Food Checker
Can My Dog
Eat This?
115 human foods, each with a straight answer and the reason behind it. Search it, or run down the alphabet.
The Dog Snack Challenge
Think You Know What Your Dog Can Eat?
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Flashcards
Think You
Know?
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Can dogs eat
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Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,207 foods.
What you missed
Nothing filed under that. It may still not be safe: if a food is not on this list, check with your vet before you share it.
A
- Never Alcohol Dogs are far more sensitive than people. Includes anything baked with it.
- In Moderation Almonds Not toxic, but hard to digest and a choking and obstruction risk. Full guide on Almonds
- Safe Apples Flesh is excellent. Remove the core and the seeds. Full guide on Apples
- In Moderation Asparagus Safe but tough raw. Cook it and cut it small.
- In Moderation Avocado The flesh is low risk for dogs, but the pit is an obstruction hazard and the plant contains persin. Full guide on Avocado
B
- In Moderation Bacon Fat and salt. A classic pancreatitis trigger in small and predisposed dogs.
- Safe Bananas High in sugar for a fruit, so small pieces. Never the peel. Full guide on Bananas
- Safe Beef Plain cooked and lean. Trim the fat. Full guide on Beef
- Safe Bell Peppers Fine raw or cooked, seeds and stem removed. Red are the most nutritious.
- Never Black Walnuts Mold on the hulls produces toxins that cause tremors and seizures. Full guide on Black Walnuts
- Safe Blackberries Low sugar and high fiber.
- Safe Blueberries The best fruit on this list: low sugar and already the right size to portion. Full guide on Blueberries
- In Moderation Bread Plain baked bread is harmless but empty. Raw dough is genuinely dangerous.
- In Moderation Broccoli Nutritious, but isothiocyanates irritate the gut. Keep it under 10% of intake.
- In Moderation Brussels Sprouts Safe and famously gassy.
- Safe Butternut Squash Cooked and plain. Similar to sweet potato.
C
- In Moderation Cabbage Safe but produces a lot of gas. Cooked is easier than raw.
- Safe Cantaloupe Flesh only, no rind. Sweeter than watermelon so smaller portions.
- Safe Carrots Low calorie and useful. Cut into sticks rather than rounds. Full guide on Carrots
- In Moderation Cashews Very high in fat. A few plain unsalted ones will not hurt. Full guide on Cashews
- In Moderation Cauliflower Safe, gassy. Cooked and in small amounts.
- Safe Celery Very low calorie. Cut across the strings.
- In Moderation Cheese High in fat and most adult dogs are lactose intolerant. Small amounts only. Full guide on Cheese
- In Moderation Cherries Pitted flesh only, and it is more trouble than it is worth. Full guide on Cherries
- Never Cherry Pits Cyanogenic, and an obstruction risk. The flesh itself is not the problem. Full guide on Cherry Pits
- Safe Chicken Plain cooked, boneless and skinless. One of the most digestible proteins there is. Full guide on Chicken
- In Moderation Chicken Broth Only if it contains no onion or garlic and little salt. Most store broth does.
- Safe Chicken Liver Nutrient dense in small amounts. Too much means too much vitamin A.
- In Moderation Chicken Nuggets Breaded, fried, salted and often seasoned with onion powder.
- In Moderation Chicken Skin Pure fat. A common pancreatitis trigger, especially around holidays.
- Never Chives An allium. Common in dips and baked potato toppings. Full guide on Chives
- Never Chocolate Theobromine. Dark and baking chocolate are far more dangerous than milk. Full guide on Chocolate
- In Moderation Coconut Not toxic, but high in fat and can loosen stools. Husk is an obstruction risk.
- Never Coffee And Tea Caffeine. Grounds and used pods are the usual way dogs get a big dose. Full guide on Coffee And Tea
- Never Cooked Bones Cooking makes bone brittle, and brittle bone splinters. Poultry bones especially. Full guide on Cooked Bones
- In Moderation Corn Kernels The kernels are digestible and common in dog food. Never the cob. Full guide on Corn Kernels
- Never Corn On The Cob The kernels are fine. The cob is a classic obstruction and often needs surgery. Full guide on Corn On The Cob
- Safe Cottage Cheese Plain and low fat. Lower in lactose than most dairy.
- Safe Cranberries Safe but bitter, and most dogs turn them down. Never the sweetened dried ones.
- Safe Cucumber Almost entirely water. Ideal for a dog on a diet.
E
- Safe Eggs Cooked, plain, no butter or salt. Close to a complete protein. Full guide on Eggs
F
- In Moderation French Fries Salt and fat, cooked in oil. Not toxic, just a bad use of the treat budget.
- In Moderation Fried Chicken The fat and the seasoning are the problem, and the bones are worse.
G
- Never Garlic Same damage as onion and more potent by weight. Powder is the worst form. Full guide on Garlic
- In Moderation Grapefruit Very acidic and the peel contains irritant oils. Most dogs refuse it anyway.
- Never Grapes Can cause acute kidney failure, and the toxic dose is not predictable from body weight. Full guide on Grapes
- Safe Green Beans The best treat on this list for an overweight dog. Plain, no salt.
H
- In Moderation Ham Very salty and fatty, and often cured with garlic. Full guide on Ham
- In Moderation Honey Sugar. Small amounts are fine for adults, but not for puppies.
- Never Hops Causes a dangerous rise in body temperature. Relevant if you brew at home.
I
- In Moderation Ice Cream Sugar plus dairy, and some flavors hide chocolate or xylitol. Frozen banana works better. Full guide on Ice Cream
K
- In Moderation Kale Oxalates again. Occasional small amounts.
- In Moderation Ketchup Sugar and salt, and many brands contain onion and garlic powder.
- Safe Kiwi Peeled and in small pieces.
L
- Safe Lamb Plain cooked. Higher in fat than poultry.
- Never Leeks An allium, like onion and garlic. Full guide on Leeks
- In Moderation Lemon And Lime Acidic and the peel contains psoralens. Not worth offering.
- Safe Lettuce Harmless and nearly calorie free, though not worth much.
- In Moderation Liver Excellent in small amounts. Too much causes vitamin A toxicity over time.
M
- Never Macadamia Nuts Cause weakness, tremors and overheating at surprisingly low doses. Full guide on Macadamia Nuts
- In Moderation Mango Flesh is fine peeled. The pit is a choking and obstruction hazard.
- In Moderation Marshmallows Sugar, and sugar free ones may contain xylitol. Check before you share. Full guide on Marshmallows
- In Moderation Milk Most adult dogs lose the ability to digest lactose. Expect loose stools. Full guide on Milk
- Never Moldy Food Tremorgenic mycotoxins cause muscle tremors and seizures. Secure the compost.
N
- Never Nutmeg Myristicin causes disorientation and a raised heart rate. Common in fall baking. Full guide on Nutmeg
O
- Safe Oatmeal Plain, cooked with water. No sugar, no milk, no flavored packets.
- Never Onions Damages red blood cells. Raw, cooked and powdered are all toxic. Full guide on Onions
- In Moderation Oranges Flesh only, in small amounts. Acidic and sugary. No peel.
P
- Safe Papaya Flesh only, seeds removed.
- In Moderation Pasta Plain cooked pasta is harmless and empty. Sauce is where the onion and garlic are.
- Never Peach And Plum Pits Cyanogenic and large enough to block an intestine. Full guide on Peach And Plum Pits
- In Moderation Peaches Flesh in small amounts is fine. The pit is not. Full guide on Peaches
- In Moderation Peanut Butter Fine plain, but read the label first: some brands are sweetened with xylitol. Full guide on Peanut Butter
- In Moderation Peanuts Plain and unsalted, shelled. Not salted or honey roasted. Full guide on Peanuts
- Safe Pears Flesh is fine. Remove the core and seeds like an apple.
- Safe Peas Fine fresh or frozen. Common in dog food as a starch source.
- In Moderation Pineapple Fresh only, in small pieces. High in sugar and acid. Skip the core and skin. Full guide on Pineapple
- In Moderation Pistachios High fat, and the shells are a hazard. Full guide on Pistachios
- In Moderation Pizza Fat, salt, cheese, and usually garlic or onion in the sauce.
- In Moderation Plums Same as peaches: flesh yes, pit no. Full guide on Plums
- In Moderation Popcorn Plain air popped is fine. Butter, salt and unpopped kernels are the problems. Full guide on Popcorn
- In Moderation Pork Plain cooked lean pork is fine. Cured pork is too salty and fatty. Full guide on Pork
- In Moderation Potatoes Plain cooked potato with no green is fine and is mostly starch. Raw or green is not. Full guide on Potatoes
- Safe Pumpkin Plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling. Genuinely helps regulate stools. Full guide on Pumpkin
Q
- Safe Quinoa Plain cooked. Rinse it first.
R
- Never Raisins Same toxin as grapes, concentrated. Watch for them in cookies and trail mix. Full guide on Raisins
- Safe Raspberries Fine in small amounts. Contain a trace of natural xylitol, so do not overdo it.
- In Moderation Raw Chicken Salmonella and campylobacter risk to your dog and to your household.
- In Moderation Raw Eggs Salmonella risk, and raw white binds biotin. Cooked is strictly better.
- In Moderation Raw Fish Never raw salmon or trout in the Pacific Northwest: salmon poisoning disease is fatal untreated.
- Never Raw Or Green Potato Solanine. Cooked potato with no green patches is a different question.
- Never Raw Yeast Dough Rises in the stomach and ferments into alcohol. Full guide on Raw Yeast Dough
- Never Rhubarb Leaves Oxalates, which can affect the kidneys.
- Safe Rice Plain cooked. White rice is the one to use for an upset stomach. Full guide on Rice
S
- Safe Salmon Cooked and deboned. A good source of omega 3. Never raw.
- Never Salt And Salt Dough Large amounts cause sodium poisoning. Play dough ornaments are a real cause. Full guide on Salt And Salt Dough
- Safe Sardines In water, no added salt. Small bones are soft enough to be safe.
- In Moderation Sausage Fat, salt, and usually seasoned with onion or garlic.
- In Moderation Shrimp Cooked, shelled and deveined. Raw shellfish carries parasites. Full guide on Shrimp
- In Moderation Soy Sauce Extremely high in sodium. A large amount is a genuine risk.
- In Moderation Spinach High in oxalates. Fine occasionally, not daily, and worth avoiding with a stone history.
- Never Star Fruit High in oxalates and linked to kidney damage in dogs.
- In Moderation Store Bought Mushrooms Plain and cooked are fine. The danger is wild ones, not supermarket ones.
- Safe Strawberries Mostly water. Watch the sugar and cut them down for small dogs. Full guide on Strawberries
- Safe Sweet Potato Cooked, plain, no skin. More starch and calories than it looks. Full guide on Sweet Potato
T
- In Moderation Tomatoes Ripe flesh is fine. Green fruit, leaves and stems contain solanine. Full guide on Tomatoes
- In Moderation Tuna Mercury accumulates. Occasional small amounts, in water not oil or brine. Full guide on Tuna
- In Moderation Turkey Plain cooked meat is excellent. Skin, bones and seasoning are not. Full guide on Turkey
W
- In Moderation Walnuts English walnuts upset stomachs and mold easily. Black walnuts are toxic. Full guide on Walnuts
- Safe Watermelon Seedless flesh only, never the rind. About 92 percent water. Full guide on Watermelon
- Safe White Fish Cooked and deboned. Lean and easy to digest.
- Never Wild Mushrooms Some species cause fatal liver failure and none are identifiable in a hurry.
X
- Never Xylitol Causes a rapid insulin crash and liver failure. Check any sugar free product. Full guide on Xylitol
Y
- In Moderation Yogurt Plain and unsweetened only. Never a sugar free one. Full guide on Yogurt
Z
- Safe Zucchini Low calorie and well tolerated.
Safe does not mean unlimited. Treats and extras of every kind should stay under 10% of your dog's daily calories, so the complete diet keeps holding the nutritional balance together. Introduce anything new one item at a time, in a small amount, and give it a day before you decide it agrees with them.
This list covers healthy adult dogs. Puppies, seniors, and dogs on a prescription or elimination diet are different cases, and a dog on an elimination diet should get nothing on this page at all while the trial is running. If your dog has eaten something in the Never column, call your vet or an animal poison line now rather than waiting for symptoms.
Go Deeper
The Full Guides
Can Dogs Eat Salt And Salt Dough? Why Play Dough And Salt Ornaments Are A Never Food
No. A little salt in dog food is fine, but large amounts cause sodium poisoning, and homemade play dough and salt dough...
5 min read
Can Dogs Drink Milk? Milk, Yogurt And Ice Cream
A splash is usually fine, but most adult dogs digest lactose poorly. Plain unsweetened yogurt is the better dairy treat, and ice...
6 min read
Can Dogs Eat Cherries, Peaches And Plums? The Pit Problem
Dogs can eat a little cherry, peach or plum flesh, but never the pits. The pits contain cyanide compounds and can block...
5 min read
Can Dogs Eat Nuts? Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts And More
Most nuts are not toxic, but they are fatty and easy to choke on. A few plain almonds or cashews are fine....
5 min read
Can Dogs Eat Pork? Plain Cooked Lean Pork Yes, Bacon, Fat And Cured Pork No
Yes, in small amounts. Plain cooked lean pork is a fine treat, but bacon, ham, sausage and pork fat are too salty...
5 min read
Can Dogs Eat Beef? Yes, Plain, Cooked And Lean, Plus Liver, Tripe And Broth
Yes. Plain, cooked, lean beef is a safe treat for dogs. Trim the fat, skip seasoning and cooked bones, and keep liver...
6 min read
What your dog actually lives on is the food in the bowl twice a day, not the things they talk you out of at the table. You can compare what is in those bags in the dog food reviews.
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