Can my pet eat this?
Pick dog or cat and search a food to see whether it's generally safe in small amounts, needs caution, is best avoided, or is toxic. This is a reviewed lookup of common foods — not a toxicity calculator, and it will never tell you your pet is safe. If your pet has eaten something worrying or seems unwell, contact a vet.
- Search a food and choose dog or cat — safety can differ between the two.
- Toxic results link to emergency guidance; chocolate has its own emergency page.
- The tool covers a checked subset of foods and can't judge a safe amount for your pet.
- Treats should stay under ~10% of daily calories and never replace a balanced diet.
Food checker
What the labels mean
Results use four levels: Toxic — treat as an emergency and contact a vet; Best avoided — don't offer it; Caution — only tiny amounts, plainly prepared, and not for every pet; and Generally safe in small amounts — an occasional plain treat, never a meal replacement. Even 'safe' foods can upset a sensitive pet, so introduce anything new in small amounts.
High-risk foods to keep away from pets
Some foods are dangerous enough to keep firmly out of reach of both dogs and cats: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion and garlic (and other alliums), xylitol, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, and raw bread dough. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious injury. For cats especially, onion and garlic (including powders hidden in cooked food) are a particular danger. If your pet eats any of these, don't wait for signs — contact a vet or an animal poison line.
If your pet has eaten something
Note what it was, roughly how much, and when, and keep any packaging. Then contact your veterinarian or an animal poison line for advice — don't wait to see if signs develop, and don't try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to. For chocolate specifically, use our chocolate emergency guide. This website can't rule out toxicity for your individual pet.
Many Indian household foods are safe in plain, small amounts (plain rice, plain cooked chicken, a little ripe mango) — but the way we cook matters. Dal, sabzi and gravies usually contain onion, garlic, salt and spices, which are exactly what makes them unsafe for pets, so 'plain' is the key word. Skip ghee, fried snacks and sweets, and never give cow's milk to cats. When in doubt, offer plain food or your pet's normal diet instead.
When to contact a veterinarian
This tool cannot rule out toxicity. When you're unsure, treat it as urgent.
- Your pet ate a toxic food (chocolate, grapes/raisins, onion, garlic, xylitol, alcohol)
- You don't know how much was eaten
- Your pet is vomiting, drooling, wobbly, weak, or not itself
- A small pet, puppy or kitten ate something questionable
- Anything you're unsure about — contact a vet or animal poison line
Frequently asked questions
Is a food marked 'safe' definitely safe for my pet?
No food here is guaranteed safe for your individual pet. 'Generally safe in small amounts' means an occasional plain treat suits most healthy pets — but sensitive pets, or those with conditions like pancreatitis or diabetes, may react. Introduce anything new in tiny amounts, and ask your vet if unsure.
My pet ate chocolate — what do I do?
Treat it as urgent. Note the type and amount and when it happened, and contact a vet or animal poison line now rather than waiting for signs. See our chocolate emergency guide.
Why can a food be fine for dogs but not cats?
Cats are obligate carnivores with a different metabolism. Some foods (like onion and garlic) are more dangerous to cats, and many plant foods offer them little benefit. That's why this tool asks you to choose the species.
Can dogs and cats have milk or curd?
Most are low in the enzyme that digests lactose, so milk often causes diarrhoea — cats don't need it at all. Plain, unsweetened curd in small amounts suits some dogs, but skip it if your pet is dairy-sensitive, and never give anything containing xylitol.
The food I searched isn't listed — is it safe?
Not necessarily. This tool covers only a reviewed subset. If it's not listed and you're unsure, don't offer it, and if your pet has already eaten it and you're worried, contact a vet.
Sources
- SourceASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. aspca.org
- SourceASPCApro — People Foods Pets Should Never Eat. aspcapro.org
- SourceAmerican Kennel Club — Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat. akc.org
- SourceCats Protection — Cats and human foods. cats.org.uk