Can he eat that?

Human foods that are toxic for dogs

Can he eat that? A completely unexpected, but necessary question new dog parents find themselves asking veteran pet parents. Come to find out, there are many things my dog shouldn’t eat. This research was enlightening for me as some foods/ingredients while perfectly safe for humans are highly toxic for dogs. Given that humans & dogs have cohabitated for thousands of years, I found the metabolism differences to be interesting. When I find something interesting, I write about it. Prior to reacting to an emergency, prevention is our objective. As dog parents, we need to be aware of foods that could cause sickness, prevent access and learn how handle an emergency.

Through my research, I found a number of foods toxic to dogs. The first was a bit of a surprise to me, grapes/raisins. Grapes are a delicious little nugget packed with vitamins. fiber and antioxidants to humans. For dogs, grapes are toxic and can cause acute kidney failure. Watch closely any dog you suspect may have eaten grapes or raisins. If they appear unnaturally tired, or lethargic, get them to the vet immediately.

The second food toxic for dogs…onions. While I was aware that raw onions (& garlic) aren’t necessarily good for dogs, I learned that cooking does not eliminate the biologic risk to dogs. Onions, garlic and related foods can damage red blood cells, leading to anemia over time. Symptoms like lethargy or pale gums likely won’t present themselves immediately. As the accumulation of toxins builds, so too should the symptoms. Once the symptoms are present, it’s important to get your pup to a Dr. quickly. The punchline is to make sure dog scraps don’t include onion or garlic.

Among the most dangerous substances for a dog to ingest is xylitol, which isn’t a food, but a food ingredient. If ingested by a dog, the xylitol could induce sudden on-set of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is no joke. If treatment is delayed, hypoglycemia can induce seizures, liver failure and sometimes death. A reaction to the poison can occur after just a few moments. If there’s a possibility of a dog(s) ingesting a product containing xylitol, get them to the Vet ASAP.

How broadly is xylitol used in foods? Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in sugar free formulations of cookies, candy, gum, peanut butter and even some varieties of toothpaste. The ingredient isn’t broadly used within these categories, the substantial risk warrants diligence. We encourage readers to review the ingredients of every food package in your house for safety. Take special care to remove access to any products containing xylitol.

The next food enemy of dogs is avocados. Avocados contain a toxin called persin found throughout the fruit, pits, leaves & bark. Persin is harmless to humans but can be very poisonous to dogs. If ingested, persin can cause fluids to build up in a dog’s heart, lungs and pancreas. The fluids restrict the dog from getting enough O² leading to potentially fatal complications if untreated

Any drinks containing caffeine should be kept away from dogs. Dogs absorb caffeine quickly and to the detriment of their health. Caffeine can cause abnormal heart rhythm or lung failure in dogs. Within 2 hours of ingesting caffeine, a dog may experience restlessness, extreme thirst, lack of bladder control and/or diarrhea. If notice any of the above symptoms, you should bring the dog to vet immediately for an IV to avoid dehydration. Keep any/all products containing caffeine away from dogs.

Alcohol in the right quantity can be poisonous to both human and dog. That said dogs have a greater sensitivity to the toxin as it can cause intestinal irritation and swollenness. If a dog has ingested alcohol, they’re likely to exhibit many of the same symptoms as a drunk human – lack of balance, vomiting, stumbling etc. Immediately call your vet or the poison control hotline if your dog exhibits symptoms. As with most poisoning cases, early intervention is the key to a successful treatment.

Chocolate contains the stimulant chemicals theobromine and caffeine, both of which are very difficult for dogs to metabolize. If a dog eats chocolate, it can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. These symptoms can also progress to more serious problems like heart attacks, internal bleeding, muscle tremors, seizures, and death (21Trusted Source).

The severity of the side effects depends the dog’s weight, metabolism and how much and what type of chocolate the dog has consumed. The darker and less sweet the chocolate is, the more toxic it will be to your dog. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate and cocoa powder are among the most dangerous varieties.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, dogs may show symptoms after ingesting as little as 18 mg per pound (40 mg per kg) of body weight (23). In other words, as little as 0.03 ounces (720 mg) of chocolate would be enough to cause toxic symptoms in a 44-pound (20-kg) dog.

Chocolate poisoning occurs at a higher rate on holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas — presumably because these are times when people often have chocolate on hand. Stay vigilant, it is important to always keep chocolate out of reach.

From grapes to avocados and coffee, at-risk foods must be properly stored out of your dog’s reach for safety. It’s also a great idea to have poison control and your local vet emergency room programmed in your phone for when needed. I hope you found this information helpful.

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Sources: GoodRx; “What can dogs not eat?”; Lauren Lee; May 2025

ASPCA; “People food to avoid feeding pets”; website

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