Chocolate
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic severe
Vomiting, restlessness, racing heart, tremors and seizures. Darker chocolate is far more dangerous. Try the chocolate toxicity calculator to gauge the dose.
Can my pet eat that?
Search a food to see whether it's toxic, risky or safe for dogs and cats, with the signs to watch for. Some everyday foods - grapes, onion, xylitol, chocolate - are far more dangerous than people realise, while plenty of others are perfectly fine in moderation.
🚨 If your pet has eaten something toxic
Don't wait for symptoms. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away - in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control line is (888) 426-4435; in the UK, Animal PoisonLine is 01202 509000. Have the food, the packaging and a rough amount ready. For chocolate specifically, the chocolate toxicity calculator helps you gauge how urgent it is.
Grapes & raisins
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic severe
Can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs even in small amounts, and the toxic dose is unpredictable. Vomiting, lethargy and reduced urination. Treat any ingestion as urgent.
Onion, garlic, chives & leeks
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic moderate
Damage red blood cells and cause anaemia - cooked, raw or powdered. Cats are especially sensitive. Weakness, pale gums and dark urine, often a day or two later.
Xylitol (sugar-free sweetener)
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Caution severe
In dogs, tiny amounts trigger a dangerous blood-sugar crash and liver failure. Found in sugar-free gum, sweets, some peanut butters and baked goods. Vomiting, weakness, collapse. An emergency.
Alcohol
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic severe
Even small amounts cause vomiting, disorientation, low body temperature and breathing trouble. Includes raw bread dough and spilled drinks.
Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks)
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic moderate
Similar to chocolate - restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Coffee grounds and tea bags are surprisingly potent.
Macadamia nuts
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Caution moderate
In dogs, cause weakness (especially the back legs), tremors, vomiting and fever within 12 hours. Usually not fatal but distressing.
Raw yeast dough
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic severe
Rises in the warm stomach, causing painful bloat, and ferments into alcohol. A double danger - call your vet straight away.
Wild mushrooms
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Toxic severe
Some garden and woodland mushrooms are deadly and hard to identify. Store-bought culinary mushrooms are fine. If a wild one is eaten, treat as an emergency and bring a sample.
Hops (home brewing)
🐶 Toxic 🐱 Caution severe
Spent brewing hops cause a dangerous spike in body temperature in dogs. Panting, agitation and a racing heart. An emergency.
Cooked bones
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution moderate
Not toxic, but cooked bones splinter and can choke or perforate the gut. Skip them - raw feeding is a separate topic with its own rules.
Corn on the cob
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution moderate
The kernels are fine, but the cob is a classic intestinal blockage that often needs surgery. Never let a dog have the cob.
Stone-fruit pits (cherry, peach, plum)
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution moderate
The flesh is usually fine, but pits can block the gut and contain cyanide compounds if crushed. Remove all pits first.
Avocado
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution mild
The flesh causes mild stomach upset in dogs and cats, and the large pit is a choking and blockage hazard. Far more dangerous to birds.
Salt & very salty snacks
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution moderate
Large amounts (crisps, jerky, playdough) cause excessive thirst, vomiting and, in extreme cases, salt poisoning. Keep treats low-salt.
Fatty trimmings & fried food
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution moderate
Rich, greasy scraps can trigger pancreatitis - vomiting, a painful belly and lethargy. Common after holidays and barbecues.
Milk & dairy
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution mild
Most adult pets are lactose intolerant, so milk, cheese and ice cream often cause gas and diarrhoea. The 'saucer of milk for cats' is a myth.
Raw or green potato
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution mild
Green or sprouting potato contains solanine, which upsets the stomach. Plain cooked potato in small amounts is fine.
Nutmeg
🐶 Caution 🐱 Caution mild
In baking amounts it is mostly harmless, but a large dose of nutmeg can cause disorientation and a racing heart. Watch holiday treats.
Cooked chicken (plain)
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Plain, boneless, skinless cooked chicken is a safe, gentle protein - often used for upset tummies. No onion, garlic, salt or seasoning.
Carrots
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Crunchy raw or cooked carrots are a low-calorie, safe snack for dogs. Cats can have a little cooked, though most are indifferent.
Plain cooked rice
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Plain white rice is easy to digest and a staple of bland diets for upset stomachs. Serve plain, with no butter or seasoning.
Pumpkin (plain)
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Plain cooked or tinned pumpkin (not pie filling) is safe and its fibre can help with mild digestive upsets. A spoonful is plenty.
Blueberries
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
A safe, antioxidant-rich treat for dogs, given in moderation. Non-toxic to cats, though most cats are not interested.
Apple (no seeds or core)
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Slices of apple are a safe, crunchy treat - remove the core and seeds, which contain small amounts of cyanide compounds.
Green beans
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Plain cooked or raw green beans are a safe, filling, low-calorie snack for dogs. No added salt, butter or seasoning.
Plain cooked egg
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
A fully cooked, plain egg is a safe protein boost in moderation. Avoid raw egg, which risks bacteria and a biotin issue over time.
Peanut butter (xylitol-free)
🐶 Safe 🐱 Caution
A dog favourite and safe - but check the label first: some brands contain xylitol, which is deadly to dogs. Cats gain little from it.
Watermelon (no seeds or rind)
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
Hydrating and safe for dogs in small pieces - remove the seeds and rind. Non-toxic to cats, who rarely care for it.
Banana
🐶 Safe 🐱 Safe
A safe, sweet treat in small amounts for dogs; the sugar means moderation. Non-toxic to cats but rarely a favourite.
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⚠️ This covers common foods and everyday risks, but it isn't exhaustive and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. Doses and individual pets vary, "safe" means plain and in moderation (not a whole plateful), and preparation matters - onion powder, cooked bones and hidden xylitol catch people out. When in doubt, or if your pet has eaten something, call your vet or a pet poison helpline. See also toxic and safe plants.