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Dogs › Food Guide

What Can Dogs Eat?
The Complete Safe Food Guide

A plain-English reference covering 35 human foods — which are safe, which need caution and which are outright dangerous. Each entry links to a full in-depth article where available.

16 Safe foods 8 Caution 11 Avoid
If your dog has eaten something toxic: contact your vet immediately or call an emergency animal poison line. Don't wait for symptoms to appear.
In this guide

Quick Reference: 35 Common Foods

Use this as a fast lookup. Click any food name with a deep-dive article for full guidance on portions, preparation and what to watch for.

Food Safe? Notes Guide
Mango Safe Remove skin, pit and seed. Small pieces only. Read →
Blueberries Safe Excellent low-calorie antioxidant treat. Read →
Banana Safe High sugar — limit to a few slices per day. Read →
Watermelon Safe Remove seeds and rind — flesh only. Read →
Carrots Safe Great dental treat. Raw or cooked, both fine. Read →
Cucumber Safe Very low calorie — ideal for overweight dogs. Read →
Pineapple Safe Remove core and skin. Feed sparingly — high sugar. Read →
Apple Safe Remove core and seeds (contain cyanide compounds). —
Strawberry Safe Fine in moderation. High natural sugar. —
Orange Caution Safe in small amounts — high acid and sugar. —
Grapes Avoid Toxic — can cause acute kidney failure. Avoid completely. —
Raisins Avoid Toxic. Even small amounts can be fatal. —
Avocado Avoid Contains persin, which is toxic to dogs. —
Cherries Avoid Pit, leaves and stem contain cyanide. Not worth the risk. —
Eggs Safe Cooked only. Excellent protein source. Read →
Chicken Safe Plain cooked — no seasoning, onion or garlic. —
Salmon Safe Fully cooked only — raw salmon can carry parasites. —
Peanut Butter Caution Safe only if xylitol-free. Check every label. Read →
Cheese Caution Fine in small amounts. Avoid for lactose-sensitive dogs. Read →
Bacon Caution Not toxic but too fatty and salty for regular feeding. —
Raw meat Caution Bacterial risk (Salmonella, E. coli). Consult a vet first. —
Broccoli Caution Small amounts only — large portions cause gastric upset. —
Sweet potato Safe Cooked, no seasoning. Nutritious and digestible. —
Green beans Safe Excellent low-calorie treat. Plain, no seasoning. —
Onion Avoid Toxic — destroys red blood cells. All forms dangerous. —
Garlic Avoid More toxic than onion per gram. Even small amounts harmful. —
Corn Caution Kernels are fine; cob is a choking/blockage hazard. —
Rice Safe Plain cooked white or brown rice. Good for upset stomachs. —
Oats Safe Cooked, plain. Good fibre source. —
Bread Caution Plain bread is fine — but no raisins, seeds or xylitol. —
Chocolate Avoid Toxic — theobromine is fatal in sufficient quantities. —
Xylitol Avoid Extremely toxic. Found in gum, peanut butter, baked goods. —
Macadamia nuts Avoid Can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and fever. —
Caffeine Avoid Coffee, tea, energy drinks — all toxic to dogs. —
Alcohol Avoid Toxic even in tiny amounts. Never give to dogs. —

In-Depth Food Guides

Each guide covers safe amounts, how to prepare the food, what to watch for, and when to call your vet.

The Best Safe Treats for Dogs

If you want a shortlist of the safest, most nutritious human foods to offer your dog, these are the ones most vets reach for first.

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Carrots

Low calorie, good for teeth, safe in large amounts. A genuinely excellent daily treat.

Full guide →
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Blueberries

High in antioxidants, low in calories. One of the most nutritionally complete treats available.

Full guide →
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Cucumber

Almost zero calories. Great for overweight dogs who need a satisfying treat without the guilt.

Full guide →
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Watermelon

96% water — perfect for keeping dogs hydrated in summer. Remove seeds and rind first.

Full guide →
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Eggs

Cooked eggs are a complete protein source with excellent amino acid profiles for dogs.

Full guide →
🍌
Banana

High in potassium and B vitamins. Limit due to natural sugar content — a slice or two is ideal.

Full guide →

Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs

The following foods can cause serious illness or death in dogs. Many have no safe dose — even a small amount of some (like xylitol) can be fatal for a small dog.

Grapes
Toxic — can cause acute kidney failure. Avoid completely.
Raisins
Toxic. Even small amounts can be fatal.
Avocado
Contains persin, which is toxic to dogs.
Cherries
Pit, leaves and stem contain cyanide. Not worth the risk.
Onion
Toxic — destroys red blood cells. All forms dangerous.
Garlic
More toxic than onion per gram. Even small amounts harmful.
Chocolate
Toxic — theobromine is fatal in sufficient quantities.
Xylitol
Extremely toxic. Found in gum, peanut butter, baked goods.
Macadamia nuts
Can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and fever.
Caffeine
Coffee, tea, energy drinks — all toxic to dogs.
Alcohol
Toxic even in tiny amounts. Never give to dogs.

If your dog has eaten any of the above, contact your vet immediately — do not wait for symptoms. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24/7.

Common Questions

How much human food can I give my dog?
Human food should make up no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories — the same guideline used for treats. Even safe foods can cause weight gain or digestive upset if given in large amounts.
My dog ate something from the toxic list — what do I do?
Call your vet immediately, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control (24/7 in the US). Don't try to induce vomiting without instruction. Bring the food packaging if you can — the vet may need to know exact ingredients and amounts.
Can I feed my dog raw fruits and vegetables?
Most fruits and vegetables are safe raw. Exceptions include raw potatoes (contain solanine) and any seeds or pits from fruits like apples, mangoes, cherries and peaches. Always remove seeds and hard pits before feeding.
Is it OK to give my dog food every day from the table?
It depends on what it is. Safe foods like carrots, cucumber or cooked plain chicken are fine daily in small amounts. High-sugar or high-fat foods — even safe ones — shouldn't be daily staples. Establish a consistent treat routine rather than random table scraps.
Do small dogs need smaller amounts than large dogs?
Yes, significantly. A piece of banana that's harmless for a Labrador could be a meaningful portion of a Chihuahua's daily calories. Scale treats proportionally to body weight, and when in doubt, give less.
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Have a cat too?

Cat digestive systems work very differently from dogs — many safe dog foods are unsafe for cats.

Cat food guide →