The Ultimate Guide to Foods You Can and Can’t Feed Your Dog

Dogs and humans digest foods differently. For this reason, some foods are safe for humans but may be toxic and potentially deadly for dogs.

On the other hand, some human foods are perfectly safe and even beneficial for dogs to eat.

Do you think of your dog as a carnivore? In fact, dogs are omnivores, meaning they can digest many types of foods, not just animal products. Research shows the ability to thrive on a diet rich in carbohydrates, in addition to meat, constituted a crucial step in the early domestication of canines. (Nature, 2013)

Keep in mind dogs, like humans, should not eat highly processed foods due to added sugar, fats, sodium, preservatives, artificial sugar and flavoring and other chemicals.

Note: be especially cautious your dog does not ingest xylitol or chocolate which can be life-threatening.

Here is a list of foods you can (and shouldn’t) feed your dog.

DAIRY

In general, dogs can eat dairy products. However, some dogs are lactose intolerant, so look for digestive issues (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) and refrain from feeding your dog dairy products if your dog can’t tolerate them.

Dairy Products Dogs CAN Eat

1. Cheese
2. Eggs – just make sure they are fully cooked. Raw egg whites are not good for dogs.
3. Milk
4. Yogurt – plain, no sugar added

Dairy Products Dogs CAN’T Eat

Dogs should not eat foods containing a high sugar content or artificial sweeteners.

5. Eggnog
6. Ice cream
7. Whipped cream

FRUITS

Most fruits are safe to feed your dog. Just don’t overfeed fruits if your dog is overweight or has diabetes.

Fruits Dogs CAN Eat

8. Apples
9. Apricots
10. Bananas
11. Blueberries
12. Cantaloupe
13. Carob
14. Cranberries
15. Figs
16. Honeydew melons
17. Mangoes
18. Oranges
19. Peaches
20. Pears
21. Plums
22. Pineapple
23. Raspberries
24. Strawberries
25. Watermelon

Fruits Dogs CAN’T Eat

Some fruits can be very toxic to dogs so be careful to not feed your dog these foods.

26. Avocados – contain persin, which is toxic to dogs
27. Cherries – contain cyanide which is poisonous if consumed in large enough quantities
28. Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, etc.) – cause upset stomach
29. Grapes, raisins and currants – can lead to acute sudden kidney failure
30. Persimmons – cause stomach upset
31. Tomatoes – contain solanine, which can be toxic to dogs

LEGUMES

Dogs can eat most cooked legumes in moderation, but some can be toxic.

Legumes Dogs CAN Eat

32. Black beans
33. Cannellini beans
34. Lentils
35. Lima beans
36. Garbanzo beans
37. Kidney beans (cooked, not raw)
38. Pinto beans
39. Soybeans
40. Split peas
41. White beans

Legumes Dogs CAN’T Eat

42. Baked beans – high in sugar and may contain other foods toxic to dogs such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, etc.
43. Chili beans – contains garlic, onion and spices
44. Coffee beans – can cause neurological damage and even death
45. Fava beans (or broad beans) – can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
46. Refried beans – high in preservatives and seasonings not suitable for dogs

VEGETABLES

While dogs can eat most vegetables, be careful to give in moderation as many will cause indigestion due to the high fiber content.

Vegetables Dogs CAN Eat

47. Artichoke hearts
48. Bamboo shoots
49. Beets
50. Bell peppers
51. Bok choy
52. Broccoli
53. Brussels sprouts
54. Cauliflower
55. Cabbage
56. Carrots
57. Celery
58. Collard greens
59. Corn
60. Cucumbers
61. Edamame (soybeans)
62. Green beans
63. Jicama
64. Lettuce (includes iceberg, romaine, arugula, etc.)
65. Mustard greens (not seeds)
66. Parsnips
67. Peas
68. Potatoes (cooked, not raw)
69. Pumpkin
70. Radishes
71. Rutabaga
72. Spinach (in small amounts)
73. Squash
74. Sweet potatoes
75. Turnips
76. Yams
77. Zucchini

Vegetables Dogs CAN’T Eat

78. Asparagus – difficult for dogs to digest
79. Garlic – garlic is in the onion family. It is a poison for dogs and can cause elevated heart rate, weakness and collapse.
80. Kale – contains calcium oxalate which can cause kidney and bladder stones
81. Mushrooms – some mushrooms are very toxic to dogs; it’s best to avoid mushrooms altogether
82. Onions – dogs should NEVER eat onions, leeks, chives, garlic or any vegetable in the onion family.
83. Raw potatoes – contain solanine which can be toxic
84. Raw tomatoes – contain solanine which can be toxic
85. Watercress – can cause kidney and thyroid problems

 

GRAINS

Unless your dog has a rare grain allergy, grains are not harmful to dogs. Whole grains are a source of nutrients and provide carbohydrates and antioxidants important for your dog’s health.

Grains Dogs CAN Eat

86. Amaranth
87. Barley
88. Bulgur
89. Corn – don’t feed them corn on the cob as it may cause an intestinal blockage
90. Cornmeal
91. Couscous
92. Millet
93. Oats
94. Pasta
95. Polenta
96. Popcorn
97. Quinoa
98. Rice – white and brown rice are fine
99. Spelt
100. Wheat

Grains Dogs CAN’T Eat

Dogs should not eat grain-based processed foods due to high sodium and sugar additives, such as:

101. Bread
102. High-sugar cereals

MEAT

Dogs can eat most meat.

Meat Dogs CAN Eat

103. Beef
104. Fish – remove bones before feeding and limit to no more than twice a week due to mercury and other chemical poisoning found in fish today
105. Ham – limit due to high sodium and fat
106. Pork
107. Poultry
108. Shellfish – cook fully

NUTS

While nuts have health benefits when included in a human diet, the long-term effects of eating nuts hasn’t been adequately studied to date. The prevailing theory is nuts are too fatty and calorie-dense to be a regular part of a canine diet.

However, most canine nutritionists agree an occasional indulgence of a few nuts on the “can eat” list won’t harm your dog.

Nuts Dogs CAN Eat

109. Cashews
110. Chestnuts
111. Coconuts
112. Hazelnuts and hazelnut butter
113. Peanuts and peanut butter

Nuts Dogs CAN’T Eat

115. Almonds – can block the esophagus or tear the windpipe
116. Brazil nuts – long-term ingestion can cause pancreatitis
117. Macadamia nuts – part of the Protaceae family, can cause vomiting, increased body temperature, inability to walk and lethargy.
118. Pecans – contain aflatoxin which can cause liver damage
119. Pistachios – contain aflatoxin which can cause liver damage
120. Walnuts – cause vomiting, diarrhea and even seizure. There is a mold that grows on walnuts when they are laying on the ground that causes tremors and seizures.

SEEDS

While dogs can eat most seeds, it’s best to soak them before feeding to your dog.

Seeds Dogs CAN Eat

120. Chia seeds
121. Flax seeds
122. Hemp heart seeds
123. Pumpkin seeds
124. Sesame seeds
125. Sunflower seeds

Seeds Dogs CAN’T Eat

126. Mustard seeds
127. Pine nuts – irritates stomach lining
128. Pomegranate seeds – cause upset stomach
129. Poppy seeds – contain an opioid which is highly toxic to dogs and can be lethal

SPICES

Some, but not all, spices contain ingredients not safe for dogs to eat. If in doubt, don’t feed your dog foods containing spices.

Spices Dogs CAN Eat

130. Black pepper (in small amounts – too much will irritate the stomach)
131. Cardamom
132. Cayenne
133. Celery seeds
134. Chili powder
135. Coriander
136. Cumin
137. Fennel
138. Fenugreek
139. Ginger
140. Honey
141. Saffron
142. Turmeric

Spices Dogs CAN’T Eat

143. Allspice – contains eugenol which can cause liver toxicity
144. Anise – can cause stomach upset
145. Caraway seeds – in small amounts can cause stomach upset; in large amounts can cause liver and kidney damage
146. Cloves – contains eugenol which can cause liver toxicity
147. Cinnamon
148. Garlic powder, minced garlic
149. Onion powder, minced onions
150. Leeks
151. Nutmeg
152. Salt – too much can cause sodium ion poisoning
153. Vanilla extract and artificial vanilla – contain a high alcohol content

DESSERTS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Dogs CAN’T be fed any type of sugary confections due to their high fat and sugar content. Chocolate is especially dangerous for dogs. Like chocolate and onions, even small amounts of alcohol can have ingredients toxic to dogs, such as ethanol and hops.

The one exception to the “no sugar” rule is honey. Honey is packed with many nutrients and antioxidants helpful to dogs. Honey can also help dogs build immunities to local allergens.

Desserts and Alcoholic Beverages Dogs CAN’T EAT

154. Beer
155. Cake
156. Candy
157. Chocolate – contains theobromine, a caffeinelike molecule that increases blood flow to the brain
158. Cookies
159. Dessert sauces
160. Doughnuts
161. Ice creams
162. Hard liquor
163. Mixed drinks
164. Pastries
165. Pies
166. Puddings
167. Soft drinks
168. Wine
169. Wine coolers

The bottom line is some foods are safe and healthy for dogs, while others are harmful and could even be life-threatening.

Even if a food is on the “can eat” list, be careful to not overfeed your dog any particular food to prevent weight gain and other potential negative effects.

Keep in mind dogs are individuals. One dog may tolerate a food just fine, while another dog may experience an adverse reaction to the same food.

If you think your dog has eaten something he or she shouldn’t, call the Pet Poison Helpline for more information. They can be reached 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by calling 800-213-6680.

Are there any foods you think should be added to this list? Please comment below…