Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and the sweetener xylitol are among the foods dogs must not eat. They can make your dog seriously ill, even in small amounts, and some of them are among the most common causes of acute poisoning in dogs. If you know in advance what's on the list, you're far better equipped to keep it out of your dog's reach and to act quickly if an accident happens.
Dogs can't tolerate the same things we can. Their bodies break down certain substances differently, and what's harmless on a human plate can be directly harmful in a dog's stomach. Here you get an overview of the most important foods you should keep out of paw's reach, why they're problematic, and how to feed your dog with peace of mind instead.
Chocolate, grapes and raisins: the classic dangers in the kitchen
Chocolate is probably the most well-known danger, and for good reason. Cocoa contains the substance theobromine, which dogs break down much more slowly than humans do. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains, so dark chocolate and cocoa powder are more problematic than milk chocolate. That's why it's a bad idea to leave a bar out on the coffee table, and the same goes for baked goods, cocoa drinks and anything else that contains chocolate.
Grapes and raisins are among the more surprising dangers, because they seem so innocent. Nevertheless, they can be toxic to dogs, and the reaction can affect the kidneys. This applies to both fresh grapes and the dried varieties, which often hide in muesli, buns, cakes and Christmas sweets. Because sensitivity varies from dog to dog, there is no amount that can be considered safe, and therefore grapes and raisins should not be given at all.
If your dog nevertheless gets hold of something it shouldn't have, the wisest thing to do is always to contact your vet and tell them what the dog has eaten and when. Quick action often matters more than the amount, and a vet can assess the situation in a way you can't do yourself at home.
Onion, garlic and leek: foods that harm the dog's blood
Onion, garlic, leek and shallot belong to the same plant family, and they share the same problematic property for dogs. The substances in these vegetables can damage the dog's red blood cells and over time lead to anaemia. This applies to raw, boiled, fried and dried varieties alike, and the powdered forms are actually extra concentrated.
The powder in particular is worth paying attention to, because it hides in so many places. Onion powder and garlic powder are found in everything from ready meals and sauces to spice blends, crisps and leftovers from the dinner table. A dog that's allowed to lick the plate clean after a stew can therefore ingest more than you might think. That's why the seemingly harmless leftovers from your own food are rarely a good idea to share.
If you'd like to spoil your dog with something extra, well-chosen treats are a far safer choice than human food. In the selection of treats you'll find delicacies designed for dogs from the start, so you don't have to guess what's safe to give.
Xylitol, alcohol and caffeine: hidden dangers you easily overlook
Xylitol is a sweetener found in sugar-free products such as chewing gum, mints, certain toothpastes, baked goods and some kinds of peanut butter. For dogs it's especially dangerous, because it can cause blood sugar to drop sharply and affect the liver. Because xylitol appears in so many everyday products, it's worth reading the ingredient label before you share anything sweet or leave the bag with chewing gum open on the floor.
Alcohol and caffeine are also among the things dogs must not eat or drink. Alcohol affects dogs far more strongly than humans, and this applies not only to beverages but also, for example, to uncovered yeast dough, where the fermentation can form alcohol in the stomach. Caffeine from coffee, tea, coffee grounds and energy drinks strains the heart and nervous system, and even a dropped coffee capsule or a bag of used coffee grounds in the bin can become a problem for a curious snout.
What these dangers have in common is that they rarely lie out in the open as an obvious temptation. They hide in products we don't think of as dangerous, and therefore good prevention is just as much about where you store things as about what you deliberately give your dog.
Nuts, avocado and raw dough: what about the grey areas?
Some foods are not as unambiguously dangerous as chocolate and xylitol, but should still be kept away. Dogs tolerate macadamia nuts poorly and can react to them, and nuts in general are problematic both because of their high fat content and the risk that large, hard pieces cause stomach trouble or get stuck. Avocado contains the substance persin and also has a large, smooth stone that poses a choking hazard if the dog swallows it.
Raw dough with yeast is worth mentioning separately, because it can rise further inside the warm stomach and at the same time form alcohol during fermentation. Very salty food, heavily fatty food and cooked bones are other repeat offenders that you'd do well to keep on your own plate. Cooked bones can splinter and cause injuries in the mouth and digestive tract, and fatty food can strain the stomach more than is good for a dog.
If you're in doubt about whether a particular food is okay, the rule of thumb is simple: don't, until you know better. If your dog has eaten something you're unsure about, or seems unwell, a vet is always the right one to ask. And if you'd like advice on the feeding itself and on what's safe to give day to day, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat and email to help you further.
How to feed safely: carefully considered meals rather than human food
The simplest way to avoid dangerous foods is to give your dog meals composed for its specific needs, instead of supplementing with leftovers from the dinner table. ESSENTIAL FOODS' dog meals are prepared from human-grade ingredients and fresh produce, so you know exactly what's in the bowl without having to worry about hidden onion, sweeteners or other problematic ingredients. If you'd like to get an overview, you can explore the full range of dog meals and find the one that suits your dog's taste and life stage.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach or reacts to certain ingredients, it's extra important to have control over the contents. For dogs with special dietary needs there are grain-free meals, where the grain is left out entirely, and for dogs with a sensitive stomach a carefully considered, well-prepared meal can make a noticeable difference in everyday life. If something isn't working as it should, it's both the nutrition advisers and your vet you can lean on, depending on whether the question is about feeding or health.
The good news is that a safe dog life doesn't require you to know the entire list by heart. If you keep the classic dangers like chocolate, grapes, onion and xylitol out of reach, give your dog meals designed for it from the start, and ask when you're in doubt, then you've covered most of it. The rest is about enjoying meals together, without you having to worry about what's lurking on the plate.