Foods Toxic to Dogs: What to Avoid and What to Do

Dogs digest and process some foods very differently from people. A snack that is harmless to you can damage a dog's heart, blood cells, liver, or kidneys. The ASPCA, which runs an animal poison control service, keeps a list of people foods to keep away from pets¹. The foods below are the ones that appear most often on veterinary and poison-control lists.

Two things matter in almost every case: the amount eaten and the size of the dog. A small dog that eats a little of a dangerous food can be in more trouble than a large dog that eats the same amount. Because of that, this article does not give safe amounts. There is no reliable “safe dose” you can work out at home.

• Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine. These contain compounds called methylxanthines. The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, panting, restlessness, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, and seizures among the possible effects, and says darker chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder are the most concentrated¹. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes the main toxic compounds as theobromine and caffeine, and notes that dark and unsweetened chocolate carry the most⁴.
• Xylitol. This sugar substitute is found in sugar-free gum, mints, candy, baked goods, toothpaste, some medicines and supplements, and some peanut and nut butters. The FDA explains that in dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. Signs include vomiting, weakness, staggering, collapse, and seizures⁵. The ASPCA also says xylitol can potentially cause liver damage¹.
• Grapes and raisins. The ASPCA says exposure can cause kidney damage. It names tartaric acid as the suspected toxin, so the exact cause is not settled¹. Because the reason is unclear, treat any amount as a reason to call.
• Onions, garlic, and chives. These can irritate the digestive tract and damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia¹.
• Macadamia nuts. The ASPCA lists weakness, incoordination, vomiting, tremors, and a raised body temperature as possible effects¹.
• Alcohol and raw yeast dough. Alcohol can cause vomiting, incoordination, breathing difficulty, and in severe cases coma or death. Raw dough can expand in the stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments¹.

The ASPCA list also includes very salty foods, other nuts that are high in fat (which can upset the stomach or contribute to pancreatitis), and raw meat, eggs, and bones. Bones can injure or block the digestive tract¹.

Act as soon as you know or suspect your dog ate something on the list. The FDA gives the same basic advice for xylitol: contact your veterinarian, an emergency animal hospital, or an animal poison control center right away⁵.

1. Keep your dog away from any more of the food and pick up any wrappers or packaging.
2. Call for professional advice immediately. Your regular vet, an emergency clinic, or a poison control line can all help. If your regular clinic is closed, call an emergency hospital.
3. Have the details ready. Your dog's approximate weight, what was eaten, roughly how much, and when. The product label or ingredient list is very useful, especially for sugar-free products.
4. Follow the instructions you are given. Do not try home remedies or give your dog anything to make it vomit unless a veterinarian or poison control specialist tells you to. What is safe depends on the poison, and the wrong step can cause harm.

Two poison control services are available:

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA says it is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and that a consultation fee may apply².
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. The service says it operates around the clock and lists a $99 per-incident fee on its website, with follow-up consultations for that incident included³. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount when you call.

These fees are separate from any bill from your own vet. Calling your own vet or an emergency hospital is also a good choice.

One of the most common mistakes is to wait and see whether the dog seems sick. The timing of signs varies a lot by poison, and a dog that looks fine may still be in danger.

• For xylitol, the FDA says low blood sugar can begin within 10 to 60 minutes, while some serious effects may not appear for 12 to 24 hours⁵.
• For chocolate, the Merck Veterinary Manual says signs usually begin 6 to 12 hours after the dog eats it, and in severe cases they can last up to 72 hours⁴.
• For macadamia nuts, the ASPCA says signs usually appear within 12 hours¹.

This means two things. A dog that seems normal an hour later has not necessarily escaped harm. And early signs, such as a bit of vomiting, can be mild before the more serious effects begin. Calling early gives a professional the chance to advise you while your options are widest.

• Store chocolate, gum, mints, baked goods, and medicines in closed cabinets or high places your dog cannot reach.
• Read labels on anything marked sugar-free or low sugar, and check nut butter labels for xylitol before sharing them. The FDA also advises keeping non-food items such as toothpaste out of reach and using only pet toothpaste on dogs⁵.
• Use lidded trash cans, and tell guests and children not to feed the dog from the table.
• Keep the numbers for your vet, a nearby emergency hospital, and a poison control line saved in your phone.

Not every question has a firm answer. The ASPCA describes tartaric acid only as the suspected toxin in grapes and raisins¹, so the exact reason some dogs are harmed is not fully explained. Poison control lists also change as new information comes in, and this article is not a complete list of everything that can harm a dog. Many plants, medicines, and household products are also toxic. When in doubt about any substance, ask a professional.