What can dogs eat?

Dog food questions, answered

What human foods can dogs eat safely?

Plenty — in moderation and plain. Good everyday options include carrots, blueberries, apple (no core or seeds), plain cooked egg, plain cooked chicken or rice, green beans, watermelon (no seeds or rind), and xylitol-free peanut butter. The two rules that keep them safe: serve them plain (no salt, butter, onion, garlic or sugar), and keep all treats and human food to about 10% of your dog's daily calories, with a complete dog food supplying the rest.

What foods are toxic to dogs?

The ones never to feed are chocolate, grapes and raisins (and currants), onions, garlic, leeks and chives, xylitol (a sweetener in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters, often labelled "birch sugar"), macadamia nuts, alcohol and caffeine, and raw yeast bread dough. Many hide inside other foods — onion or garlic powder in gravy and seasoning, xylitol in "sugar-free" products, raisins in baked goods — so check the ingredients, not just the dish.

How much should I feed my dog?

It depends on your dog's weight, age, and activity, not on the scoop the bag suggests. As a starting point, use our free Dog Feeding Calculator: it works out an estimated daily calorie target and portion from your dog's weight and activity using the standard veterinary formula, which you then split across meals and adjust to keep a healthy body condition. Treats and human food count toward that total — keep them under about 10%. When in doubt, or for a puppy, senior, or a dog with a health condition, confirm the amount with your vet.

What should I do if my dog ate something toxic?

Act now rather than waiting for symptoms. Call your vet, or a poison line — ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 — and have the food, the amount, and your dog's weight ready. Some toxins (xylitol, grapes) are dangerous in tiny amounts and can act fast or with a delay, so "he seems fine" is not a reason to wait. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.

Can dogs eat table scraps and human food every day?

Better not as a habit. Even safe human foods are usually richer, saltier, and fattier than a dog needs, and daily scraps both add up in calories and encourage begging. The bigger risk is that table food often contains onion, garlic, or a lot of fat and salt — the things that turn a safe ingredient into a problem. If you want to share, share the plain, dog-safe version in a small amount, and count it toward the 10% treat budget.

How do I introduce a new food to my dog?

Start small and one at a time. Offer a small amount of the new food, keep it plain, and watch your dog over the next day for any loose stool or upset — especially with fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, which are the most common cause of a soft stool after a new treat. If it agrees with them, you can make it a regular small treat; if it doesn't, cut the portion or drop it. Always check a food you're unsure about against the checker before the first bite.