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Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs

By Ed Frawley | Last modified: October 21, 2026

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Bar of baker's chocolate, one of the foods most toxic to dogs

Introduction

Common Human Foods That Can Make Your Dog Sick, or Worse

Some of the foods we eat every day can be toxic, or even fatal, to dogs. Many of them are hiding inside other products: sugar-free gum, peanut butter, baby food, baked goods, and edibles. Always check the ingredients list before you share anything with your dog.

Below is a list of foods that are dangerous to dogs, why they're dangerous, and how serious each one is. Severity also depends on how much your dog ate and how big your dog is, so treat any exposure to a High item as an emergency.

Important note: This article is for general education and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you think your dog has eaten something toxic, call your vet or an animal poison control center right away.

The Most Dangerous Foods

If You Only Remember Five

Xylitol: A sugar substitute found in sugar-free gum, mints, some peanut butters, and toothpaste. Even a small amount can crash a dog's blood sugar within minutes and cause liver failure.
Grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas: Can cause sudden kidney failure. No amount is known to be safe.
Chocolate and caffeine: Dark and baker's chocolate are the most dangerous. They affect the heart and nervous system.
Onions, garlic, and the rest of the onion family: Destroy red blood cells. Powdered forms are the most concentrated.
Alcohol and raw yeast dough: Dough keeps rising in the stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments.

Full List of Toxic & Dangerous Foods

Why Each One Is a Problem

Some of these foods are poisonous. Others aren't toxic but can still cause a choking hazard, an intestinal blockage, or pancreatitis.

Food	Why It's Dangerous	Severity
Alcohol	Causes dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Can lead to seizures, coma, and death.	High
Avocado	Dogs are fairly resistant to persin, the toxin in avocado, but the fruit can still cause vomiting and diarrhea. The high fat can trigger pancreatitis, and the pit can cause a blockage. (Avocado is much more dangerous to birds and horses.)	Low
Baby Food	Often contains onion or garlic powder, which damages red blood cells.	Moderate
Broccoli (Large Amounts)	Contains isothiocyanates, which can irritate the stomach and intestines when a dog eats a lot of it. Small amounts are generally fine.	Low
Cat Food	Too high in protein and fat for dogs. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.	Low
Chocolate, Coffee, Tea & Caffeine	Theobromine and caffeine overstimulate the heart and nervous system, causing restlessness, a racing heart, tremors, and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Watch for coffee grounds, tea bags, energy drinks, and caffeine pills.	High
Citrus Peels, Stems & Oil Extracts	Citric acid and essential oils in the peel, stems, and leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Concentrated citrus oils are the biggest concern.	Low
Cooked Bones	Cooked bones splinter when chewed and can puncture the mouth, throat, or intestines. Small, brittle poultry bones are the worst.	Moderate
Corn Cobs	Not toxic, but a common cause of intestinal blockages that need surgery.	Moderate
Dairy	Many dogs can't digest lactose. Milk, cheese, and ice cream can cause gas, vomiting, and diarrhea.	Low
Fat Trimmings	High fat, especially cooked fat, can trigger pancreatitis.	Moderate
Fruit Pits & Seeds (apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, plum, persimmon)	Most of these seeds and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release cyanide when chewed. Whole pits can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, and persimmon seeds can inflame the small intestine.	Moderate
Grapes, Raisins, Currants & Sultanas	Can cause sudden kidney failure. Tartaric acid is the suspected toxin, so cream of tartar and homemade play dough are also a risk. No amount is known to be safe.	High
Hops	Used in home beer brewing. Causes panting, a racing heart, and a dangerously high body temperature that can lead to seizures and death. Greyhounds and retrievers may be especially sensitive.	High
Human Vitamins with Iron	Iron damages the lining of the digestive tract and can be toxic to the liver and kidneys.	High
Liver (Large Amounts)	Eating large amounts regularly can cause vitamin A toxicity, which affects the bones and joints.	Low
Macadamia Nuts	An unknown toxin causes weakness (especially in the back legs), tremors, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms usually pass within a day or two with vet care.	Moderate
Marijuana & THC Edibles	Causes stumbling, lethargy, dribbling urine, and changes in heart rate. Edibles often also contain chocolate or xylitol, which makes them more dangerous.	Moderate
Moldy or Spoiled Food	Moldy bread, nuts, dairy, and compost can contain mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures, along with vomiting and diarrhea.	High
Mustard Seeds	Irritate the stomach and intestines, causing vomiting and diarrhea.	Low
Nutmeg	Contains myristicin. In large amounts it can cause disorientation, a racing heart, tremors, and seizures.	Moderate
Nuts (Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds)	Large nuts are a choking and blockage hazard, especially for small dogs, and their high fat can cause pancreatitis. Black walnuts and moldy walnuts can cause tremors and seizures.	Moderate
Onions, Garlic, Chives, Leeks & Shallots	Everything in the onion family damages red blood cells and causes anemia. Garlic is about five times as potent as onion. Raw, cooked, and powdered forms are all toxic, and symptoms may not appear for several days.	High
Potatoes & Tomatoes (Green Parts)	Leaves, stems, unripe tomatoes, and green or raw potatoes contain solanine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Ripe tomatoes and plain cooked potatoes are fine.	Moderate
Raw Salmon & Trout	Raw fish from Pacific Northwest rivers can carry a parasite that causes salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal if untreated. Cooking kills the parasite.	High
Rhubarb Leaves	Contain oxalates, which can cause drooling and vomiting and, in larger amounts, kidney damage.	Moderate
Salt	Large amounts cause excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, tremors, and seizures. Common sources include homemade play dough, salt-dough ornaments, and seawater.	High
Tobacco & Nicotine	Cigarettes, vape liquid, and nicotine gum affect the digestive and nervous systems. Can cause a racing heart, collapse, coma, and death. Nicotine gum may also contain xylitol.	High
Wild Mushrooms	Some wild mushrooms cause liver failure, seizures, or death. Plain store-bought mushrooms are generally safe, but treat any wild mushroom as toxic.	High
Xylitol (Birch Sugar, Wood Sugar, Xylite)	Causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar and can cause liver failure. Found in sugar-free gum and mints, some peanut butters, toothpaste, baked goods, and some medicines and vitamins.	High
Yeast Dough & Baking Mixes	Raw dough keeps rising in the warm stomach, causing painful bloating that can twist or rupture the stomach. As it ferments, it also produces alcohol.	High

Watch: How to Protect Your Dog From Dangerous Toxins

Keeping Toxins Out of Reach

Knowing which foods are dangerous is only half the job. The other half is making sure your dog can't get to them in the first place.

How to Protect Your Dog From Dangerous Toxins

Leerburg On Demand

Learn how to keep your dog safe from dangerous toxins.

Watch: How to Protect Your Dog From Dangerous Toxins »

Signs of Poisoning

What to Watch For

Symptoms depend on what your dog ate, but common signs include:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Drooling
Lethargy or weakness
Stumbling or wobbling
Restlessness or a racing heart
Tremors or seizures
Pale gums
Excessive thirst or urination
Collapse

Don't wait for symptoms to appear. Some toxins, such as grapes and onions, can take hours or even days to cause visible signs, and by then the damage may already be done.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic

Every Second Counts

1Get your dog away from the food. Remove anything that's left so your dog can't eat more.
2Call right away. Call your vet, an emergency animal clinic, or an animal poison control center. Don't wait to see whether symptoms develop.
3Don't try to make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. Vomiting can make some poisonings worse, and it can be dangerous with raw dough and other foods.
4Have the details ready. Tell them what your dog ate, about how much, when, and how much your dog weighs. Keep the packaging or ingredients label.
5Follow their instructions. If they tell you to come in, bring the packaging with you.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
(888) 426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline
(855) 764-7661

Both are available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.