Dog food safety checker
Can dogs eat it?
Search what your dog ate and get a quick safety answer: safe, caution, or unsafe.
DogFoodSafe gives general guidance only. If your dog ate something unsafe, is showing symptoms, or you are unsure, contact a veterinarian or pet poison control.
Recently added safety guides
New and updated dog food safety answers from the database.
Alcoholic cider is unsafe for dogs. Even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning, and the risk increases…
CautionCream SauceCream sauce is not a reliable dog food because the recipe may include onion, garlic, heavy salt, butter,…
UnsafeHard SeltzerHard seltzer is not safe for dogs. It contains alcohol (ethanol), which can cause poisoning even from a…
UnsafeXylitol Peanut ButterDo not give dogs peanut butter that contains xylitol (birch sugar). It is highly toxic and can cause…
CautionHalf and HalfPlain half and half is not a toxic dog food, but it is a rich dairy product and…
CautionCooked TroutPlain, fully cooked trout can be a safe occasional dog food in small amounts if it is boneless…
CautionWhipped CreamWhipped Cream is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount,…
CautionSour CreamSour Cream is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount,…
CautionPumpkin PiePumpkin Pie is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount,…
CautionApple PieApple Pie is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount,…
Common foods dogs should avoid
Start with risky foods, sweeteners, drinks, and ingredients that often worry dog owners.
Alcoholic cider is unsafe for dogs. Even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning, and the risk increases…
UnsafeHard SeltzerHard seltzer is not safe for dogs. It contains alcohol (ethanol), which can cause poisoning even from a…
UnsafeXylitol Peanut ButterDo not give dogs peanut butter that contains xylitol (birch sugar). It is highly toxic and can cause…
UnsafeBlack TeaBlack tea is not safe for dogs because it contains caffeine. Even plain tea can be a problem,…
UnsafeBrowniesDogs should not be given brownies. Most brownies contain chocolate, sugar, fat, and sometimes nuts or xylitol, all…
UnsafeCaffeinated TeaCaffeinated tea is unsafe for dogs. Even moderate access can expose a dog to caffeine, which can cause…
UnsafeChewing GumDo not give Chewing Gum to dogs. A small accidental amount may not be the same as a…
UnsafeChocolate Chip CookiesDogs should not be given chocolate chip cookies. They can contain chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, and…
Safe foods in small amounts
Plain, simple options that may be okay for many dogs when served sensibly.
Plain, fully cooked haddock is generally safe for dogs in small, occasional amounts.
SafePlain Chicken BreastPlain, fully cooked, boneless, unseasoned chicken breast is generally safe for dogs in small amounts.
SafeAppleYes. Dogs can eat plain apple slices without seeds or core.
SafeBananaYes. Dogs can eat small pieces of banana as an occasional treat.
SafeBell PeppersPlain bell peppers are generally safe for dogs to eat in small amounts. Offer only the flesh, washed…
SafeBlueberriesYes. Blueberries are a common dog-safe treat in small amounts.
SafeCanned PeasYes. Plain Canned Peas can be okay for many dogs in small amounts.
SafeCarrotsYes. Dogs can eat plain carrots in small pieces.
Foods that need caution
These may depend on the amount, preparation, added ingredients, or your dog’s reaction.
Cream sauce is not a reliable dog food because the recipe may include onion, garlic, heavy salt, butter,…
CautionHalf and HalfPlain half and half is not a toxic dog food, but it is a rich dairy product and…
CautionCooked TroutPlain, fully cooked trout can be a safe occasional dog food in small amounts if it is boneless…
CautionApple PieApple Pie is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount,…
CautionBagelsBagels is a caution item. It is not something to offer routinely; risk depends on ingredients, amount, and…
CautionCandy CanesDo not give Candy Canes to dogs. A small accidental amount may not be the same as a…
CautionCheese PuffsCheese and dairy are a broad group. Some dogs tolerate tiny amounts, while lactose, fat, salt, flavorings, and…
CautionCheesecakeCheese and dairy are a broad group. Some dogs tolerate tiny amounts, while lactose, fat, salt, flavorings, and…
Did your dog eat something risky?
If your dog ate grapes, chocolate, xylitol, onion, medication, alcohol, coffee, or another risky item, contact a veterinarian or pet poison control immediately. Do not wait for symptoms if the item may be unsafe.
If symptoms appear, the amount was large, or ingredients are unclear, contact a veterinarian.
Browse by category
Explore published guides by food type and risk level.
Toxic dog food safety guides
Published guides only. Use the search box above for a faster answer.
No. Acetaminophen should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeAlcoholNo. Alcohol is dangerous for dogs.
UnsafeAlcoholic BeerNo—beer is toxic to dogs and can cause alcohol poisoning even in small amounts, especially if it also…
UnsafeAntifreezeAntifreeze is toxic to dogs and can be fatal even in small exposures. Any suspected ingestion is a…
UnsafeBaking ChocolateNo. Baking Chocolate should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeBeerNo. Beer should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeBlack TeaBlack tea is not safe for dogs because it contains caffeine. Even plain tea can be a problem,…
UnsafeBlue CheeseBlue cheese can be risky for dogs and should be avoided.
UnsafeBlue-Green AlgaeBlue-green algae is risky for dogs because toxic blooms in ponds, lakes, and contaminated supplements can cause severe…
UnsafeBrownie BatterBrownie batter is not safe for dogs. It can contain chocolate or cocoa, plus raw eggs and raw…
UnsafeBrowniesDogs should not be given brownies. Most brownies contain chocolate, sugar, fat, and sometimes nuts or xylitol, all…
UnsafeCaffeinated TeaCaffeinated tea is unsafe for dogs. Even moderate access can expose a dog to caffeine, which can cause…
UnsafeCherry PitsCherry pits are unsafe for dogs. The pit can release cyanide if chewed or crushed, and whole pits…
UnsafeChewing GumDo not give Chewing Gum to dogs. A small accidental amount may not be the same as a…
UnsafeChicken bonesNo. Dogs should not eat chicken bones. Cooked chicken bones can splinter into sharp pieces, and raw chicken…
UnsafeChivesNo. Chives are unsafe for dogs.
UnsafeChocolateNo. Chocolate is unsafe for dogs. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially risky.
UnsafeChocolate CakeDo not feed chocolate cake to dogs. The chocolate in the cake or frosting can be toxic, and…
UnsafeChocolate Chip CookiesDogs should not be given chocolate chip cookies. They can contain chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, and…
UnsafeChocolate Covered Espresso BeansDo not give Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans to dogs. A small accidental amount may not be the same…
UnsafeChocolate DonutsDo not give Chocolate Donuts to dogs. A small accidental amount may not be the same as a…
UnsafeChocolate FrostingChocolate frosting is not safe for dogs. It can contain cocoa/chocolate, which is toxic, and its sugar and…
UnsafeChocolate Ice CreamDogs should not eat chocolate ice cream. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs, and the ice cream base…
UnsafeChocolate Protein BarDo not give dogs chocolate protein bars. Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs, and many protein bars also…
UnsafeCider With AlcoholAlcoholic cider is unsafe for dogs. Even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning, and the risk increases…
UnsafeCocoa PowderNo. Cocoa powder is highly concentrated chocolate and unsafe for dogs.
UnsafeCoffeeNo. Dogs should not drink coffee or eat coffee grounds.
UnsafeCoffee BeansNo. Coffee Beans should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeCoffee GroundsCoffee grounds are toxic to dogs because they can contain enough caffeine to cause poisoning. Keep them away…
UnsafeCooked BonesNo. Cooked bones can splinter and injure dogs.
UnsafeDark ChocolateNo. Dark Chocolate should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeEnergy DrinksNo. Energy Drinks should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeEspressoNo—espresso is toxic to dogs because it contains a concentrated amount of caffeine. Even small amounts can cause…
UnsafeFrench Onion SoupDo not give French onion soup to dogs. It usually contains onion broth or onion pieces, and may…
UnsafeFruitcake With RaisinsDo not give fruitcake with raisins to dogs. Raisins are in the grape family and can cause serious,…
UnsafeGarlicNo. Dogs should not eat garlic, including garlic powder.
UnsafeGarlic BreadGarlic bread should be treated as unsafe because garlic is toxic for dogs.
UnsafeGarlic ButterNo. Dogs should not eat garlic butter. Garlic is unsafe for dogs, and the added fat and salt…
UnsafeGarlic PowderNo. Garlic Powder should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeGarlic SauceDo not give garlic sauce to dogs. Even if the sauce seems mild, garlic is an allium that…
UnsafeGrape JuiceNo. Dogs should not drink grape juice. Grape-containing products can cause serious poisoning and possible acute kidney injury…
UnsafeGrapesNo. Dogs should not eat grapes or raisins. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate any amount.
UnsafeGreen OnionsNo. Green onions, also called scallions, are alliums and should not be given to dogs.
UnsafeHard SeltzerHard seltzer is not safe for dogs. It contains alcohol (ethanol), which can cause poisoning even from a…
UnsafeHot ChocolateDogs should not drink hot chocolate. Even a small accidental amount can be dangerous because chocolate/cocoa contains theobromine…
UnsafeHuman PainkillersNo. Human painkillers can be extremely dangerous for dogs.
UnsafeIbuprofenNo. Ibuprofen should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeLeek SoupLeek soup is not safe for dogs. Leeks are an allium, and soups often also contain onion, garlic,…
UnsafeLeeksNo. Leeks should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeLiquorLiquor is toxic to dogs and can cause alcohol poisoning even in small amounts. Keep all alcoholic drinks,…
UnsafeMacadamia ButterNo. Macadamia Butter should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeMacadamia NutsNo. Macadamia nuts are unsafe for dogs.
UnsafeMarijuana EdiblesNo. Marijuana Edibles should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeMoldy BreadNo. Moldy Bread should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeMoldy FoodNo. Moldy food can be dangerous for dogs.
UnsafeNaproxenNaproxen is toxic to dogs and should never be given unless a veterinarian specifically instructs it.
UnsafeNicotine GumNo. Nicotine Gum should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeNicotine PouchesNicotine pouches are toxic to dogs. Even a small exposure can cause poisoning, so treat any chewing, swallowing,…
UnsafeNutmegNo. Nutmeg should not be given to dogs.
UnsafeOatmeal Raisin CookiesDo not give dogs oatmeal raisin cookies. Raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure; the…
UnsafeOnionNo. Dogs should not eat onions in any form.
UnsafeOnion PowderNo. Onion Powder should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeOnion SoupDo not give onion soup to dogs. Most onion soups contain onion or onion powder, and may also…
UnsafePeach PitsPeach pits are toxic to dogs. The pit, especially if chewed or crushed, can release cyanide compounds and…
UnsafePestoPesto is not safe for dogs, especially traditional basil pesto that contains garlic or onion. Even small amounts…
UnsafePlum PitsPlum pits are unsafe for dogs. If a dog chews, cracks, or swallows a plum pit, it can…
UnsafeRaisin CookiesDo not give raisin cookies to dogs. Raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause sudden, serious kidney…
UnsafeRaisin MuffinsDo not feed raisin muffins to dogs. Even a small amount can be dangerous because raisins/grapes can cause…
UnsafeRaisinsNo. Raisins are toxic to dogs and should be treated as an urgent risk.
UnsafeRat PoisonRat poison is toxic to dogs and can cause a life-threatening emergency even in small exposures. If your…
UnsafeRaw Bread DoughNo. Raw yeast dough is dangerous for dogs.
UnsafeRaw Yeast DoughNo. Raw Yeast Dough should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeSago Palm SeedsSago palm seeds are toxic to dogs and should never be eaten. Even small exposures can be dangerous,…
UnsafeScallionsScallions are not safe for dogs. Even small amounts can be harmful because they are part of the…
UnsafeShallot SauceDo not give dogs shallot sauce. Shallots are in the onion family and can damage a dog’s red…
UnsafeShallotsNo. Shallots should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeSugar-Free CandySugar-free candy is unsafe for dogs, especially if it contains xylitol (birch sugar), which can cause a rapid,…
UnsafeSugar-Free GumNo. Sugar-free gum may contain xylitol and can be extremely dangerous.
UnsafeSultanasDo not give dogs sultanas. Sultanas are dried grapes and can cause serious, potentially life-threatening grape/raisin poisoning in…
UnsafeTHC GummiesTHC gummies are toxic to dogs and can cause dangerous neurologic and heart-related signs. If a dog ate…
UnsafeTrail Mix With RaisinsDo not feed trail mix with raisins to dogs. Raisins can cause serious, sometimes sudden kidney injury in…
UnsafeTrail Mix Without RaisinsNo. Trail Mix Without Raisins should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate…
UnsafeVodkaVodka is toxic to dogs. Any access to vodka or any alcohol-containing drink should be treated as an…
UnsafeWhiskeyWhiskey is not safe for dogs. Even small amounts can cause alcohol poisoning, and stronger or more concentrated…
UnsafeWhite ChocolateNo. White Chocolate should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeWild MushroomsNo. Do not let dogs eat wild mushrooms.
UnsafeWineNo. Wine should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeXylitol GumNo. Xylitol Gum should not be given to dogs. Contact a veterinarian if your dog ate it.
UnsafeXylitol Peanut ButterDo not give dogs peanut butter that contains xylitol (birch sugar). It is highly toxic and can cause…
How to read our safety levels
DogFoodSafe is a general safety guide, not a replacement for veterinary care.
Generally okay for many dogs when served plain and in sensible amounts.
May depend on portion size, preparation, added ingredients, or your dog’s sensitivity.
Should be avoided. Contact a veterinarian or pet poison control if your dog ate it.
Important: Dogs can react individually. Size, age, health, medication, amount eaten, and added ingredients can change the risk. DogFoodSafe may contain errors or outdated information despite careful review. If you are unsure, your dog has symptoms, or your dog may have eaten something unsafe, always contact your veterinarian or a pet poison control service.