Safe Foods for Dogs
Sharing your snack? Check first. Some everyday human foods are dangerously toxic to dogs — others are great enrichment.
Never give a dog alcohol — even small amounts can be dangerous.
Sliced apple (no seeds, no core) is a crunchy, fibre-rich treat.
The flesh is mildly risky; the pit and skin are dangerous.
Bacon is too fatty and salty to be a good treat.
A potassium-rich treat — but watch the sugar.
One of the best fruit treats for dogs.
A small piece of plain bread is fine, but it adds calories and little nutrition.
Raw yeast dough is an emergency — it expands in the stomach and produces alcohol.
Small amounts are fine; large amounts cause GI upset.
Crunchy, low-calorie, dental-friendly.
Celery is a crunchy, very low-calorie treat — chop it small.
Small amounts of low-fat cheese are a useful high-value training treat for most dogs.
The pits contain cyanide. Avoid entirely.
Chives belong to the onion family and can damage a dog's red blood cells.
All chocolate is toxic. Dark and baking chocolate are worst.
Christmas pudding is packed with raisins, sultanas and currants, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
A pinch is fine; large amounts irritate.
Small amounts of flesh or oil are fine; high in fat.
Coffee, coffee grounds and caffeine tablets are toxic to dogs.
Plain kernels off the cob are safe and digestible.
Plain courgette, raw or cooked, is safe and low in calories.
Crisps are salty and fatty, and some flavours contain onion or garlic.
Crunchy, hydrating, near-zero-calorie — an ideal treat for overweight dogs.
Cooked eggs are one of the best natural protein toppers for dogs.
Toxic — about five times more potent than onion.
Even tiny amounts can cause acute kidney failure.
Plain green beans are a popular low-calorie treat.
Ham isn't toxic, but it's very salty and fatty — a tiny piece at most.
Tiny amounts are fine; high in sugar.
Hot cross buns contain raisins, sultanas or currants, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Ice cream isn't a good treat — it's sugary and dairy, and some flavours are toxic.
Peeled kiwi in small pieces is safe for most dogs.
Leeks are in the allium family — toxic to dogs like onion and garlic.
Macadamias are uniquely toxic to dogs.
Sweet, vitamin-rich, and dog-safe in moderation.
Marmite is extremely salty — a tiny lick is fine, a spoonful is not.
Most adult dogs are lactose intolerant.
Mince pies contain raisins, sultanas and currants, which are toxic to dogs.
Store-bought are usually safe; wild mushrooms are dangerous.
A pinch in food is unlikely to cause harm, but large amounts of nutmeg are toxic.
A gentle, fibre-rich grain most dogs digest well.
All forms — raw, cooked, powdered — are toxic.
Small amounts of flesh are okay; many dogs dislike citrus.
Plain cooked parsnip is a safe, fibre-rich treat.
Plain cooked pasta is safe in small amounts, but sauces often aren't.
Fresh peach flesh is fine in small amounts — the stone is not.
Plain peanut butter is fine — but check for xylitol.
Pear slices are a safe treat — remove the core and seeds.
Garden, sugar-snap and mangetout peas are safe and nutrient-dense for most dogs.
Tropical, vitamin-rich, dog-safe in moderation.
The flesh isn't toxic, but plum stones are dangerous.
Plain cooked potato is fine; raw or green potatoes and chips are not.
A few cooked, peeled prawns are fine; shells and raw prawns are not.
A vet's favourite for digestive support.
More toxic than grapes by weight. Avoid entirely.
A few raspberries make a good low-calorie treat.
Plain cooked rice is safe and easy to digest.
Cooked salmon is excellent — raw can be deadly.
Sardines in water are a good occasional source of omega-3s.
Many sausages contain onion or garlic, and all are fatty and salty.
Small amounts are fine; high oxalates are an issue in quantity.
A vitamin-rich, low-calorie treat.
Cooked, plain swede (rutabaga) is a low-calorie, fibre-rich winter veg for dogs.
Cooked, plain sweet potato is a gut-friendly, fibre-rich carbohydrate for dogs.
Ripe red flesh is okay; green parts are toxic.
A little tinned tuna in spring water is fine occasionally, but not regularly.
Plain, cooked, boneless turkey meat is a good treat — skip the skin and bones.
Hydrating summer treat — remove seeds and rind.
A sugar-free sweetener that is dangerous to dogs even in small amounts.
A spoonful of plain, unsweetened yoghurt is fine for most dogs.