What can dogs not eat? Well, for the longest time I knew that chocolate was on the list. However, I thought that the list ended there.
But then we adopted two puppies who got into everything. Suddenly, I was worried they would eat something poisonous and get really sick or worse.
One day, my daughter finished eating some kale salad, with currants and onions. She left her dish on the ground.
One of our puppies decided to clean the dish.
We had no idea how many pieces of onion or currants the dog ate. By this time in dog ownership I’d learned that onions were definitely not what dogs should be eating. But what about currants?
We didn’t want a bad outcome.
So, after calling the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and giving our credit card to cover the required $65 fee, we were connected with a specialist who instructed us on how to induce vomiting, which we did.
In the end, the dog had ingested a half dozen currants and onion pieces. These are both poisonous foods to dogs and definitely what dogs can not eat.
The holidays, human food and what can dogs not eat
With the holidays right around the corner, chances are you’re going to have a lot of food out at your house.
And if your dog is a scavenger like mine are, your dog could easily get into something that he should not be eating.
Even our previous dog Buffy got into trouble when we left Easter baskets unattended for just a few minutes.
In no time flat Buffy gobbled up a chocolate bunny, and he was one sick puppy afterwards.
One vet trip and $500 later for rehydrating him with IV fluids, Buffy was better.
Finally, I’ve organized this to address the most common food holidays, listed alphabetically below.
Under each holiday I’ve included foods commonly served at those holidays. These are the human food you should keep your dog away from or, for safety’s sake, when thinking about what dogs can not eat, you should simply keep this food off your holiday menu.
I’m doing this because I never want you to have to call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and then have to make your dog throw up because he ate poisonous food for dogs.
Nor do I want you to have to rush your dog to the veterinarian knowing that he ate something potentially toxic to him, all the time wondering if your pet will pull through.
Note: This information is presented as informational only. You should contact your veterinarian with any questions about your dog’s health. This blog cannot be responsible for any pet injury or illness.
What can dogs not eat at Thanksgiving
Potatoes
Potatoes are only toxic when they’re raw. Heck, they’re dangerous for us humans to eat, too.
So, if you’re making potatoes or mashed potatoes from scratch, be super careful about where the peels, eyes and ends of the potatoes end up before they get to the trash.
If they fall on the floor, get them up fast before Fido gets to them.
Raisins
If you put raisins, currants or anything in the grape family in your stuffing, keep it away from your dogs.
These can all cause kidney damage in a dog.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb pie, yum to you, deadly for your dog. This applies to both raw rhubarb (stem and leaves) and the baked pie.
Turkey
While the turkey should be fine for your dog, just make sure it is fully cooked, and remove the skin before feeding.
Also, don’t give him too much to eat.
Finally, never give your dog a turkey bone. Turkey and chicken bones are choking hazards.
Yeast
Baking bread from scratch? Don’t let him near the yeast dough while still raw.
The ASPCA explains it best when discussing people food not to give to your pet:
“Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach to bloat, and potentially twist, becoming a life threatening emergency.”
Pumpkin, on the other hand, is healthy superfood for dogs.
What food can dogs not eat at Christmas
Apple seeds
This was a surprise to me–that apple seeds can be a dangerous human food for dogs.
In the past I have given my dogs the apple core to chew on, but no more.
Making an apple pie this holiday season? The apple itself is fine for your pooch but not the seeds in the core.
Citrus
Do you put an orange or clementine in Christmas stockings? Well, keep them away from your dog.
If your dogs are anything like mine, they run away from the smell of a citrus peel, and that’s a good thing since it is toxic to them.
Dogs can eat pieces of orange and other citrus, but it’s likely to upset their stomach so it’s probably not worth it.
Speaking of Christmas stockings, I hope you’ll visit my Etsy store, which includes this bone shaped Christmas stocking and bone shaped pillow for a dog. Both are in a festive Buffalo plaid pattern.
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks
Caffeine is bad for your dog’s heart and could kill him. And to think I would only get mad when my dog Sadie climbed onto my desk to lap up my leftover coffee. Now I know better that it’s a dangerous food, nay, drink for her to enjoy.
Nutmeg and other spices
When adding nutmeg to your eggnog (already a no-no for dogs), keep the nutmeg and other spices in a safe place.
Dogs should never have free reign around spices and other cooking pantry essentials–many can make them very sick.
Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts
Most nuts do not fall into the category of dangerous human food for dogs. For example, we know peanuts are fine because peanut butter is fine.
Assuming the peanut butter does not include xylitol, a sugar alcohol. Now that is toxic for dogs.
However, certain nuts could kill your pup. That would be macadamia nuts and certain walnuts.
Since I’m not 100% sure which kind of walnuts are bad for them, just keep them all away from your dog.
So, if you’re placing nuts out for your holiday guests, keep them up high where dogs can’t get them.
Onion and Garlic
Many menus served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day include onions and garlic. Both toxic to dogs. They can cause kidney failure. Like those aforementioned currants, my vet told me you don’t know how much onion or garlic could kill your dog. So, don’t risk it.
What can dogs not eat at Easter
Chocolate
Chocolate causes severe gastrointestinal stress in dogs, including vomiting and diarrhea. But it can also cause “seizures, coma and death,” says Mara Ratnofsky, DVM.
Dark chocolate is especially potent. So, keep all chocolate away from your pup.
Ham
Many families traditionally serve ham for their Easter meal. You may want to share some with your dog but please don’t.
Vets say that fatty meats are never a good idea for a dog’s digestive system. Same with bacon. Sorry, pup.
Foods Poisonous to Dogs at Halloween
Chocolate
See Easter!
Xylitol
As mentioned earlier in regards to peanut butter, you want to stay away from xylitol. You most often find xylitol, an artificial sweetener, in sugarless gum, which your children could possibly get in their trick or treat bag.
However, some peanut butter brands have added xylitol. Snopes.com confirms this danger.
Since we all know how much dogs like peanut butter, be sure to read the label before giving any to your pup.
Foods Poisonous to Dogs at New Year’s Eve
Alcohol, including champagne
Never ever give your dog alcohol or anything with alcohol in it. This includes some sweeteners that use sugar alcohol like xylitol mentioned earlier.
Alcohol causes a host of toxicity issues for dogs from diarrhea to difficulty breathing to death.
So, while it may look cute on social media to share a drink with your dog, the outcome from doing that will be less than cute.
Mushrooms
Passing around hors d’oeuvres are great for a party. However, if you’re serving stuffed mushrooms, don’t let your dog partake of them.
While some mushrooms are not toxic to dogs, many are. So, just don’t risk it.
More pet safety tips for New Years here.
What should dogs not eat at summer celebrations
When it comes to summer holidays and long weekends, I think about Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Independence Day and Labor Day. These usually include a trip to the beach or the lake, and cookouts in the backyard.
Some of what you might be cooking up or serving on these long, summer holiday weekends could be poisonous to or hurt your pet.
Beer and alcohol
As mentioned above for New Year’s Eve, even though it might look cute to let your dog lick your beer, don’t!
Chives
If you like to garnish your salads with chives, keep the dogs away.
Also, be aware that chives belong to the same “family” as leeks and shallots, so these could be potentially poisonous foods for dogs to ingest as well.
Fruit with pits
Most fruits with a pit–avocado, cherry, plums, peaches and apricot, to mention a few–are toxic to dogs. In addition, the pit itself is a choking hazard.
So, if you’re making a fruit salad with those pitted fruits, keep it away from your dog.
On the other hand if you want to share your fruit salad with your dog, make sure you include safe human fruits for dogs. This includes bananas and watermelon.
Meat
On their own, meat products are not dangerous to dogs. However, like with humans, the danger comes from undercooked meats.
Also, hold off on throwing your dog a steak or other kind of bone, literally. A bone can splinter and become a choking hazard.
In fact, never give your dogs a real bone to chew.
Human food dogs can eat
Now that you know what can dogs not eat, here are 15 different human foods that should be safe to feed your dog.
Of course, feed them in small quantities.
Finally, always check with your veterinarian first before raiding the fridge with your dog.
- Apples (remember, no seeds)
- Bananas (my dogs never like bananas)
- Carrots
- Cheese (small amounts only)
- Chicken (no skin or bones)
- Corn (kernels only, cooked)
- Cucumber (hollow out the seeds first)
- Green beans
- Ground beef (lean, fully cooked, plain)
- Orange pieces (no skin or seeds)
- Pasta (plain)
- Peanut butter (read the ingredients, first, to make sure it does not include xylitol or sugar alcohol)
- Rice (white, boiled)
- Turkey (again, no skin or bones)
- Watermelon (again, no seeds)