Can my dog eat this?
Search a food to see whether it’s safe, caution, or toxic for dogs — with a plain reason and what to do. Vet-sourced from the ASPCA, AVMA, and Pet Poison Helpline.
If your dog already ate something toxic, don’t wait. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 now. This tool helps you check fast — it does not replace your vet.
Type a food above to check it — or tap one of the common ones. (Live search needs JavaScript — with it off, scroll to the full list below.)
How the checker works
Type any food into the box and this tool tells you whether it’s generally safe, a caution, or toxic for dogs, with a one-line reason and what to do. It covers 13 common toxic foods, 15 caution foods, and 16 everyday safe foods. The verdicts come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the AVMA, and the Pet Poison Helpline.
It’s a quick reference to help you act, not a diagnosis. Brands, recipes and amounts vary, individual dogs differ, and some foods hide danger inside others (onion or garlic powder in gravy, xylitol in “sugar-free” peanut butter). When you’re unsure — or your dog has already eaten something — the safe move is always to call your vet or a poison line.
What the three verdicts mean
- Toxic: can poison a dog even in small amounts — never give it, and if your dog ate some, call your vet or a poison line right away.
- Caution: harmful in some amounts or forms (too fatty, a choking or blockage hazard, or upsetting to the stomach). Best avoided; some cautions still need a vet call, which the tool flags.
- Safe: fine for most dogs in moderation, prepared plainly — no salt, butter, seasoning, bones, cores or pits. Treats of any kind should stay under about 10% of daily calories.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog just ate chocolate (or another toxic food) — what do I do?
- Don’t wait for symptoms. Call your vet, the nearest emergency vet, or a poison line right now: ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Have your dog’s weight ready, plus what they ate, roughly how much, and when. A consultation fee may apply, and it is worth it.
- How much of a toxic food is dangerous?
- It depends on the food, your dog’s size, and the exact product — and for some foods (like grapes and xylitol) the toxic amount is unpredictable and can be very small. Never try to judge “a safe amount” yourself in an emergency; call your vet or a poison line and let them decide.
- Is this checker a substitute for the vet?
- No. It’s an educational quick-reference to help you act fast, not a diagnosis or treatment. Foods, brands and recipes vary, and your dog’s health matters — for anything toxic, or any concern at all, contact your veterinarian or a poison line.
- What are the most common toxic foods for dogs?
- The big ones are chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol (birch sugar, in sugar-free gum and some peanut butter), macadamia nuts, alcohol and caffeine, and raw yeast bread dough. Many are hidden inside other foods — onion/garlic powder in gravy, xylitol in “sugar-free” treats — so check the ingredients.
- The food I typed isn’t in the list — is it safe?
- Treat anything you can’t confirm as unsafe until you’ve checked. This list covers common foods, not every product, so when in doubt keep it away from your dog and ask your vet or a poison line — especially if your dog has already eaten it.
Browse the full food list
- Toxic Chocolate · Xylitol / birch sugar · Grapes, raisins & currants · Onion, garlic, leek & chives · Macadamia nuts · Alcohol · Caffeine · Raw yeast bread dough · Hops (home brewing) · Moldy or spoiled food & compost · Marijuana / THC edibles · Cherry, plum, peach & apricot pits · Green (unripe) tomato & stems
- Caution Avocado · Cooked bones · Corn on the cob (the cob) · Fatty & greasy foods · Salt & very salty snacks · Milk, cheese & dairy · Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.) · Raw meat, eggs & fish · Citrus (large amounts) · Raw or green potato · Nutmeg (large amounts) · Bread & baked dough treats · Cinnamon · Popcorn (buttered / salted) · Broccoli (small amounts)
- Safe Carrots · Plain pumpkin · Blueberries · Apple (no core or seeds) · Banana · Plain cooked chicken (boneless) · Plain cooked rice · Plain cooked sweet potato · Green beans (plain) · Watermelon (no seeds/rind) · Peanut butter (xylitol-free) · Plain cooked egg · Cucumber · Plain yogurt (small amounts) · Strawberries · Plain cooked turkey (boneless)