Treats & Human Food: What's Safe for Dogs and What Isn't
Every dog owner's been there, sat at the table with a hopeful face staring up at them. Some human food is genuinely fine to share, some looks harmless but really isn't, and getting the two mixed up is easier than you'd think. Here's the actual list, not guesswork.
TL;DR — key points
- Chocolate, grapes/raisins, onion/garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and xylitol are genuinely toxic
- Xylitol turns up in some peanut butter and sugar-free products, always check the label
- Cooked bones, avocado and mouldy food cause problems even though they're not classic "poisons"
- Plain carrot, apple (no core or seeds) and green beans are fine as occasional treats
- Treats should stay a small part of a dog's diet, not a replacement for it
- If your dog eats something toxic, contact your vet or the Animal PoisonLine straight away
The genuinely dangerous ones
Some human foods aren't just "not ideal", they're actually toxic. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs can't process, and the darker it is, the worse. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts, and it's not fully understood why. Onion, garlic, leeks and chives damage red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Macadamia nuts cause weakness, tremors and vomiting even in tiny amounts. Alcohol and caffeine (tea, coffee, energy drinks) are both toxic too, dogs are far more sensitive to them than we are.
Then there's xylitol, a sweetener used instead of sugar in some peanut butter, sugar-free gum, and baked goods. It can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver failure, and it's easy to miss because it doesn't sound like a "poison" the way chocolate does. Always check the label on peanut butter before giving it to a dog, and don't assume a brand is safe just because it was last time, recipes change.
Not classic poisons, but still a problem
Cooked bones splinter in a way raw ones don't, and can cause internal damage or a blockage. Avocado isn't as dangerous to dogs as it is to some other animals, but the stone is a choking and blockage risk and the flesh is high enough in fat to upset a dog's stomach. Nuts generally are worth avoiding for the same fatty reason, on top of the macadamia risk specifically. Mouldy food and blue cheese can cause vomiting, tremors and worse. None of these are dramatic emergencies the way chocolate or xylitol are, but they're not worth the risk for a treat.
What's actually fine
Plain carrot, raw or cooked, makes a good low-calorie treat and doubles as something to chew on. Apple is fine too, as long as the core and seeds are removed first, both are a choking risk and the seeds contain a small amount of a toxic compound. Green beans, plain cooked chicken, and plain rice or pasta in small amounts are all generally fine. The common thread is plain, unseasoned, and given occasionally, not a replacement for their normal food.
Quick reference
Looking for a food that isn't below? My Can My Dog Eat That? tool covers a much longer list, searchable, so you can just type in whatever you're wondering about.
| Food | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | Toxic | Theobromine, darker is worse |
| Grapes / raisins / sultanas | Toxic | Can cause kidney failure |
| Onion / garlic / leeks / chives | Toxic | Damages red blood cells |
| Macadamia nuts | Toxic | Weakness, tremors, vomiting |
| Alcohol / caffeine | Toxic | Dogs are far more sensitive than we are |
| Xylitol (some peanut butter, sugar-free gum) | Toxic | Blood sugar crash, liver failure, check the label |
| Cooked bones | Avoid | Splinter, can cause internal damage |
| Avocado | Avoid | Stone is a blockage risk, flesh is very fatty |
| Mouldy food / blue cheese | Avoid | Can cause vomiting, tremors |
| Plain carrot | Fine | Low-calorie, good to chew on |
| Apple (no core or seeds) | Fine | Remove core and seeds first |
| Green beans, plain chicken, plain rice/pasta | Fine | Occasional, plain, unseasoned |
Keep treats to a small part of the diet. As a rough rule, treats shouldn't make up more than about a tenth of what a dog eats in a day, the rest should be a proper, balanced diet. It's easy for "just a bit" to add up over a day, especially with a dog who's good at asking.
If your dog eats something they shouldn't, the steps are the same whatever it was, my dog first aid guide covers exactly what to do and when to call the Animal PoisonLine. And if it's specifically a Christmas hazard you're worried about, chocolate, Christmas pudding, or festive nuts, my Christmas hazards guide covers that in more detail.
Where this advice comes from
I've written all of the above in my own words, but the toxicity facts aren't mine to make up. I've checked it against the people who publish this properly, and their versions are worth reading in full:
- PDSA on poisons and hazards for pets
- Blue Cross on what fruit and veg dogs can and can't eat
- NC State College of Veterinary Medicine on xylitol toxicity and peanut butter
Checked against the sources above in September 2026. It's general advice, not advice about your own dog, if you're ever in doubt, ring your vet or the Animal PoisonLine rather than wait and see.
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