Quick verdicts for the foods dog owners ask about most. Red means toxic — if your dog has eaten it, contact your vet or an animal poison line now. Amber means fine with conditions. Green means safe in sensible amounts — but calories still count.
The verdicts below follow the same veterinary toxicology guidance clinics use — and the same database that powers SaluPaws' in-app alerts.
| Food | Verdict | The short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate & cocoa | No — toxic | Theobromine poisoning; dark & baking chocolate worst |
| Grapes & raisins | No — toxic | Kidney failure; no known safe amount |
| Sultanas & currants | No — toxic | Same risk as grapes — includes hot cross buns & mince pies |
| Xylitol (birch sugar) | No — highly toxic | Blood-sugar crash within the hour; hides in sugar-free products |
| Onions | No — toxic | Damages red blood cells; raw, cooked or powdered |
| Garlic, leeks, chives & shallots | No — toxic | Same family as onion; garlic is stronger by weight |
| Macadamia nuts | No — toxic | Weakness, tremors and fever within 12 hours |
| Alcohol | No — toxic | Dogs are far more sensitive than humans — includes raw dough |
| Caffeine & coffee | No — toxic | Same family of stimulants as chocolate's theobromine |
| Cooked bones | No — dangerous | Splinter and can perforate the gut — raw meaty bones differ, ask your vet |
| Avocado | Caution | Persin causes stomach upset; the stone is a choking/blockage hazard |
| Peanut butter | Yes, if xylitol-free | Check the label every time; ~95 kcal per tablespoon |
| Cheese | Yes, small amounts | Never blue cheese; watch lactose and calories |
| Bread | Plain only | Plain baked bread is fine occasionally — never raw dough, never fruited loaves |
| Apples | Yes, no core | Flesh is a great low-calorie treat; skip the pips and core |
| Bananas | Yes | Safe in slices — sugary, so mind the calories (~90 kcal each) |
| Carrots | Yes | One of the best low-calorie treats (~25 kcal per medium carrot) |
| Strawberries & blueberries | Yes | Safe in small handfuls; great training treats |
| Plain cooked chicken | Yes | Unseasoned and boneless; count it in the daily calories |
| Watermelon | Yes | Flesh only — remove seeds and rind |
Dog eaten something on the red list?
Call your vet or an animal poison line now (UK: Animal PoisonLine · US: ASPCA Animal Poison Control) with your dog's weight, what was eaten, how much and when. Don't wait for symptoms — for grapes, xylitol and chocolate, early treatment is what changes the outcome.
Even the green list has a budget
Safe foods still carry calories, and vets recommend treats stay under 10% of daily intake. A 10 kg dog's entire daily treat budget is about 63 kcal — one cheese cube, or two-thirds of a banana. That maths is why over half of dogs are overweight. Calculate your dog's exact daily calories free, then track what actually goes in the bowl.
How SaluPaws helps
SaluPaws checks every food you log against its toxic-food database and warns you on the spot — "chocolate brownie", "garlic bread", "hot cross bun" — with vet guidance and a timestamped record for your vet. And every treat you log counts against your dog's personalised, vet-formula calorie target. The safety check is free for every user and works offline.
Free on iPhone · Android coming soon
Detailed guides
More food guides are added regularly — the same database powers the alerts in the app.
This page is general guidance based on established veterinary toxicology (VCA Animal Hospitals, MSD Veterinary Manual, The Kennel Club), not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your vet immediately.