It starts innocently enough. Your dog gives you those eyes while you’re eating dinner, and you toss them a scrap. Your cat jumps on the counter and takes a nibble of something before you can stop them. Most of the time, nothing happens. But some everyday foods that are perfectly safe for humans can be genuinely dangerous — even fatal — for pets.
The scary part is that many of these foods are staples in most kitchens. Knowing which ones to keep away from your pets isn’t just good practice — it can save you an emergency vet visit that could cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on the severity.
Here are 15 foods you should never share with your pets, along with what makes them dangerous and what to do if your pet gets into them.
The Most Dangerous Offenders
1. Chocolate
This is the one most people know about, but the specifics matter. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs and cats. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous — even a small amount can cause vomiting, rapid heart rate, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Milk chocolate is less concentrated but still harmful in larger quantities. White chocolate has very little theobromine but can still cause pancreatitis due to its high fat content.
2. Grapes and Raisins
The exact toxic compound in grapes hasn’t been definitively identified, though recent research points to tartaric acid. What’s clear is that even a small handful of grapes or raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Some dogs eat grapes with no apparent effect, while others become critically ill from just a few. Because there’s no way to predict which dogs are susceptible, the safest approach is zero tolerance.
3. Xylitol (Birch Sugar)
This artificial sweetener is found in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters, baked goods, and even certain medications. In dogs, xylitol triggers a massive insulin release that causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar. Symptoms can appear within 30 minutes and include vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and liver failure. According to the ASPCA Poison Control, xylitol is one of the most common causes of pet poisoning calls.
4. Onions and Garlic
All members of the allium family — onions, garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots — contain compounds that damage red blood cells in dogs and cats, leading to hemolytic anemia. Cats are especially sensitive. The damage isn’t always immediate; it can take several days for symptoms like lethargy, weakness, and pale gums to appear. Cooked, raw, and powdered forms are all toxic.
5. Macadamia Nuts
These are toxic specifically to dogs and can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia within 12 hours of ingestion. While macadamia nut poisoning is rarely fatal on its own, the symptoms are distressing and often require veterinary treatment.
Commonly Overlooked Dangers
6. Avocado
Avocado contains persin, a compound that’s toxic to many animals, particularly birds. For dogs and cats, the bigger risk is the large pit (a choking and obstruction hazard) and the high fat content, which can trigger pancreatitis.
7. Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous for pets. A few laps of beer or wine, or even exposure to rum-soaked cake or unbaked bread dough (which produces alcohol as yeast ferments), can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death. Pets are much smaller than humans and process alcohol far less efficiently.
8. Caffeine
Coffee grounds, tea bags, energy drinks, and caffeine pills all pose risks similar to chocolate. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and heart, and pets who ingest significant amounts can experience restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
9. Raw Yeast Dough
If a dog eats raw bread dough, the warm environment of the stomach causes the yeast to continue rising. This expands the stomach painfully and can even cause a dangerous condition called gastric dilatation. Additionally, the fermentation process produces alcohol, creating a double threat.
10. Cooked Bones
While raw bones are debated among pet owners, cooked bones are universally considered dangerous. Cooking makes bones brittle, causing them to splinter into sharp fragments that can puncture the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Chicken and turkey bones are particularly notorious for this.
Foods That Surprise Most People
11. Milk and Dairy
Many dogs and most cats are lactose intolerant. While a small amount of cheese or plain yogurt is usually fine, larger quantities of milk or ice cream can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset. Despite the popular image of cats drinking milk from a saucer, dairy is not a good choice for most felines.
12. Raw Eggs
The risk here is twofold: potential salmonella or E. coli contamination, and a protein in raw egg whites called avidin that interferes with biotin absorption. Cooked eggs are safe and actually nutritious for pets, but raw eggs should be avoided.
13. Salt and Salty Snacks
Large amounts of salt can cause sodium poisoning in pets, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and elevated body temperature. Chips, pretzels, and heavily salted foods should be kept out of reach, especially for smaller pets who are more sensitive to sodium.
14. Nutmeg
Often found in baked goods and seasonal drinks, nutmeg contains myristicin, which can cause hallucinations, increased heart rate, disorientation, and seizures in pets. A small amount in a baked cookie is unlikely to cause serious harm, but concentrated nutmeg is dangerous.
15. Corn on the Cob
The corn itself isn’t toxic, but the cob is a serious choking and obstruction hazard. Dogs who swallow pieces of corn cob often need surgery to remove the blockage — an expensive and stressful emergency that’s entirely preventable.
What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic
Time matters. If you know or suspect your pet has eaten a toxic food, take action immediately.
Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital. If they’re closed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (there’s a consultation fee of $75) or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Have the following information ready: what your pet ate, approximately how much, when they ate it, and your pet’s weight. Don’t induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so by a professional — for some toxins, vomiting can make things worse.
Pet insurance that covers emergency visits and poison treatment can be a financial lifeline in these situations. Most comprehensive plans cover toxin ingestion under their illness provisions, reimbursing 70 to 90 percent of emergency vet bills after the deductible.
Prevention Is the Best Strategy
The simplest way to avoid a poisoning emergency is to keep dangerous foods out of reach. Store chocolate, candy, and baked goods in closed cabinets. Check peanut butter labels for xylitol before sharing any with your dog. Keep counters clear of onions, garlic, and grapes. Make sure trash cans have secure lids — many poisoning incidents happen when pets raid the garbage.
A little awareness goes a long way. Knowing what’s dangerous means you can enjoy sharing safe foods with your pet and keep the toxic ones firmly off the menu.
