Foods and Substances Poisonous to Dogs

Many everyday foods, medicines, plants and household products can harm dogs. The risk depends on the substance, the amount eaten, the dog’s weight and health, and how quickly treatment is obtained.

What to Do If Your Dog May Have Been Poisoned

Contact your veterinary practice or its emergency service immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, because some poisons can cause serious internal damage before the dog appears unwell.

Remove the dog from the source without putting yourself at risk.
Keep the packaging, label or a sample of the substance.
Estimate how much may have been eaten and at what time.
Tell the vet your dog’s approximate weight and any symptoms.
Do not make your dog vomit or give salt, milk, oil, charcoal or another home remedy unless specifically instructed by a veterinary professional.

Visit the Animal PoisonLine website

Common Poisonous Foods and Substances

This is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure about something your dog has eaten, contact your vet for advice.

Food or substance	Why it is dangerous
Alcohol and raw yeast dough	Alcohol is poisonous to dogs and can cause vomiting, poor coordination, drowsiness, low body temperature, low blood sugar, breathing difficulties, coma and death. Raw yeast dough can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol as it ferments. Seek veterinary advice immediately.
Antifreeze	Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol is extremely poisonous. Even a small amount can cause kidney failure and may be fatal. Early signs can include vomiting, weakness, wobbliness, increased thirst and appearing “drunk”. This is an emergency even if the dog initially appears well.
Apple, apricot, peach and cherry stones or seeds	The flesh of these fruits is not generally poisonous, but the stones, pips and seeds should be removed. They can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, and some contain cyanogenic compounds that can release cyanide when crushed or chewed. A dog that has swallowed a stone or eaten a large quantity of seeds should be discussed with a vet.
Avocado	Avocado flesh is not considered highly poisonous to dogs in small amounts. However, its high fat content may cause vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis. The large stone is a choking and intestinal blockage risk. Guacamole may also contain toxic onion or garlic and should not be given.
Blue cheese and mouldy food	Some moulds produce mycotoxins that can cause vomiting, high temperature, severe tremors and seizures. Blue cheese may contain roquefortine C, to which dogs can be particularly sensitive. Keep dogs away from food waste and compost bins. Contact a vet promptly if mouldy food has been eaten.
Caffeine	Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, caffeine tablets and some medicines. It can cause restlessness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors and seizures. Seek veterinary advice immediately.
Chocolate and cocoa	Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Dark chocolate, cooking chocolate and cocoa powder generally contain the highest concentrations, but any chocolate may present a risk depending on the amount eaten and the dog’s size. Signs can include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, rapid heart rate, tremors and seizures. Contact your vet immediately with the type, amount and cocoa percentage if known.
Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants	These can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. They may be found in fruit cake, mince pies, hot cross buns, cereals and trail mixes. It is not possible to predict a safe amount, and some dogs become seriously ill after eating only a small quantity. Contact a vet immediately, even if your dog appears well.
Human medicines	Never give a dog human medicine unless it has been specifically prescribed or recommended by a veterinary surgeon. Common painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen and paracetamol can cause serious poisoning, including stomach ulceration and kidney or liver damage. Other medicines, vitamins, skin creams and supplements may also be dangerous. If your dog has swallowed any medicine, contact a vet immediately with the packet and strength of the product.
Macadamia nuts	Macadamia nuts are poisonous to dogs, although the precise cause is not fully understood. Signs may include vomiting, weakness—particularly in the back legs—stiffness, tremors, pain and an increased temperature. Products containing chocolate present an additional risk.
Nutmeg	Nutmeg contains myristicin. A small amount used in cooked food may not cause poisoning, but larger quantities can cause vomiting, disorientation, a rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors and seizures. Contact a vet if your dog has eaten nutmeg or a product containing a substantial amount.
Onions, garlic, leeks and chives	Members of the allium family can damage a dog’s red blood cells and cause anaemia. They can be harmful whether raw, cooked, dried or powdered. Concentrated powders in gravy, stuffing, sauces, soups and seasoning mixes may present a particular risk. Signs can be delayed for several days and may include vomiting, weakness, pale gums, rapid breathing and dark urine.
Potatoes and potato plants	Green or sprouting potatoes, raw potato and potato plants can contain higher levels of glycoalkaloids such as solanine. These may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and neurological signs. Plain, fully cooked potato is generally safe in small amounts, but should not contain butter, oil, salt, onion, garlic or seasoning.
Rhubarb leaves	Rhubarb leaves contain soluble oxalates and can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, tremors and changes in kidney function. The leaves should be kept away from dogs. Contact a vet if a dog has eaten any part of a rhubarb plant, particularly the leaves.
Salt and salt dough	Large quantities of salt can cause dangerous sodium poisoning. Sources include table salt, salt dough decorations, homemade playdough, rock salt, seawater and very salty foods. Signs may include vomiting, excessive thirst, weakness, poor coordination, tremors and seizures. Do not attempt to treat salt poisoning by forcing the dog to drink; contact a vet immediately.
Tomato plants and unripe tomatoes	Ripe red tomato flesh is generally safe for dogs in small amounts. However, the leaves, stems and unripe green fruit contain higher levels of glycoalkaloids and may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or abnormal heart rate if enough is eaten. Keep dogs away from tomato plants.
Xylitol or birch sugar	Xylitol is a sweetener found in some sugar-free chewing gum, sweets, cakes, toothpaste, medicines, supplements and nut butters. In dogs it can cause a sudden, dangerous fall in blood sugar and sometimes liver failure. Signs may include vomiting, weakness, collapse, poor coordination and seizures. This is an emergency. Contact a vet immediately and take the ingredient list or packaging with you.

Foods That Are Hazardous but Not Necessarily Poisonous

Some foods are often described as poisonous when the main danger is actually choking, an intestinal blockage, excessive fat, seasoning or physical damage to the digestive system.

Food	Nature of the risk
Bones	Bones can break teeth, become lodged in the mouth or throat, cause constipation or create an intestinal blockage. Sharp pieces can damage or perforate the digestive tract. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter, but raw bones are not completely free from risk.
Corn on the cob	Sweetcorn removed from the cob is not poisonous, but pieces of cob can cause a serious intestinal blockage and frequently require surgery. Contact a vet promptly if your dog has swallowed any part of a cob.
Fatty meat, gravy and poultry skin	Plain, lean, boneless turkey or chicken can be given in moderation. However, fatty meat, skin, gravy and roasting juices may cause vomiting or diarrhoea and can trigger pancreatitis in susceptible dogs. They may also contain harmful amounts of salt, onion or garlic.
Fruit stones, food skewers and wrappers	Stones, wooden or metal skewers, foil, plastic wrap and food packaging can cause choking, internal injuries or intestinal obstruction. Contact a vet if your dog has swallowed one, even if it appears well.
Nuts other than macadamias	Most ordinary nuts are not poisonous in the same way as macadamia nuts, but they are high in fat and may cause stomach upset or pancreatitis. Whole nuts and shells can also cause choking or blockage. Mouldy nuts may contain dangerous mycotoxins.
Raw fish	Raw fish may contain parasites or harmful bacteria. Salmon poisoning disease is associated mainly with infected salmonid fish from the Pacific Northwest of North America and is not a typical UK salmon risk. However, raw fish still requires careful sourcing, freezing, preparation and hygiene.

Dangerous Household and Garden Substances

Foods are not the only poisoning risk. Many ordinary household and garden products can cause serious illness.

Substance	Nature of the risk
Batteries	Chewed or swallowed batteries can leak corrosive chemicals and cause severe burns to the mouth, throat and stomach. Button batteries can also become lodged internally. Seek veterinary treatment immediately.
Cannabis and nicotine products	Cannabis products can cause drowsiness, poor coordination, urinary incontinence, changes in heart rate, agitation or collapse. Cigarettes, nicotine gum, patches, vapes and e-cigarette liquid can cause rapid and potentially fatal nicotine poisoning.
Cleaning and DIY products	Bleach, disinfectants, detergents, drain cleaners, paint, white spirit, glue and other products can cause poisoning, chemical burns or breathing problems. Do not make the dog vomit. Check the label, prevent further exposure and contact a vet.
Compost and food-waste bins	Compost and decomposing food may contain mould toxins capable of causing vomiting, high temperature, tremors and seizures. Bins may also contain bones, corn cobs, wrappers and other objects that can cause an obstruction or internal injury.
Flea and tick treatments	Always use a product intended for the correct species and weight. Overdosing or using several products together can be dangerous. Permethrin-containing dog treatments are particularly poisonous to cats, so dogs and cats may need to be kept apart until the application site is dry.
Rat and mouse poison	Different rodenticides cause different effects, including internal bleeding, kidney damage, neurological illness or dangerous vitamin D levels. Signs may be delayed for several days. Contact a vet immediately and take the packet or product name.
Slug and snail products	Some older slug pellets contain metaldehyde, which can cause drooling, vomiting, tremors, high temperature and seizures. Although metaldehyde outdoor-use products are no longer legally sold in Great Britain, old supplies may still be found in sheds. Other products may also be harmful if swallowed.
Vitamin D products	Excess vitamin D can cause vomiting, weakness, increased thirst and urination, abnormal calcium levels and kidney failure. Sources include some supplements, skin creams and rat poisons. Contact a vet if a dog has swallowed a human supplement or medicated cream.
Wild mushrooms and fungi	Some wild mushrooms are harmless while others can cause severe neurological illness, liver failure or death. Identification is difficult and cooking does not necessarily remove the toxins. Photograph the mushroom and safely collect a sample if possible, then contact a vet.

Possible Signs of Poisoning

Signs vary according to the poison and may begin within minutes or be delayed for several hours or days. They can include:

Vomiting, diarrhoea or excessive drooling.
Loss of appetite or abdominal pain.
Weakness, lethargy, collapse or unusual drowsiness.
Restlessness, agitation or abnormal behaviour.
Wobbliness or poor coordination.
Tremors, twitching or seizures.
Pale, yellow, blue or unusually dark gums.
Rapid, slow or irregular heartbeat.
Difficulty breathing.
Unusual thirst or changes in urination.
Bleeding, bruising or blood in vomit, urine or stools.

Do not wait for these signs to develop. Prompt treatment can make a significant difference. Some dogs initially appear normal despite having eaten a potentially fatal substance.

Information to Give the Vet

Try to provide:

The dog’s breed, age, weight and known medical conditions.
The exact product or substance involved.
The ingredients and strength shown on the packaging.
The estimated amount eaten, spilled or applied.
The approximate time the exposure occurred.
Any symptoms already noticed.
Any treatment or home remedy already given.

Take the original container, packet, label or a clear photograph to the veterinary practice where possible. Do not place yourself at risk when collecting a sample of a chemical or unidentified substance.

Reducing the Risk

Keep food, medicines and supplements in closed cupboards.
Do not leave handbags containing medicines or chewing gum within reach.
Use bins with secure lids and prevent access to compost heaps.
Store antifreeze and garden chemicals securely and clean spills immediately.
Check ingredient labels for xylitol, which may also be called birch sugar.
Keep chocolate, fruit cake, mince pies and hot cross buns away from dogs.
Do not leave salt dough decorations where a dog can reach them.
Dispose of old slug pellets, medicines and chemicals safely.
Ask visitors not to feed your dog without checking with you first.
Keep the contact details for your veterinary practice and its emergency service readily available.

Poisonous Plants

Many garden and house plants can cause poisoning or severe irritation. The risk may come from the leaves, flowers, berries, sap, roots or bulbs. Plant bulbs can be especially concentrated, and some dogs dig them up and eat them.

If your dog has eaten an unidentified plant, take a photograph and contact your vet. Do not rely on an image-search application as the only method of identification.

You can search for individual plants using the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant database . Bear in mind that the ASPCA is based in the United States, so common plant names and locally available species may differ.

Further information:

This page provides general information and is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you believe your dog has eaten, inhaled or come into contact with something harmful, contact your veterinary surgeon immediately.