Foods that are dangerous to pets on a kitchen cutting board, including dark chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, avocado, coffee and raw bread dough, with a dog watching from the floor.

Foods That Are Toxic to Pets: What to Know Before Feeding (and What to Do If They Eat One Anyway)

Most pet poisoning cases do not happen because an owner fed their dog or cat something dangerous on purpose. They happen because a counter got raided, a plate got left within reach, or something dropped on the kitchen floor got eaten before anyone noticed. Knowing what is actually dangerous, and what to do in the first few minutes after accidental ingestion, makes a real difference in outcomes.

Common foods that are toxic to pets

This is not a complete list. New questions come up constantly, which is exactly why we built SafeBite (more on that below). But these are some of the most common and most serious ones to know by heart.

  • Chocolate, especially dark and baking chocolate, contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to dogs and cats in high enough amounts.
  • Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts, and the exact toxic mechanism is still not fully understood.
  • Onions, garlic, and chives, in any form (raw, cooked, or powdered), can damage red blood cells in both dogs and cats.
  • Xylitol, a sugar substitute in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, and baked goods, can cause a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs.
  • Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, tremors, and elevated temperature in dogs.
  • Alcohol, including unbaked bread dough that is still rising, can cause dangerously low blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature.
  • Avocado contains persin, which is mainly a concern for birds and some other animals, but the pit and skin also pose a choking or blockage risk for dogs and cats.
  • Caffeine, from coffee grounds, tea, or energy drinks, affects pets' hearts and nervous systems much more strongly than it affects ours.

If your pet eats something they should not have

  1. Stay calm and act quickly. Time matters more than panic.
  2. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison control professional tells you to. For some substances, this can make things worse.
  3. Gather what you know. What did they eat, roughly how much, and when. If you have the packaging or label, keep it handy for the call.
  4. Call for help right away. Your regular vet, an emergency vet, or one of the poison control lines below. Do not wait to see if symptoms appear.
  5. Go straight to an emergency vet if your pet is having a seizure, struggling to breathe, collapses, or cannot stay conscious. Skip the phone call and go.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435, available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.

Check before you feed, not after

The easiest way to avoid all of this is checking before something ends up in a bowl or a curious mouth. That is exactly why we built SafeBite, a free tool that lets you search common foods and household items across 8 kinds of pets to see what is actually safe. It takes a few seconds and it is right on our site.

Check SafeBite Before You Feed

SafeBite is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. In an emergency, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Back to blog