Foods Dogs & Cats Can't Eat — Complete Guide

🚨 Foods dogs must never eat

These are the main dangerous foods for dogs. Grapes and xylitol are emergencies even in small amounts — call a vet immediately.

• Grapes / raisins — acute kidney failure. Never, regardless of amount. (details)
• Xylitol — sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butter. Small amounts cause low blood sugar / liver failure.
• Onion / garlic / chives — destroys red blood cells (anemia). Cooked or powdered counts.
• Chocolate / cocoa — theobromine. Amount, type, and body weight matter. (check by amount)
• Macadamia nuts — weakness, tremors, high fever.
• Alcohol / rising dough — fatal even in small amounts.

🚨 Foods cats must never eat

For cats, lilies are the deadliest — even pollen or vase water is dangerous, so keep them out of the house.

• Lilies — the worst for cats. Acute kidney failure.
• Onion / garlic / chives — hemolytic anemia.
• Xylitol / grapes / chocolate / alcohol — can be an emergency in small amounts.
• Canned tuna / milk — not fatal but use caution. (tuna · milk)

✅ Foods they can eat (in the right amount)

These are fine as occasional treats if you keep to the right amount. Each link has weight-based portions and cautions.

• Dogs: apple · banana · egg · sweet potato · watermelon
• Cats: chicken breast (plain, fully cooked)

Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories. To find your pet's daily calories, use the dog or cat food calculator.

If they ate something dangerous

• Figure out what and how much they ate (check packaging / leftovers)
• Do not force vomiting — the vet will treat it safely
• At night, look up a 24-hour emergency clinic in advance
• Contact a vet even if there are no symptoms (vomiting, lethargy, tremors, breathing trouble)