Can you give a dog pasta?

Yes, plain, cooked pasta, with no salt or sauce, in a small amount. It's a starch that's handy for a gentle digestive transition, but it stays an extra: the base of the meal is their balanced diet.

Can you give a dog rice?

Yes, well-cooked, plain rice. It's often recommended when the gut is fragile, as part of a very easy-to-digest diet, ideally on your vet's advice. Given on its own, it doesn't replace a complete meal.

Can you give a dog cooked chicken?

Yes, chicken breast that's cooked, skinless, boneless and unsalted : it's a safe bet. Cooked bones, though, never, especially chicken ones: they splinter into shards and can pierce the gut.

Can you give a dog banana?

Yes, in small pieces of well-ripened banana. It's sweet, so keep it to a small amount, especially in an overweight or diabetic dog. A piece can serve as a reward, with an enthusiastic "yes!" to mark the right moment.

Can you give a dog cheese?

In moderation: a tiny piece often works and makes a good reward, but many dogs struggle to digest lactose and fat. Never very salty or mouldy cheese, and keep it to rare occasions.

What foods can my dog eat? Yes / In moderation / Danger

Health & preventionPart of · Health & prevention

What foods can my dog eat? Yes / In moderation / Danger

Q: Can my dog eat apple?

Yes, apple with no pips or core , in pieces sized for them. It's a sweet, crunchy treat that many dogs love, to keep to small amounts.

7 min read

Good news: your dog can share plenty of everyday foods, as long as they are plain, with no salt and no sauce, and given in small amounts. Three simple rules are enough: what you can share freely, what you keep occasional, and what you never give at all. These extras stay snacks, not a meal.

Extras, not a meal

Your dog covers most of his needs with his everyday ration: good-quality complete food, or a home-cooked ration approved by your vet. Fruit, vegetables and leftovers from the kitchen are snacks: enjoyable, perfect as a reward, but they do not cover all his needs and should stay a small part of his day.

Yes, in moderation, danger: the everyday food chart

Always give the food plain, in pieces suited to your dog's size: no salt, no sugar, no sauce, no bones, stones or pips.

YES: share it plain

AppleNo pips, no core. A sweet, crunchy snack, in small pieces.

BananaNice and ripe, in slices. Sugary, so a small portion is plenty.

Strawberry, blueberry, raspberryWashed, plain. Sugary, so keep the quantity small.

Watermelon and melonDeseeded, no rind. Wonderfully refreshing in summer.

CarrotRaw to crunch on, or cooked. Excellent for chewing.

Courgette, cucumber, cooked green beansPlain vegetables that are well tolerated.

Cooked pumpkin or squashCooked and plain, gentle on digestion.

Cooked chicken or turkeySkinless, boneless, unsalted: a safe bet.

Cooked white fishCod, hake, pollack, boned. Lean and easy to digest, a good protein extra.

Well-cooked eggNever raw. Well cooked, it is a good protein extra.

Cooked rice and pastaPlain, unsalted. Useful for a gentle digestive transition.

Cooked sweet potatoCooked and plain, never raw.

IN MODERATION: possible but occasional

Cheese and dairyMany dogs digest lactose and fat poorly. A tiny piece works as a reward; never salty cheese or blue cheese.

Ripe tomatoThe ripe red flesh can be shared. Never green tomato, and never the stems or leaves of the plant: they are toxic (solanine).

Well-cooked potatoCooked and peeled, it is safe. Never raw, sprouted or green, and always without the cooking water, which concentrates solanine.

HoneyPure sugar, best avoided in an overweight or diabetic dog. Wait until he is a year old too: honey can contain botulism spores, a rare but real risk for a puppy.

TunaCooked, plain, boned. High in mercury: an occasional extra, not the everyday fish.

Lentils, chickpeasWell cooked, plain, occasional.

Bread, cured meats, salty or fatty leftoversNot poisons, but far too much salt and fat (risk of pancreatitis): not for every day.

Cooked shop-bought mushroomsCooked plain button mushrooms are safe. Ones picked outdoors, never: treat every wild species as toxic.

AvocadoThe real risk is the stone (once swallowed, it can block the gut) and the fat in the flesh (risk of pancreatitis): with no skin and no stone, a tiny occasional piece is not a problem for most dogs.

DANGER: never give

ChocolateTheobromine, all the more toxic the darker the chocolate.

Grapes and raisinsTartaric acid in grapes is now pointed to as the likely cause of the kidney damage; the effect does not depend on the amount swallowed, and no amount is truly safe.

Onion, garlic, leek, shallotThey destroy red blood cells, raw or cooked, with a cumulative effect.

Xylitol (sweetener)Causes a sudden drop in blood sugar, and sometimes severe liver damage. Hidden in sugar-free sweets and chewing gum, some peanut butters, sometimes listed as birch sugar: toxic even in a tiny amount.

Macadamia nutsWeakness in the hind legs, tremors, low spirits.

Alcohol and raw bread doughAlcohol is toxic; raw dough swells and ferments in the stomach: a double danger, mechanical and toxic.

Coffee, tea, caffeineSame family as chocolate, same effects.

Too much saltSea water swallowed at the beach, homemade salt dough, or a large amount of salt swallowed in one go.

Wild mushroomsTreat every species picked outdoors as toxic, sometimes fatal.

For these toxic foods, and above all to know what to do if your dog has swallowed some, the full detail is in the guide on toxic foods (further down).

Introducing a new food safely

Widen the menu one food at a time.

One new food at a time

Give it plain and in a small amount: you can easily spot anything that does not agree with him.

24 to 48 hrs

Watch for a day or two

Stools, digestion, itching: you soon see whether this food causes him any trouble.

At the slightest reaction, stop

Loose stools or vomiting: take that food off the menu.

Fragile dog, ask first

Puppy, senior dog, sick dog or sensitive digestion: ask your vet first before widening the menu.

After a new food, or if your dog has pinched something, these signs help you know whether to act.

Keep an eye on it

A one-off vomit or loose stools after a new food
The dog stays bright, eats, drinks and plays normally

Call your vet

Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea that lasts
He stays lying down, unresponsive, and still refuses to eat

Emergency: call straight away

He has swallowed a genuinely toxic food: chocolate, grapes, onion, xylitol or a wild mushroom
Tremors, an unsteady walk, seizures or pale gums: vet or animal poison control centre right away
His belly swells fast, turns hard, and he tries to vomit without bringing anything up: possible stomach torsion, vet immediately

These extras still count in his day: they should stay a small part of what your dog eats, with the rest coming from his balanced ration.

Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA APCC
Poisonous substances and food hazards for dogs, Pet Poison Helpline
Food Hazards / Household Toxins, Merck Veterinary Manual

Going further

guideFoods that are toxic to dogsThe precise list of foods that really do poison your dog, and what to do if he has swallowed some.Read the guide guidePoisonous plants and flowers for dogsIn the garden or on the windowsill, the plants to watch out for to avoid an accident.Read the guide guidePoisons and dangerous products for your dogHousehold products, medicines, the garden: the other everyday dangers to keep out of reach.Read the guide guideSpotting a life-threatening emergency in your dogThe signs that should alert you straight away if your dog has eaten something dangerous.Read the guide guideDog vomiting and diarrhoea: what to do and when to see a vetYour dog is being sick after a suspect meal? What is normal, and what should take you to the vet.Read the guide guideFeeding your adult dog wellBeyond the no-go list, the basics of a balanced diet to keep your dog in great shape.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat pasta?

Yes, pasta that is cooked and plain, with no salt and no sauce, in a small amount. It is a useful starch for a gentle digestive transition, but it stays an extra: the base of his meal is his balanced ration.

Can dogs eat rice?

Yes, rice that is well cooked and plain. Vets often recommend it when the stomach is delicate, as part of a very easily digested diet, ideally with your vet's advice. On its own, it does not replace a complete meal.

Can dogs eat cooked chicken?

Yes, chicken breast that is cooked, skinless, boneless and unsalted: it is a safe bet. Cooked bones, on the other hand, and chicken bones above all, never: they splinter into shards and can pierce the gut.

Can dogs eat banana?

Yes, in small pieces of nice ripe banana. It is sugary, so keep the amount small, especially with an overweight or diabetic dog. A piece can work as a reward, with an enthusiastic "yes!" to mark the right moment.

Can my dog eat apple?

Yes, apple with no pips and no core, in pieces suited to his size. It is a sweet, crunchy snack that many dogs love, to keep in small amounts.

Can dogs eat cheese?

In moderation: a tiny piece often goes down fine and makes a good reward, but many dogs digest lactose and fat poorly. Never very salty cheese or blue cheese, and keep it to rare occasions.

Updated on July 11, 2026Sources

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