Home / Dog calculators
Toxic foods for dogs
The human foods most likely to poison a dog are chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, and anything sweetened with xylitol. Here is what each one does, and how to check whether the amount your dog ate is dangerous.
If your dog has just eaten something toxic, call your vet or an emergency vet now. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; both may charge a consultation fee. Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Check the dose
Foods dogs can't eat
| Food | What it can do |
|---|---|
| Chocolate, coffee, caffeine | Methylxanthines cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, a racing or irregular heartbeat, tremors and seizures. Dark and baking chocolate and cocoa powder are the most dangerous; white chocolate the least. |
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants | Can cause kidney damage. There is no known safe amount, so any amount is a reason to call a vet. |
| Onions, garlic, chives, leeks | Damage red blood cells and can lead to anemia, sometimes days later. Raw, cooked and powdered forms are all toxic. |
| Xylitol (sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, some peanut butters and toothpaste) | Causes a fast drop in blood sugar and can damage the liver within 12–24 hours. Early signs are vomiting, weakness and loss of coordination. |
| Macadamia nuts | Weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, tremors and high body temperature, usually within 12 hours. Most dogs recover in 1–3 days. |
| Alcohol and raw yeast dough | Alcohol is absorbed fast and can cause vomiting, poor coordination, breathing problems and coma. Raw dough can also expand in the stomach and cause a dangerous bloat. |
| Very salty food | Thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures with large amounts. |
| Other nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) and fatty food | High fat can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis. |
| Raw meat, raw eggs and bones | Bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli; bones can injure or block the gut. |
| Milk and dairy | Most dogs digest lactose poorly, so dairy often causes diarrhea. |
Based on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's list of people foods to avoid feeding your pets and the Merck Veterinary Manual. Avocado is mainly a danger to birds, rabbits, horses and livestock rather than dogs, according to the ASPCA.
How much is too much?
For most toxic foods, the danger depends on how much your dog ate compared with its body weight. A square of milk chocolate may only upset a large dog's stomach, while the same amount of baking chocolate can be serious for a small one. That's why the calculators above ask for your dog's weight and the type and amount of food.
Grapes and raisins are the exception: there is no reliable safe dose, and some dogs react to small amounts. Xylitol is dangerous in small amounts too, so check the label of anything sugar-free.
Questions people ask
What foods are toxic to dogs?
The most common are chocolate, coffee and caffeine, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol, macadamia nuts, alcohol and raw yeast dough. Very salty and very fatty foods can also make dogs sick.
What should I do if my dog ate something toxic?
Call your vet, an emergency vet or a pet poison hotline straight away, and have the package or an estimate of how much your dog ate ready. Don't wait for symptoms, and don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Can dogs eat a little garlic?
Garlic is more potent than onion and both can damage red blood cells. Small amounts in seasoning are less likely to cause harm than a whole clove or garlic powder, but use the onion and garlic calculator to check the amount for your dog's weight.
How long after eating something toxic will a dog show symptoms?
It depends on the food. Chocolate usually causes signs within 6 to 12 hours, grapes and raisins also within 6 to 12 hours, and macadamia nuts within about 12 hours. Xylitol can act faster. Onion and garlic damage can take 3 to 5 days to show as anemia.