By Priya Nair (RVN) · Last updated 17 May 2026
Most “my dog ate X, is that OK?” emergencies fall into the same dozen categories. This page is the version of that list I wish was stuck on every fridge. If you’re staring at it right now because your dog has just eaten something — scroll to the food, check the action column, and ring an after-hours vet if it says “vet now”.
Vet-now toxic list (call immediately)
- Chocolate — especially dark/baking chocolate. Toxicity scales with cocoa content + dog weight. Even small amounts in a small dog need a vet call.
- Xylitol (sweetener in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, some baked goods, some medicines) — causes catastrophic hypoglycemia. As little as 50mg per kg of body weight is dangerous. This is the most dangerous common household item for dogs.
- Grapes and raisins — kidney failure. Susceptibility varies wildly; some dogs eat a grape with no effect, others die from one. Always treat as a poison.
- Macadamia nuts — weakness, vomiting, tremors
- Onion, garlic, leek, chives — damages red blood cells. Cooked is as dangerous as raw. Single big dose or small chronic exposure both matter.
- Alcohol — even small amounts
- Caffeine — coffee grounds especially
- Sugar-free gum / mints — xylitol
- Avocado (large amounts of flesh, all of stone/skin) — persin + choking risk on stone
- Raw bread dough — rises in the gut, expands, releases alcohol
- Cooked bones — splinter, perforate
- Marijuana, hashish, edibles — increasingly common emergency in legal-cannabis areas
- Most human medications — ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen, antidepressants, etc.
Master safe-and-treat list
| Food | Safe? | How much | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple (flesh) | ✅ | Slices, occasional | No seeds, no core |
| Banana | ⚠️ | Small piece, occasional | High sugar |
| Beef (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Daily portion | Lean cuts |
| Bell pepper | ✅ | Small piece | Most dogs like crunch |
| Blueberries | ✅ | Small handful | Antioxidants |
| Bread (plain, no raisins) | ⚠️ | Small piece | Filler — no real value |
| Broccoli | ⚠️ | Small floret | Gas in big amounts |
| Carrot | ✅ | Whole or chunks | Frozen carrots = great teething toy |
| Cheese (low-fat, plain) | ⚠️ | Small piece | Watch lactose intolerance, fat content |
| Chicken (cooked, plain, no bones) | ✅ | Daily | No skin, no seasoning |
| Coconut (fresh, unsweetened) | ✅ | Small amount | |
| Cooked bones | ❌ | Never | Splinter risk |
| Corn (off the cob, cooked) | ✅ | Small amount | NEVER cob — choking + obstruction |
| Cucumber | ✅ | Slices | Hydrating, low-cal |
| Egg (cooked) | ✅ | Couple per week | Excellent protein |
| Fish (cooked, deboned) | ✅ | Weekly | Salmon, sardines, white fish |
| Green beans | ✅ | Plain, cooked | Great low-cal treat |
| Honey | ⚠️ | Tiny amount | Allergy support, high sugar |
| Lamb (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Daily portion | |
| Mango (no skin or pit) | ✅ | Small piece | Sugar — treat only |
| Oatmeal (plain, cooked) | ✅ | Small amount | Great for sensitive stomachs |
| Peanut butter (xylitol-FREE) | ✅ | Small amount | CHECK THE LABEL — xylitol is often added now |
| Pear (no seeds) | ✅ | Small slices | Seeds contain cyanide compounds |
| Peas | ✅ | Small amount | |
| Pineapple (no skin or core) | ✅ | Small piece | Treat only |
| Plain yogurt | ✅ | Spoonful | No sweetener, no flavour |
| Pork (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Lean cuts | No sausage, ham, or bacon |
| Potato (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Small amount | NEVER raw — solanine |
| Pumpkin (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Spoonful | Helps digestion |
| Rice (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Daily portion | Bland-diet staple |
| Salmon (cooked) | ✅ | Weekly | Omega-3 source |
| Strawberries | ✅ | Few per day | |
| Sweet potato (cooked) | ✅ | Small amount | Bland-diet alt |
| Turkey (cooked, plain) | ✅ | Daily portion | No skin |
| Watermelon (no seeds, no rind) | ✅ | Small piece | Hydrating |
| Zucchini | ✅ | Slices |
What a healthy dog diet actually looks like
Most dogs do well on a quality complete dog food (kibble, wet, or fresh) with occasional fresh-food toppers. The fundamentals:
- Complete food — meets AAFCO / FEDIAF standards. Match life stage: puppy, adult, senior.
- Two meals a day for adults, three for puppies under 6 months
- Portion to weight, not the bag’s chart — manufacturer portions are usually 10-15% too high
- Fresh water always
- 10% rule for treats — no more than 10% of daily calories from treats / extras combined
- Routine — same times, same place, no scraps from the table (it teaches begging)
Bland diet recipe (for upset stomachs)
Standard temporary feeding when your dog has had a couple of vomits or loose stools but isn’t otherwise distressed:
- 1 part boiled, skinless, plain chicken breast (or boiled lean ground beef)
- 2-3 parts cooked plain white rice
- Feed small portions every 4 hours for 24-48 hours
- Transition back to normal food over the following 2-3 days
If symptoms last more than 24 hours, get worse, or include lethargy, blood, or repeated vomiting — vet now.
Common myth corrections
- “Dogs are carnivores” — they’re omnivores. They digest plant material fine when it’s prepared well.
- “Grain-free is healthier” — for most dogs, no. Grain-free diets have been linked to DCM (heart disease) in some breeds. Unless your dog has a specific grain allergy, grain isn’t the enemy.
- “Raw is best” — controversial. Done well, fine. Done badly, salmonella, parasites, nutritional imbalance. Don’t DIY raw without veterinary nutritionist guidance.
- “Garlic in small amounts is healthy” — no. Onion family is toxic. There’s no “healthy dose”.
- “Dogs can eat anything humans eat” — chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onion, and macadamia all from the human pantry. They cannot.
Emergency contact info
- Australia: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 (24/7, fee for service)
- UK: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509000 (24/7)
- USA: ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 (24/7, fee)
Sources
- ASPCA — Pet poison control resources
- RSPCA Australia — Dog feeding guidance
- VCA Hospitals — clinical client info on dog nutrition
- Our Pitbull breeds guide
We get asked — dog FAQ
What human foods are toxic to dogs?
The non-negotiable list: chocolate, xylitol (a sweetener in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters), grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, onion and garlic family, alcohol, caffeine, and raw bread dough. Xylitol is the single most dangerous common household item — it causes catastrophic hypoglycaemia in tiny doses. Full safe-and-toxic list in our food master list.
When should I take my dog to a vet for “something they ate”?
Any of the toxic list above, in any amount. Or any food in larger-than-treat amounts paired with vomiting, lethargy, weakness, tremors, or seizures. The Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738 in Australia, 01202 509000 in the UK, 1-888-426-4435 in the US) can triage. Have the packet of whatever they ate handy.
Related reading
Page last updated 17 May 2026. We re-check our pet-care content regularly and update when something changes.
