There are a handful of perfectly ordinary foods that dogs can't tolerate and that should therefore never end up in the food bowl or on the floor beneath the dinner table. Chocolate, onion and garlic, grapes and raisins, xylitol (a sweetener), avocado, alcohol and large amounts of salt are among those you should keep out of your dog's reach. This applies to the curious puppy, the adult dog with a high activity level and the senior dog in its golden years alike. Here you'll get an overview of what you should be aware of, why exactly these things cause problems, and how to give your dog an everyday life with meals tailored to just that dog.
An important ground rule first: dogs are not little humans, and their bodies handle food differently from ours. What is an innocent snack for you can be something entirely different for your dog. That's why safe feeding is just as much about knowing what your dog should have as what it should be kept away from.
Which common foods are dangerous for dogs?
Chocolate is probably the best known on the list, and for good reason. Cocoa contains substances that dogs' bodies don't break down as efficiently as ours, and dark chocolate and cocoa powder are more problematic than lighter varieties. Onions, garlic, leeks and other alliums also belong here, whether they are raw, cooked, dried or hidden in a sauce, a meatball or a ready meal. Grapes and raisins are another example, where even small amounts can cause problems for some dogs, without it being possible to say in advance how little it takes.
On top of that comes xylitol, a sweetener found in sugar-free chewing gum, certain sweets, baked goods and even some dental care products. Avocado, alcohol, coffee and other caffeine-containing products, as well as large amounts of salt, should likewise be kept entirely away from your dog. Raw dough with yeast is an overlooked pitfall, because it can continue to ferment in the stomach. What they all have in common is that they don't belong in a dog's diet, and that the safest approach is a clear house rule: human food stays on the table, and the dog gets its own meals.
Why can't dogs tolerate the same things as humans?
The difference lies in the dog's metabolism and digestion. A dog's body doesn't break down the same substances in the same way or at the same pace as a human, and something that passes through us unnoticed can put a strain on the dog. That's also why portion size matters: a small dog and a large dog, each with its own activity level, don't react the same way to the same mouthful. A dog with a more moderate daily life has different needs than a dog with a high activity level, and both should be reflected in what it eats day to day.
Spicy, fatty and heavily salted human food is rarely a good match for a dog, even when it doesn't contain the outright unsuitable ingredients. Leftovers from the dinner table are often prepared with onion, garlic, butter and salt, and that's precisely why they're a bad idea to share. Instead of guessing your way forward, it's far safer to build everyday life around meals composed for dogs from scratch using human-grade ingredients and fresh raw materials, so you know exactly what's in the bowl.
What do you do if your dog has eaten something wrong?
If your dog suddenly behaves differently, or you strongly suspect it has gotten hold of something it can't tolerate, then contact your veterinarian. It's the vet who can assess the situation based on what the dog ate, how much and when, and that's why it's important to be able to describe it as precisely as possible. Don't wait to see whether it passes on its own when you're in doubt – a quick call to the vet gives you a professional answer rather than guesswork.
If your concern instead is about the feeding itself – what the dog should eat, how much, and how to put together an everyday life without the unsuitable foods – then ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisors are ready by phone, chat and email. They advise on food and nutrition and can help you choose the right meals for your dog's life stage and needs, so you don't have to improvise with leftovers from the kitchen.
How to give your dog a safe and nutritious everyday life
The best protection against your dog getting something wrong is a fixed feeding routine built around meals tailored to just that dog. In dog meals you'll find a wide selection of prepared meals where the raw materials are carefully selected, so you don't have to worry about hidden ingredients from the human kitchen. For the dog that enjoys a softer texture, ESSENTIAL FOODS' PÂTÉ is a well-considered choice, cooked from exquisite raw materials and with the richness many dogs appreciate in the bowl.
Life stage matters a great deal for what a dog needs. The puppy has different needs than the adult dog, and the senior dog in its golden years has its own again. For the puppy, the The Beginning series is created for the finest start with luxurious, grain-free puppy meals made from fresh raw materials, human-grade ingredients and carefully selected local and regional delicacies, entirely without grain and unnecessary fillers. If the dog is simply to have a well-deserved reward, it's worth sticking to treats made for dogs, rather than human food – that way you completely avoid the foods your dog can't tolerate, and always know what you're giving.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach or reacts to certain ingredients, grain-free meals may be relevant, and in our grain-free selection you'll find meals composed entirely without grain. If you're in doubt about what suits your dog best, you're always welcome to get advice from the nutrition advisors before you choose. With a fixed routine, the right meals and a clear rule that human food stays on the table, you give your dog an everyday life where you don't have to worry about what it can and can't tolerate.