The short version: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sugar-free sweetener), macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and raw bread dough are genuinely dangerous to dogs and should be treated as emergencies if eaten in any quantity. Most other human foods are safe in moderation, but high-fat foods can cause pancreatitis and cooked bones can splinter. When in doubt, call your vet or the Animal PoisonLine.
This is a practical reference, not a vet textbook. We've kept it specific to UK households and the foods most likely to come up, Christmas dinner, Sunday roast, garden BBQ, kids' lunches.
Foods that are genuinely toxic to dogs
These can cause real harm in small to moderate amounts. Treat as a vet emergency if eaten:
Chocolate
- Dark chocolate is the most dangerous; milk chocolate less so but still toxic
- Contains theobromine, which dogs metabolise much more slowly than humans
- A 25g bar of dark chocolate is potentially toxic to a 10kg dog
- Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, racing heart, seizures
- Vet, immediately, with details of what they ate and how much
Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
- Found in: sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free baking, some peanut butters, sugar-free mints, some toothpastes, sugar-free fizzy drinks
- Causes a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar; high doses cause liver failure
- Even very small amounts (a few pieces of gum) can be fatal to a small dog
- Symptoms: vomiting, weakness, collapse, seizures
- Genuine emergency. Don't wait.
Grapes and raisins (and sultanas)
- The toxic mechanism isn't fully understood, but kidney failure is the consequence
- Includes: fresh grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants, hot cross buns, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, mince pies, fruit cake, malt loaf
- Sensitivity varies, some dogs eat raisins regularly with no effect, others get acute kidney failure from a small handful. There's no safe amount.
- Vet visit if any quantity is eaten
Onions, garlic, leeks, chives, shallots (the Allium family)
- All forms, raw, cooked, dried, powdered, are toxic
- Causes oxidative damage to red blood cells, leading to anaemia
- Chronic low-level exposure (e.g. table-scraps with onion gravy) is more common than single-event toxicity
- Garlic powder in commercial human food is a frequent culprit
- Symptoms: lethargy, pale gums, dark urine, weakness, often delayed by days
- Vet advice if a dog eats anything containing significant onion or garlic
Macadamia nuts
- Cause weakness, tremors, and hyperthermia in dogs
- Mechanism unknown
- Most dogs recover fully with supportive care, but it's distressing
- Vet call if eaten
Alcohol
- Far more potent in dogs than humans
- Includes beer, wine, spirits, raw bread dough (which produces alcohol as it rises), Christmas trifle, cocktails
- Symptoms: lethargy, low temperature, low blood sugar, breathing difficulties
- Vet, urgently
Caffeine
- Coffee beans, used coffee grounds, tea bags, energy drinks, cocoa
- Same family as theobromine in chocolate, similar effects
- Dogs can overdose on chewed coffee grounds from the bin
- Vet visit
Raw yeast bread dough
- Two problems: dough rises in the warm stomach (causing distension and pain), and yeast fermentation produces alcohol (which is also toxic)
- Symptoms: bloated belly, retching, weakness
- Vet, urgently
Blue cheese (and other heavily moulded cheeses)
- Contains roquefortine C, produced by penicillium mould
- Causes seizures, tremors and vomiting in some dogs
- Hard cheese in small amounts is fine; mouldy / blue cheeses are not
- Vet call if eaten in quantity
Some mushrooms
- Most cultivated mushrooms in shops are fine
- Wild mushrooms are a real risk in autumn (Sept–Nov in the UK), many UK garden and woodland mushrooms are toxic to dogs
- If your dog eats an unidentified mushroom: photograph it, take a sample if you can, vet immediately
- Don't try to identify it yourself unless you're a mycologist
Avocado
- The flesh contains persin, which is mildly toxic to dogs in large amounts
- The big risk is the stone, both the toxin concentration and the mechanical risk of obstruction
- Small amounts of flesh are unlikely to cause serious illness, but it's not worth the risk
- Vet call if a stone is eaten
Cooked bones
- Not toxic, but mechanically dangerous
- Cooked bones (chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, pork chops) splinter when chewed and can perforate the gut, get lodged, or cause obstruction
- Raw bones are a different topic, many raw feeders use them safely, but with care
- If your dog has eaten cooked bones, call your vet for advice. Don't induce vomiting (the splinters come back up too).
Foods that are usually fine in moderation
These are typically safe and many dogs eat them daily. Always introduce gradually and watch for individual sensitivity.
- Plain cooked chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish — boneless, unsalted, no garlic / onion / heavy seasoning. Brilliant high-value training treats.
- Cooked eggs — scrambled or boiled. Good source of protein.
- Most plain vegetables — carrots (raw or cooked), green beans, peas, courgette, broccoli (small amounts), cauliflower, sweet potato (cooked), pumpkin (plain, cooked), spinach (small amounts), cucumber.
- Most fruits — apple (no core, no seeds), banana, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, watermelon (no seeds, no rind), pear (no seeds), cantaloupe melon, mango (no skin, no stone), pineapple. Pick one as a treat, not a daily staple.
- Plain yoghurt — small amounts, ideally lactose-free / Greek style. Useful for medication wrapping.
- Cottage cheese, hard cheese — small amounts. Watch for lactose intolerance.
- Plain rice, oats, pasta — bland, useful for upset tummies.
- Peanut butter — only xylitol-free brands. Always check the label. Most supermarket own-brand and major brands are xylitol-free, but some health-food brands aren't.
- Plain bread — small amounts, no raisins or seeds.
- Plain popcorn — air-popped, unsalted, unbuttered. Mostly air; not nutritious but harmless.
- Coconut and coconut oil — small amounts. Mainly fashionable, not magic.
Foods to avoid for non-toxic reasons
These aren't poisonous but cause problems:
- High-fat foods — pizza crusts, fatty meat trimmings, sausages, fried foods, butter. Risk of pancreatitis, particularly in middle-aged and small breeds.
- Salty foods — crisps, salted nuts, processed meat. Can cause salt toxicity in large amounts; smaller amounts cause excessive thirst.
- Sugary foods — biscuits, cake, sweets. Empty calories, contribute to obesity.
- Dairy in large amounts — many dogs are mildly lactose intolerant. Small amounts of yoghurt or cheese are fine; a saucer of milk or cream isn't.
- Citrus fruits — small amounts unlikely to cause harm but most dogs hate them anyway.
- Nuts (general) — most nuts (other than macadamia) aren't acutely toxic but are high-fat, high-calorie, and can be choking hazards. Avoid as treats.
- Stone fruits — peach, plum, apricot, cherry. The flesh is fine, but the stones contain cyanide compounds and are a choking / obstruction risk.
- Apple cores, pear cores — the seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide; large quantities chewed are a problem. The flesh is fine.
What to do if your dog eats something they shouldn't
- Don't panic, don't induce vomiting unless told to. Some toxins are more dangerous coming back up.
- Identify what they ate. Note quantity, time, brand, ingredients.
- Call your vet with the details, or the Animal PoisonLine, a 24-hour service from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, available 7 days a week (search for the current number, it's a paid call but cheap relative to a vet trip).
- Take packaging or a photo of what was eaten if possible.
- Follow vet advice — sometimes "monitor at home", sometimes "come in immediately".
The Animal PoisonLine charges a small fee but is staffed by toxicology specialists who can advise on whether you need a vet visit at all. For grey-area cases (small amount of chocolate, single grape), it can save you an unnecessary £100+ vet trip.
Christmas dangers
December is the worst month of the year for dog-toxin emergencies. The main culprits in UK households:
- Christmas cake / pudding / mince pies (raisins + alcohol + nuts)
- Selection boxes (chocolate, often left under the tree)
- Sugar-free chewing gum (xylitol, often in handbags)
- Chocolate orange / advent calendar chocolate (often eaten while you're busy)
- Raw mince pies / Christmas pudding mix (raisins + raw bread dough)
- Onion-and-sage stuffing (Allium toxicity)
- Fatty turkey skin and gravy (pancreatitis)
- Cooked turkey carcass (cooked bones)
Tip: brief everyone in the house, particularly visitors, on what's off-limits. Most Christmas vet visits start with "Granny gave them a bit of pud".
A note on raw feeding
Raw feeding has become more popular in the UK and is its own topic. Quick notes:
- A balanced raw diet from a reputable supplier is fine for most dogs
- Home-prepared raw (DIY) needs careful nutritional balancing, talk to a canine nutritionist
- Bacterial contamination risk applies more to humans in the household than the dog (especially immunocompromised people, very young or very old)
- Don't feed raw bones from supermarket meat unless they're explicitly raw-meaty-bones, supermarket meat bones are often pre-cooked
When in doubt
The general rule: if it's a "table food" question and you're not sure, look it up before you feed it. A 30-second Google check beats a £400 vet trip.
For acute emergencies (chocolate, raisins, xylitol, alcohol, onion, grapes), don't wait, call your vet or the Animal PoisonLine immediately. Speed matters more than certainty.
FAQs
Can dogs eat human-grade peanut butter? Yes, as long as it doesn't contain xylitol. Always check the label.
Can dogs eat cheese? Small amounts of hard cheese are fine for most dogs. Avoid blue cheese (toxic) and large amounts of dairy.
Are bananas safe for dogs? Yes, in moderation. They're high in sugar so not a daily food.
Can dogs eat strawberries? Yes, fresh, plain, in moderation. Avoid anything with sugar coating or in mouldy condition.
Is rice good for an upset stomach? Plain boiled rice with plain boiled chicken is a classic bland diet for digestive upset. Use for 1–3 days, then return to normal food.
Can dogs have ice cream? Plain vanilla ice cream in tiny amounts is unlikely to harm a dog (despite the dairy and sugar). Better to use plain Greek yoghurt as an alternative.
My dog ate a raisin / sultana, what now? Call your vet. Sensitivity varies hugely; even one or two can cause acute kidney failure in some dogs. Vets will usually want to induce vomiting and run blood tests.
My dog ate chocolate, how worried should I be? Depends on type and quantity vs your dog's weight. Dark chocolate is much more toxic. Use a chocolate toxicity calculator, or call your vet / Animal PoisonLine.
Can dogs eat raw eggs? Generally yes but with caveats: avoid risk of salmonella, and don't feed long-term raw egg whites (which contain avidin, a biotin antagonist). Cooked is safer.
Are cooked vegetables better than raw? Both are fine. Cooked is often easier to digest. Plain, no salt, no oil, no garlic.