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What can my dog eat? Yes, in moderation, and dangerous

6 min read

Good news: your dog can share plenty of everyday foods, as long as you give them plain, with no salt or sauce, and in small amounts. Three markers are all you need: what shares happily, what to limit, and what you never give. These treats stay snacks, not a meal.

Treats, not a meal

A dog gets most of what they need from their base ration: good-quality kibble or a home-cooked ration approved by the vet. Fruit, vegetables and leftovers from the kitchen are snacks: enjoyable, perfect as a reward, but they don't provide everything your dog needs and should stay a small part of their day.

Yes, in moderation, dangerous: 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: to share plain

AppleNo pips or core. A sweet, crunchy snack in small pieces.
BananaNicely ripe, sliced. Sweet, so a small portion is plenty.
Strawberry, blueberry, raspberryWashed, plain. Sweet, so keep them to a small amount.
Watermelon and melonDeseeded, no rind. Wonderfully refreshing in summer.
CarrotRaw to crunch or cooked. Excellent for a good chew.
Courgette, cucumber, cooked green beanPlain vegetables that are well tolerated.
Cooked pumpkin or squashCooked plain, gentle on digestion.
Cooked chicken or turkeyNo skin, no bones, no salt: a safe bet.
Cooked white fishCod, hake, pollock, deboned. A source of omega-3.
Well-cooked eggNever raw. Well cooked, it's a good protein treat.
Cooked rice and pastaPlain, no salt. Useful for a gentle digestive transition.
Cooked sweet potatoCooked plain, never raw.

IN MODERATION: possible but occasional

Cheese and dairyMany dogs struggle to digest lactose and fat. A tiny piece works as a reward; never salted or blue-veined.
Ripe tomatoThe nicely ripe red flesh can be shared. Never green, nor the plant's stems and leaves: toxic (solanine).
Well-cooked potatoCooked and peeled, it's fine. Never raw, sprouted or green; throw away the cooking water.
HoneyPure sugar: best avoided in an overweight or diabetic dog, and not before one year old.
TunaCooked, in spring water, deboned. High in mercury: an occasional treat, not an everyday fish.
Lentils, chickpeasWell cooked, plain, occasional.
Bread, cured meats, salty or fatty leftoversNot poisons, but too much salt and fat (risk of pancreatitis): avoid as routine.
Cooked shop-bought mushroomsCooked plain button mushrooms are fine. Never woodland ones (see Dangerous).

DANGEROUS: never give

ChocolateTheobromine, all the more toxic the darker it is.
Grapes and raisinsPossible kidney damage, at an unpredictable dose.
Onion, garlic, leek, shallotDestroy red blood cells, raw or cooked, with a cumulative effect.
Xylitol (sweetener)Hidden in sugar-free sweets and some peanut butters. Toxic even in very small amounts.
Macadamia nutsHind-leg weakness, tremors, listlessness.
AvocadoStone (risk of obstruction) and very fatty flesh: best avoided.
Alcohol and raw bread doughFerment in the stomach: a double danger, mechanical and toxic.
Coffee, tea, caffeineSame family as chocolate, same effects.
Too much saltSwallowed seawater, very salty foods.
Wild mushroomsAny species picked outdoors is treated as toxic, sometimes deadly.

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

Introducing a new food safely

Broaden the menu gently, one food at a time.

1

One new food at a time

Give it plain and in a small amount: you'll easily spot anything that doesn't agree with them.

2
24 à 48 h

Watch for a day or two

Stools, digestion, itching: you'll quickly see if something doesn't suit them.

3

At the slightest reaction, stop

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

4

Fragile health? Ask first

Puppy, senior dog, unwell dog or a sensitive digestion: talk to the vet before broadening the menu.

After a new food, or if your dog has pinched something, here's how to read the signs.

Keep an eye out

  • A single bout of vomiting or soft stools after a new food
  • The dog stays lively, eats, drinks and plays normally

Call the vet

  • Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea that lasts
  • Listlessness, refusing to eat, a tense or painful belly

Emergency: call straight away

  • A toxic food swallowed: chocolate, grapes, onion, xylitol or wild mushroom
  • Tremors, an unsteady gait, seizures or pale gums: vet or animal poison control centre right away

These treats count towards the day: they stay a small part of what your dog eats, the rest coming from their balanced ration. Too many snacks unbalance the bowl and lead to weight gain.

  1. Animal Poison Control : People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA APCC
  2. Poisonous substances and food hazards for dogs, Pet Poison Helpline
  3. Food Hazards / Household Toxins, Merck Veterinary Manual
  4. FDA — Investigation into potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (2022)

Going further

guideToxic foods for dogsChocolate, grapes, onion, xylitol: what poisons and what to do if your dog has swallowed some.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Can you give a dog pasta?

Yes, cooked, plain pasta, with no salt or sauce, in a small amount. It's a starchy food that's useful for a gentle digestive transition, but it stays a treat: the base of the meal is their balanced ration.

Can you give a dog rice?

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

Can you give a dog cooked chicken?

Yes, chicken breast cooked, skinless, boneless and unsalted: it's a safe bet. Cooked bones, though, and chicken bones especially, are a no: they splinter into shards and can pierce the gut.

Can you give a dog banana?

Yes, in small pieces of nicely ripe banana. It's sweet, so keep 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 my dog eat apple?

Yes, apple with no pips or core, in pieces suited to their size. It's a sweet, crunchy snack that many dogs adore, to keep in a small amount.

Can you give a dog cheese?

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

Read nextNext in this pathLes aliments toxiques pour le chienRead

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