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Foods and substances that are toxic to dogs and cats

By the FindMyVet team · 2 min read

Chocolate, grapes, onions, xylitol, lilies and human medicines: what is dangerous for dogs and cats, and what to do if they eat it.

Many everyday foods are dangerous for pets, even in small amounts. Keep this list somewhere everyone at home can see it.

Dangerous for dogs

  • Chocolate and cocoa: the darker, the more dangerous. Causes vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures.
  • Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney failure, and there is no known “safe” amount.
  • Xylitol: a sweetener in sugar-free gum and sweets, some toothpastes and peanut butters. It crashes blood sugar and damages the liver.
  • Onion, garlic and leek, raw, cooked or powdered: they destroy red blood cells.
  • Cooked bones: they splinter into sharp pieces that can pierce the gut.
  • Macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine, raw dough.

Dangerous for cats

  • Lilies (every part, even the pollen and the vase water): they cause acute kidney failure. Best not to have them at home.
  • Dog flea treatments containing permethrin: one drop of a dog product on a cat can cause seizures.
  • Onion and garlic: cats are even more sensitive than dogs.
  • Paracetamol: a single tablet can kill a cat.

For all pets

  • Never give human medicines without a vet's advice: anti-inflammatories and painkillers are a common cause of poisoning.
  • Poisoned baits in streets and parks: on walks, don't let your dog eat whatever it finds.
  • Rat poison, fertilisers, car antifreeze.

My pet ate one of these. What do I do?

  1. Don't make it vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  2. Keep the packaging or a sample of what it ate.
  3. Call a vet immediately and set off. With poisoning, every minute counts.

Find an open vet near you now. See also the signs of poisoning.

Frequently asked questions

How much chocolate is dangerous for a dog?

It depends on the dog’s weight and the type of chocolate. Dark and baking chocolate are far more dangerous. Call your vet in any case.

Can dogs eat fruit?

Some, such as apple without seeds or watermelon without rind, in small amounts. Never grapes or raisins.

What if I suspect my dog ate a poisoned bait?

Go to a vet immediately, ideally a 24-hour clinic. Signs such as drooling, trembling, vomiting or seizures need urgent help.

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