The Low Down on Risky Foods

With so much information online, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to what dogs can and cannot eat. Some foods are dangerous, while others are unfairly demonised due to outdated beliefs. Let’s break down the truth about each one.

🚫 Toxic Foods for Dogs

⚠️ Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine, which dogs cannot metabolize well. It acts as a stimulant and diuretic, leading to serious health issues. If your dog ingests chocolate, seek veterinary help immediately and provide details on the type of chocolate consumed.

⚠️ Grapes, Raisins, Sultanas & Currants

These contain tartaric acid, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, kidney damage, and even death. While redcurrants may be safe for some dogs, blackcurrants are fine—but black currants are not. Check out our Fruits, Vegetables & Seeds Blog for more details.

⚠️ Macadamia Nuts

These high-fat nuts can trigger nausea, weakness, and tremors. Their toxicity levels vary, but it’s safest to keep them off your dog’s menu entirely.

⚠️ Onions

Onions contain thiosulfate, which leads to Heinz body anaemia—a condition that slows red blood cell replacement, causing weakness and lethargy.

⚠️ Xylitol (also known as Birch Sugar)

A common artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum, sweets, and medicines, xylitol is highly toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, liver failure, weakness, collapse, or seizures.

⚠️ Mouldy Food

Mould contains toxins that trigger muscle tremors and seizures, lasting up to 48 hours. Keep compost and food scraps in sealed containers to prevent accidental poisoning.

⚠️ Alcohol

Dogs are far more sensitive to ethanol than humans. Even small amounts of alcohol—especially in cream or egg-based drinks—can cause drowsiness, wobbliness, low body temperature, low blood sugar, seizures, or coma.

✅ Safe Foods for Dogs

✔️ Garlic

Unlike onions, garlic contains much less thiosulfate and offers cardiovascular benefits thanks to allicin. It’s even found in many commercial dog foods. See our Garlic Blog for more insights.

✔️ Rosemary

Despite old myths, rosemary does NOT cause seizures. However, large amounts of rosemary essential oil or extract may increase seizure risk in epileptic dogs.

✔️ Pitted Fruits (Peaches, Apricots, Cherries)

These fruits are safe as long as you remove the pits and stems, which contain cyanide compounds that could be dangerous.

✔️ Avocados

The avocado toxicity myth stems from a study on two malnourished dogs that ate stems and leaves. Avoid these parts, but the fruit itself—once peeled and pitted—is safe and nutritious.

✔️ Pork

There is no risk of trichinella in UK pet food. Freezing pork at -15°C kills this parasite, making lean pork a great protein option for dogs—with less fat than beef!

✔️ Mushrooms

All mushrooms safe for humans are also safe for dogs. Cooking them makes digestion easier and enhances medicinal properties. See our Mushroom Blog for more details!

Foods That Aren't Toxic but Can Harm Dogs

Not all foods are outright poisonous, but some can still negatively impact your dog's health. Here's a breakdown of foods to avoid or use with caution.

🚫 Foods to Avoid

⚠️ Rice

Despite being recommended as a cheap filler, rice isn't ideal for dogs.

🔴 Difficult to digest

🔴 Raises blood sugar levels

🔴 Can cause inflammation in the GI tract

🔴 White rice, high on the glycaemic index, can spike glucose and is often genetically modified

Dogs thrive on a diet rich in meat, bone, offal, eggs, oily fish, nuts, herbs, seeds, dark leafy greens, and mixed berries. Carbohydrates like rice, pasta, and potatoes aren't necessary and may undo efforts to maintain a healthy gut.

⚠️ Gravy

Instant gravies—whether in powder or granule form—should never be fed to dogs.

🚨 High in fat and salt

🚨 Contains harmful ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, skimmed milk, potato starch, onion powder, and palm oil

Ingredient Breakdown:

Wheat flour – Highly processed, pro-inflammatory, may cause digestive issues and malnutrition
Sugar – Leads to weight gain, metabolic issues, and diabetes
Skimmed milk powder – Can trigger digestive upsets and allergies
Palm oil – Linked to heart disease, digestive issues, dehydration, and pancreatitis
Potato starch – Contributes to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and even cancer
Onion powder – Contains n-propyl disulphide, which is extremely toxic to dogs

⚠️ Foods to Use with Caution

🟡 Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes offer both benefits and risks, making it essential to assess whether they suit your dog's individual needs.

✅ Pros:🐾 Rich in Vitamin A, B6, and C

🐾 High in potassium, manganese, and magnesium

🐾 High in fibre, low in fat, and generally well-liked by dogs

🚨 Cons:

🔴 Excessive feeding may cause hormone imbalances and endocrine disruption

🔴 The skin can carry mould toxins and should never be fed

🔴 Vines are extremely poisonous to dogs

🔴 Raw sweet potatoes are hard to digest—light steaming is recommended

🔴 High starch content may contribute to weight gain, obesity, mobility issues, and organ strain

🔴 The natural sugars can build up and feed yeast, leading to itching and yeast overgrowth

🟡 Pumpkin

Pumpkin is often praised for its nutritional benefits, but there are key considerations before adding it to your dog's diet.

✅ Pros:🎃 Packed with Vitamins A, E, & C—essential for immune function, skin health, brain support, and eye health

🎃 Rich in manganese, copper, iron, and potassium

🎃 Contains beta-carotene, which converts into Vitamin A

🎃 Antioxidants may lower cancer and degenerative disease risks

🎃 Supports heart health and reduces inflammation

🎃 Pumpkin seeds act as a natural de-wormer, thanks to cucurbitacin

🎃 Soluble fibre in pumpkin flesh helps firm up loose stools and supports anal gland health

🚨 Cons:

🔴 Some dogs may experience itching or yeast build-up

🔴 Non-organic pumpkins may contain pesticides—choose organic whenever possible

🔴 Seeds must be cleaned, dried, and ground before feeding—whole seeds pose a blockage risk

🔴 Pumpkin flesh should be lightly steamed to improve digestibility and nutrient absorption

🔴 Canned pumpkin must be plain—avoid pie filling

🔴 To help with stool consistency, feed 1 tablespoon daily until improvement is noted

How to Dry Organic Pumpkin Seeds:

1️⃣ Remove seeds from an organic pumpkin and clean off pulp/debris

2️⃣ Spread seeds in a single layer on a paper bag or paper towels

3️⃣ Allow to air dry overnight

(Methods may vary—always check reliable sources for additional techniques.)

Nut Safety for Dogs: What’s Safe & What to Avoid

Nuts are packed with protein, fibre, and essential nutrients, but when it comes to your dog’s health, not all nuts are created equal. Some can be safely enjoyed in moderation, while others pose serious health risks.

🌰 Can Dogs Eat Nuts?

The answer isn’t straightforward. While nuts offer nutritional benefits, they are high in fat and calories, and many commercial varieties come salted or flavoured, making them unsuitable for dogs. Even worse, some nuts are toxic and should never be fed to your furry friend.

✅ Safe Nuts for Dogs

✔️ Cashews

Dogs can enjoy unsalted, raw, or roasted cashews as an occasional treat. However, avoid mixed nut bags, as they may contain toxic varieties.

✔️ Almonds

Almonds are safe in small amounts but are calorie-dense. If your dog is on the smaller side, break them into smaller pieces to prevent choking.

✔️ Peanuts

Plain, unsalted peanuts are generally safe, though some dogs may experience mild stomach upset. Avoid flavoured or salted peanuts, which can cause neurological issues in rare cases. Peanut butter should also be avoided, as it may contain xylitol, a sugar substitute deadly to dogs.

✔️ Walnuts

English walnuts can be given as a rare treat—but ONLY in small portions. Black walnuts, however, are toxic and should never be fed to dogs.

✔️ Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts are safe in moderation, but excessive consumption can lead to pancreatitis, obesity, or choking hazards.

🚫 Nuts to Avoid

⚠️ Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are highly toxic to dogs—even small amounts can cause vomiting, lethargy, tremors, and weakness. Seek immediate veterinary advice if ingested.

⚠️ Brazil Nuts

While not toxic, Brazil nuts are exceptionally high in fat, increasing the risk of pancreatitis and choking. It’s best to avoid them altogether.

⚠️ Pecans

Pecans may contain tremorgenic mycotoxins in their mould, which can trigger seizures or neurological symptoms in dogs.

⚠️ Pistachios

Although pistachios aren’t the worst, they aren’t ideal either.

🚨 Contain aflatoxin mould, which may cause liver failure

🚨 High-fat content can lead to pancreatitis

🚨 Urushiol, the rash-causing chemical in poison ivy, may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions

⚠️ Chocolate-Covered Nuts

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and if your pup ingests chocolate-covered nuts, seek veterinary help immediately.

⚠️ Nut or Seed Butter with Xylitol

Always check ingredient labels on nut butter! Xylitol is a deadly sugar substitute that can cause life-threatening hypoglycaemia in dogs.

Nut Butters for Dogs: What You Need to Know

Nut butters can be a tempting treat for dogs, but not all varieties are safe or healthy. If you're considering adding nut butter to your dog's diet, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

🥜 Peanut Butter: Proceed with Caution

Many pet owners love peanut butter as a reward or treat, but it’s important to choose the right kind.

✅ Always opt for 100% pure peanut butter

✅ Avoid palm oil—it can contribute to digestive issues and heart problems

✅ Check the ingredient list for xylitol, a deadly sugar substitute that causes hypoglycaemia and liver failure in dogs

🚨 High-fat content warning: Even dogs not prone to weight gain can develop pancreatitis from excessive peanut butter consumption. Use sparingly and as an occasional indulgence rather than a staple treat.

🥜 Almond Butter: A Healthier Alternative?

Almond butter is another nut butter option, providing:

✔️ Vitamin E – Supports skin, coat, and immune health

✔️ Magnesium – Essential for muscle and nerve function

✔️ Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – Helps with energy production and digestion

🔴 While some dogs can digest almond butter well, it’s still high in fat and should only be offered in moderation.

Nut butters can occasionally be enjoyed by dogs, but they should never replace balanced nutrition. Always read ingredient labels carefully and consult your vet before introducing new foods.