Can My Pet Eat That?

Never feed these

These can poison dogs and cats. If your pet ate one, use the red box at the top of this page — call right away.

• Chocolate, coffee, and caffeineThe darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.
• Grapes and raisinsThe ASPCA says grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage in dogs — tartaric acid is the suspected cause. (Sultanas and currants are dried grapes, so they count too.) The ASPCA's warning is about dogs, not cats — but our rule is to keep them away from cats too. Not worth the risk.
• Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks (all alliums)Raw, cooked, and powdered all count. The powder hides in seasoning blends, soups, gravy, and some baby foods.
• Xylitol (also labeled “birch sugar”)Found in sugar-free gum, mints, and candy, some peanut butters, and some toothpaste. Extremely dangerous for dogs.
• Macadamia nutsPoisonous to dogs — the ASPCA lists weakness, vomiting, tremors, and high temperature in dogs. The ASPCA does not name cats; our rule is to keep them away from cats too.
• Alcohol, and raw yeast doughRaw dough rises inside the stomach and also produces alcohol as it ferments.
• Cooked bonesBones can injure or block the gut — the ASPCA warns this can be serious and need surgery. Cooked bones are the most likely to splinter.
• Raw or undercooked meat and eggsSalmonella risk — to your pet and to your household.
• Human painkillers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, painkillers for people)Not a food — a medicine warning. Toxic to dogs and cats. Never give a pet human pain medicine — call a vet instead.
• Salt and salty snack foodsThe ASPCA says to avoid salt-heavy snacks like chips, pretzels, and salted popcorn — a large amount of salt can poison a pet.

Small amounts OK — dogs

Plain and unseasoned only. Treats are extras: keep them under about 10% of your dog's daily food.

• Plain cooked chicken or turkeyNo bones, no skin seasoning.
• CarrotsWashed, cut to a safe size.
• Green beansPlain, no salt or sauce.
• Apple slicesNo core and no seeds.
• BlueberriesA few, washed.
• StrawberriesCut up, washed.
• Seedless watermelon fleshNo rind and no seeds.
• BananaSmall piece only — it is sugary.
• Plain cooked ricePlain, nothing added.
• Plain pumpkinPlain pumpkin only — not pie filling.
• Peanut butterOnly if the label shows no xylitol and no birch sugar. Check the label every time.
• Milk and dairySmall amounts only. Not poisonous, but many adult dogs and cats cannot digest lactose — expect stomach upset if you overdo it.

Small amounts OK — cats

Plain and unseasoned only. Treats are extras: keep them under about 10% of your cat's daily food.

• Plain cooked chicken, turkey, or fishNo bones and no seasoning.
• A bite of melon or bananaMost cats are not interested in fruit. A bite is not toxic, but it is not needed either.
• Milk and dairySmall amounts only. Not poisonous, but many adult dogs and cats cannot digest lactose — expect stomach upset if you overdo it.

Ground rules for any treat

• Treats are extras, not meals. Keep all treats under about 10% of your pet's daily food.
• Wash all produce before you share it.
• Pits, seeds, cores, and rinds come off first — they are choking and blockage hazards, and stone-fruit pits are a hazard in their own right.
• A food being safe for dogs does not automatically make it safe for cats. This checker treats them separately — always check for the pet you actually have.
• About avocado: it is NOT on the ASPCA's danger list for dogs and cats — the ASPCA says avocado is mainly a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, and farm animals. It is not listed as a treat here either, because the pit can choke a pet or block its gut.
• When in doubt, do not feed it. Ask a vet.