Foods that are toxic to dogs
These foods can cause serious illness. If your dog eats any of them, contact your vet right away.
- Grapes: Grapes are toxic to dogs and can cause sudden kidney failure
- Raisins: Raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure, often in smaller amounts than fresh grapes because they are concentrated
- Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to dogs
- Onions: Onions are toxic to dogs in all forms: raw, cooked, dried and powdered
- Garlic: Garlic is toxic to dogs and, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, about 3–5 times more toxic than onion
- Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs
- Nutmeg: Nutmeg contains myristicin, which can cause hallucinations, disorientation, a fast heart rate and seizures in dogs in larger amounts
- Coffee: Coffee contains caffeine, which dogs are far more sensitive to than people
- Xylitol (in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters): causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
- Alcohol, caffeine and raw yeast dough: all can cause severe poisoning.
Best low-calorie treats for dogs
These are safe and have 5 kcal or less per piece, so they fit easily into a daily treat budget:
- Strawberries: about 4 kcal per medium strawberry
- Blueberries: about 0.6 kcal per blueberry
- Watermelon: about 5 kcal per 1-inch watermelon cube
- Carrots: about 4 kcal per baby carrot
- Cucumbers: about 1 kcal per cucumber slice
- Green Beans: about 1.5 kcal per green bean
- Pumpkin: about 5 kcal per tablespoon of plain pumpkin
- Cantaloupe: about 5 kcal per 1-inch cantaloupe cube
- Celery: about 2 kcal per 4-inch celery stick
- Lettuce: about 1 kcal per lettuce leaf
- Cauliflower: about 3 kcal per small cauliflower floret
- Bell Peppers: about 3 kcal per bell pepper strip
- Zucchini: about 1 kcal per zucchini slice
- Oatmeal: about 5 kcal per tablespoon of cooked oatmeal
- Radishes: about 1 kcal per medium radish
- Butternut Squash: about 5 kcal per 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
- Blackberries: about 2 kcal per blackberry
- Edamame: about 0.6 kcal per shelled edamame bean
The 10% treat rule
Veterinary nutrition guidelines recommend that treats, including human food, make up no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories. The other 90% should come from a complete and balanced diet. That is why each guide calculates a maximum amount from your dog's weight rather than giving a one-size-fits-all number.
How we decide "safe", "in moderation", "caution" or "toxic"
- Safe Not toxic and generally well tolerated when served plain in treat-size amounts.
- In moderation Not toxic, but sugar, fat, acidity or lactose mean portions should stay small.
- Caution Parts of the food are harmful or the risks usually outweigh the benefits.
- Toxic Can cause poisoning. Do not feed, and contact a vet after any ingestion.
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