Each food on the list has one of three verdicts: toxic (never feed, call a vet if eaten), caution (not poisonous in small amounts but with a real risk, or the sources disagree) and safe (fine plain, in small amounts). Where AKC, ASPCA and the UK and Australian sources disagree, we used the more cautious verdict and say so on the food's page. The main disagreements are avocado (AKC and PDSA say a little flesh is fine, RSPCA Australia says never feed it), garlic in small amounts (AKC says a little is unlikely to cause poisoning, PDSA says never, even in small amounts), tomatoes, nuts, cheese, milk, ham and tuna.

Cooked bones and corn cobs are marked toxic because the rule is never, but their danger is physical: choking, cuts and blockages rather than a poison.

Facts about each poison come mainly from the MSD Veterinary Manual, whose food hazard chapters are written by an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center vet and peer reviewed. We do not publish toxic doses or amounts: individual dogs vary, and a vet or poison line should make that call. Where sources give different timings we show both: chocolate onset (MSD 6 to 12 hours; PDSA often 2 to 4 hours), macadamia recovery (MSD 12 to 48 hours; ASPCA 24 to 72 hours) and early grape signs (MSD 6 to 12 hours; VCA 12 to 24 hours).

The MSD Veterinary Manual lists 3% hydrogen peroxide among drugs vets use to make a dog vomit, but an emergency vet quoted by AKC advises against home use because of the risk of lung damage, and PDSA and RSPCA say never make your dog sick at home. We tell you not to.

Helpline numbers and fees were read on each organisation's own site on 25 September 2026. Some AKC and VCA articles print other numbers for Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680 and 800-213-6680); we use the number on Pet Poison Helpline's own site. RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) describes the Animal Poisons Helpline as a free service for pet owners, and the helpline's own launch news from November 2019 said it would be free for all Australian pet owners. Its current home page, re-read on 26 September 2026, says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD, and neither its FAQ nor its calling page mentions a free option. We print the current home page's wording and say the older pages disagree.

On puppies, we found no source saying a puppy's liver or kidneys are more sensitive to these foods. The extra risk we describe comes from body size and behaviour, which the sources do support.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-25.