Food
What dogs can't eat: list of foods and fruits
Igor, founder of ZoozyJars and maltipoo owner · Updated October 13, 2026 · 6 min read
What dogs can't eat: grapes and raisins, chocolate, xylitol, onion and garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol and caffeine, cooked bones, human medicines and raw yeast dough. In a small dog, even a little does harm, because the same dose is spread over 3–4 kg of body weight.
Below is the list with explanations, plus a chart of the fruits people ask about most.
- Never: grapes and raisins, chocolate, xylitol, onion and garlic, macadamia, alcohol, caffeine, cooked bones, human medicines.
- Fruits dogs can have in small amounts: seedless watermelon, banana, strawberries, raspberries, peach without the pit.
- Better not: cherries, plums, green parts of tomatoes, raw potatoes.
- Your dog ate something? Call the vet right away, don't wait for symptoms.
Ate something from the list? Call your vet and give: your dog's weight, what exactly and how much it ate, and when. Don't make your dog vomit on your own.
What dogs can't eat: 9 foods from your kitchen
In our review of more than 200 questions from small-dog owners, over a quarter were about "my dog ate something dangerous". These foods came up most often.
| Food | Why it's harmful |
|---|---|
| Grapes and raisins | Can damage the kidneys. No known safe dose. |
| Chocolate and cocoa | Contain theobromine. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. |
| Xylitol | Sweetener in sugar-free gum and sweets. Drops blood sugar sharply, can damage the liver. |
| Onion, garlic, chives | Destroy red blood cells, also as powder, in sauces and seasonings. |
| Macadamia nuts | Weakness, trembling, trouble walking. |
| Alcohol and caffeine | Coffee, tea, energy drinks. A very small amount is dangerous for a 3 kg dog. |
| Cooked bones | Splinter into sharp shards that can injure the oesophagus and gut. |
| Human medicines | Paracetamol, ibuprofen and others are toxic even in "children's" doses. |
| Raw yeast dough | Rises in the stomach and produces alcohol. |
Can dogs eat fruit? Chart
Dogs don't need fruit if they get complete food. As a small treat, some fruits are fine. Rule for a small dog: a piece the size of a fingernail, not a bowlful.
| Fruit | Can dogs eat it? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Watermelon | yes, a little | no seeds or rind |
| Banana | yes, occasionally | high sugar, 1–2 slices |
| Strawberries | yes, a little | natural sugar |
| Raspberries | yes, a few | contain trace amounts of xylitol |
| Peaches | yes, flesh only | the pit is dangerous, no tinned peaches |
| Cherries | better not | pits, stems and leaves are toxic |
| Plums | better not | the pit: choking and blockage risk |
| Tomatoes | ripe flesh occasionally | green parts contain solanine |
| Potatoes | only cooked, plain | raw and green potatoes contain solanine |
| Grapes | no | can damage the kidneys |
My maltipoo sometimes gets a piece of apple or a few blueberries. Always as an extra, never instead of a meal.
Why small dogs are at higher risk
Toxicity depends on the dose per kilogram of body weight. A square of chocolate that might not affect a Labrador is roughly 10 times the dose per kilogram for a 3 kg maltipoo. Small dogs also dehydrate faster when vomiting or with diarrhoea.
So with a small dog, don't "wait and see until morning". Better to call straight away and hear that it's nothing.
Human food that's safe for dogs
Not everything in the kitchen is off-limits. Plain cooked lean meat, cooked carrot, pumpkin or a piece of apple without the core are safe in small amounts.
The trouble starts when these extras become routine. A dog that gets bites at the table stops eating from its bowl. We cover that in my dog won't eat.
How to dog-proof your home
- Keep sugar-free gum and sweets in a closed cupboard, not in a bag on the floor.
- Store medicines up high, including guests' ones.
- Use a bin with a lid, because that's where bones and onion leftovers end up.
- Tell children and grandparents what not to give, and stick the list on the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
Nobody knows the threshold. Some dogs developed kidney problems after a few grapes, others ate more with no symptoms. Any amount is a reason to call your vet.
AKC — Fruits and vegetables dogs can and can't eat; AKC — Hypoglycemia in dogs (xylitol); ASPCA Animal Poison Control; ZoozyJars analysis of small-dog owners' questions (JustAnswer, forums, Google PL), 2026. This article is for education only and does not replace advice from a veterinarian.
About the author
Igor, founder of ZoozyJars and maltipoo owner
I run ZoozyJars and live with a maltipoo myself. I write from my own experience and lean on the sources listed under each article.
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