Many human foods are fine as a small treat, but a few are genuinely dangerous. These come up again and again in vet clinics.
- Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts.
- Chocolate and cocoa: contain theobromine, which is toxic. Darker chocolate is worse.
- Onion, garlic and leek: damage red blood cells in dogs and cats, raw, cooked or as powder.
- Xylitol: a sweetener in gum and some baked goods that is dangerous for dogs.
If your pet has eaten something
Do not wait for symptoms. Call your vet or a local animal poison helpline straight away and tell them what, how much and when. Do not make your pet vomit unless a professional tells you to.
A note on "safe" foods
The FDA notes that an occasional bite of people food may be fine, but too many table scraps can unbalance your pet's diet.
Our checker answers about feeding something as a snack. A complete pet food can contain small amounts of ingredients that are not suitable as a treat, such as certain plant extracts, and still be formulated safely. We flag clearly dangerous ingredients on every food.
Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control people foods list (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets) and BioVet veterinary clinic network list (CC BY 4.0). In an emergency, call your vet or ASPCA APCC (888) 426-4435 in the US (fees may apply).
