Free food-safety reference
Can my pet eat this?
Check 48 foods for puppies, dogs and cats. Learn what to avoid, what needs plain preparation and when to call for help.
Call an emergency vet now. Do not wait for symptoms, use this checker to calculate a dose or induce vomiting.
US ASPCA: (888) 426-4435 · US Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661Fees may apply. Outside the US, call your local emergency vet. Find an emergency vet near you.
48 foods found. “Generally non-toxic” never means unlimited or suitable for every pet.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains methylxanthines that can affect the heart and nervous system. Darkness, quantity and animal size change the risk, but symptoms are not required before calling.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowDark chocolate
Dark chocolate generally has more methylxanthines than milk chocolate. Save the cocoa percentage and packaging for the vet; do not estimate a safe dose yourself.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowBaking chocolate
Unsweetened baking chocolate is concentrated. Even a small-looking piece warrants prompt professional advice rather than waiting for vomiting or tremors.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowCocoa powder
Cocoa powder is a concentrated source of methylxanthines. Powder spilled during baking can be easy to miss; record the ingredient and approximate amount.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetWhite chocolate
White chocolate has very little methylxanthine compared with darker chocolate, but is not a suitable treat. Fat, sugar and other ingredients can still cause problems.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowCoffee
Coffee beans, grounds and brewed coffee contain caffeine. Used grounds can still pose a risk. Stimulant exposure may cause agitation, abnormal heart rhythms or seizures.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowCaffeinated tea
Black and green tea contain caffeine, and tea bags can also cause an obstruction. Save the product label and call for advice after an exposure.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowEnergy drinks
Energy drinks may contain concentrated caffeine and other additives. A drink marketed as sugar-free may add further uncertainty. Do not wait for stimulant symptoms.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowGrapes
Grapes can cause kidney injury in dogs. The relationship between amount and risk is unpredictable; there is no reliable household safe-count rule.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowRaisins
Raisins are dried grapes and can cause kidney injury in dogs. Baked goods and trail mix may contain them, so save the full recipe or packet.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowDried Zante currants
Zante currants used in baking are small dried grapes, not the same as fresh blackcurrants. Treat dried grape currants as a poisoning concern for dogs.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowXylitol
Xylitol can cause a rapid blood-sugar drop and liver damage in dogs. It appears in gum, sweets, toothpaste and some nut butters; birch sugar is another name.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowSugar-free gum
Some sugar-free gum contains xylitol. Check the ingredients, but do not delay a call while searching for a label. Wrappers may add an obstruction risk.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowOnions
Raw, cooked, dried and powdered onion can damage red blood cells. Soup, sauces and baby food may contain onion. Cats are especially susceptible to Allium toxicity.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowGarlic
Garlic is an Allium and can damage red blood cells. Cooking does not make it a pet-safe ingredient. Avoid supplements promoted as natural flea prevention.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowChives
Chives are in the Allium family. Even culinary herbs should not be added to pet meals when they can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowLeeks
Leeks are Alliums, like onions and garlic. Cooked leek soup and mixed dishes are not safe alternatives; record every ingredient for the vet.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowShallots
Shallots belong to the same Allium group as onions. Their small size does not remove the red-blood-cell risk, including in cooked or powdered dishes.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowAlcohol
Alcohol is rapidly absorbed and can cause dangerous changes in coordination, temperature and breathing. Drinks, desserts and some fermenting products can expose pets.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowRaw yeast dough
Unbaked yeast dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol. Bloating, retching or distress after exposure require immediate emergency help.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowMacadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and overheating in dogs. Cookies may also contain chocolate or raisins.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowMoldy food
Some molds produce tremorgenic toxins. Rubbish bins, old bread and compost are exposure sources. Tremors, seizures or overheating are emergencies.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowHops
Fresh or spent brewing hops can cause a dangerous rise in body temperature, particularly in dogs. Keep home-brewing waste inaccessible.
Read puppy guidance →Potential poisoning — call nowWild mushrooms
Some wild mushrooms cause serious poisoning, and safe identification is difficult. Do not rely on an app or photograph to decide that a mushroom is harmless.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetSalt and salty snacks
Excessive salt can disturb electrolytes and cause serious poisoning. A large exposure, salt dough or neurological symptoms needs urgent professional advice.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetCooked bones
Bones can cause choking, broken teeth or an intestinal obstruction or injury. Cooked bones can splinter. Do not induce vomiting after a bone ingestion.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetRaw meat
Raw meat may carry bacteria that affect pets and people. It is not automatically a balanced diet, and puppies have particular growth needs.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetRaw eggs
Raw eggs can carry bacteria, and raw egg white can interfere with vitamin absorption. Fully cooked plain egg is a different food, not covered by this warning.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetAvocado
The pit and skin are unsuitable and the pit can obstruct the gut. Flesh is fatty and can upset digestion. ASPCA's strongest persin warning concerns other species, not a blanket dog/cat toxicity claim.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetCitrus peel and plants
Citrus peel, leaves, stems and oils can irritate pets. A tiny piece of fruit flesh is different from concentrated oils, but citrus is not needed in a pet's diet.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetMilk
Many pets digest lactose poorly. Milk can cause diarrhea or discomfort and is not a substitute for water or a species-appropriate diet.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetCheese
Cheese is fatty, salty and may contain lactose. Small plain amounts are not usually a poisoning issue, but flavored cheese can contain Alliums.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetIce cream
Fat, sugar and dairy can upset digestion. Chocolate, coffee, raisins or xylitol change this into a possible poisoning exposure; read the full label.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetFatty table scraps
Rich, fatty leftovers can cause digestive upset and may contribute to pancreatitis. Seasonings, cooked bones and packaging create additional hazards.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetWalnuts
Nuts are fatty and can upset digestion, while shells and whole pieces can obstruct. Moldy walnuts introduce a separate tremorgenic-toxin concern.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetAlmonds
Almonds are not a useful pet snack: fat, salt and choking risk are the main concerns. Chocolate-coated or mixed nuts need ingredient-specific advice.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetPeach and apricot pits
Fruit pits can choke or obstruct, and damaged kernels contain cyanogenic compounds. The pit is not equivalent to a small piece of prepared fruit flesh.
Read puppy guidance →Avoid / ask your vetCherries with pits
Pits, leaves and stems pose hazards and pits can obstruct. Avoid whole cherries; suspected pit ingestion deserves advice rather than a home remedy.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyPeanut butter
A small amount of plain peanut butter may suit some dogs, but first check every ingredient. Xylitol or birch sugar makes it an emergency concern for dogs.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyApple flesh
Prepared apple flesh is generally non-toxic. The core is a choking hazard and seeds should be removed. Fruit is an occasional extra, not a complete diet.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyCarrots
Plain carrot is generally non-toxic. Hard chunks can choke, particularly for puppies or small animals; use a texture and size your pet can manage.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyBanana flesh
Banana flesh is generally non-toxic but sugary. The peel is difficult to digest. Cats do not need fruit; keep any offered extra tiny and optional.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyBlueberries
Plain washed blueberries are generally non-toxic. Size, swallowing ability and digestive tolerance matter; sweetened baked goods are a different food.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyCucumber
Plain cucumber is generally non-toxic, but large pieces may choke. Pickles include salt and sometimes garlic or onion, so do not substitute them.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyPlain pumpkin
Plain cooked pumpkin is generally non-toxic. It is not a treatment for persistent vomiting, diarrhea or constipation; those need veterinary advice.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyGreen beans
Plain green beans are generally non-toxic. Casseroles, salted canned beans and dishes containing onion or garlic are not equivalent.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyWatermelon flesh
Prepared watermelon flesh is generally non-toxic. Seeds and rind can cause problems, and large amounts of any unfamiliar food can upset digestion.
Read puppy guidance →Generally non-toxic when prepared plainlyStrawberries
Plain strawberries are generally non-toxic. Syrup, chocolate coatings and sweetened desserts have different risks and should not be offered.
Read puppy guidance →How this checker works
Entries summarize ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline hazard information, with AKC preparation advice for common dog-friendly produce. Dog-specific poison evidence is not automatically applied to cats. Puppy pages add growth and small-size cautions. This is a reference, not a personalized poisoning assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a green label mean completely safe?
No. Preparation, swallowing ability, amount, allergies and the rest of your pet's diet all matter. Cats do not need fruit or vegetables as treats.
Should I wait until my pet looks ill?
No. Suspected poisoning needs prompt professional advice even without symptoms.
Read the recovered toxic foods guide · Try the symptom check