Can My Pet Eat That?
Not sure if a food is safe for your pet? Search any fruit, vegetable, or household food below to instantly find out if it’s safe, toxic, or fine in small amounts — for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
- 100+ foods checked
- Dogs, cats, rabbits & guinea pigs
- Safe, caution & toxic ratings
- Vet-reviewed information
Can My Pet Eat That?
Complete Food Safety Reference Table
The table below lists every food in our database with its safety rating for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Use the search tool above for quick lookups, or browse the full list here.
| Food | Dog | Cat | Rabbit | Guinea pig |
|---|
Foods That Are Always Toxic — Never Feed These
Some foods are dangerous to all pets regardless of quantity. These must never be accessible to your animals and should be stored safely out of reach at all times.
If your pet has eaten something toxic, contact your vet immediately. Do not wait for symptoms — some toxins cause internal damage hours before any outward signs appear. The PDSA emergency line and Animal Poison Line (01202 509000) are available for urgent advice.
The Best Safe Foods for Each Pet
These are the top-rated foods for each animal — nutritious, well-tolerated, and genuinely enjoyed by most pets in that category.
Always introduce new foods gradually. Even safe foods can cause digestive upset if introduced too quickly. Start with a small amount and wait 24 hours before giving more. If you notice loose stools, bloating, or changes in behaviour, remove the food and wait a few days.
Why Are Grapes Toxic to Dogs and Cats?
Grapes and raisins are one of the most dangerous foods for dogs and cats, yet the exact toxic compound still isn’t fully understood by science. What is known is that even a small amount can trigger acute kidney failure in some animals — while other animals eat them with no apparent effect.
The unpredictability is exactly why vets treat all grape ingestion as an emergency. You cannot predict whether your dog is sensitive to grapes or not, and by the time symptoms appear, kidney damage may already be severe.
Symptoms of grape toxicity in dogs
- Vomiting and diarrhoea — usually within a few hours of ingestion
- Lethargy and weakness — the dog becomes unusually quiet and unresponsive
- Loss of appetite — refusing food or water
- Reduced urination — a sign of kidney impairment
- Abdominal pain — hunching, sensitivity when touched around the abdomen
If your dog has eaten any amount of grapes or raisins, treat it as an emergency. Call your vet immediately even if your dog seems fine. Early treatment dramatically improves outcomes.
Why Is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs and Cats?
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine — both of which dogs and cats metabolise far more slowly than humans. This slow processing allows these compounds to build up to toxic levels in the bloodstream.
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate contain far higher levels of theobromine than milk chocolate. White chocolate contains very little theobromine but is still not safe due to its fat and sugar content.
How much chocolate is dangerous?
For dogs, as little as 20mg of theobromine per kilogram of body weight can cause symptoms. Dark chocolate contains around 16mg per gram, meaning a small square of dark chocolate could affect a small dog. Even milk chocolate at 2mg per gram can be harmful in larger quantities. There is no safe threshold — all chocolate should be kept completely out of reach.
Common sources of accidental chocolate ingestion: Christmas and Easter chocolate left within reach, chocolate-flavoured protein bars, cakes and biscuits, hot chocolate powder, and cocoa mulch used in gardens.
Why Are Garlic and Onion Toxic to Pets?
Garlic, onion, leeks, chives, and shallots all belong to the allium family and all are toxic to dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. They contain organosulphur compounds that damage red blood cells, leading to haemolytic anaemia — a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.
What makes allium toxicity particularly dangerous is that it is cumulative. Small repeated amounts — such as food cooked with onion powder, gravy, or stock — can build up over time and cause damage that isn’t immediately obvious. By the time symptoms appear, significant harm may already have occurred.
Garlic is more toxic than onion
Gram for gram, garlic is around five times more toxic to dogs and cats than onion. This makes garlic supplements and garlic-flavoured treats — sometimes marketed as beneficial for pets — genuinely dangerous. There is no evidence garlic has health benefits for pets and strong evidence it causes harm.
How Much Human Food Can Pets Eat?
Even safe foods should be given in appropriate portions. The general guideline is that treats — including fruit and vegetables — should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calorie intake, with the remaining 90% coming from a complete, balanced pet food.
| Animal | Max treat allowance | Practical example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small dog (5kg) | ~25 calories/day | 3–4 blueberries or 2 carrot sticks | Adjust based on activity level |
| Medium dog (15kg) | ~75 calories/day | Small handful of fruit or a few vegetable pieces | Reduce main meal if giving more treats |
| Large dog (30kg) | ~120 calories/day | A quarter apple or small bowl of blueberries | Still only 10% of total intake |
| Cat | ~20 calories/day | Teaspoon of cooked chicken or a few peas | Cats need meat-based diet — fruit rarely beneficial |
| Rabbit | 1–2 tbsp fruit/day | 2 strawberries or a small slice of apple | 80% of diet should be hay |
| Guinea pig | 1 cup veg + small fruit | Bell pepper strips, cucumber, small strawberry | Daily vitamin C from food is essential |
Signs of Food Poisoning in Pets
Knowing the symptoms of food toxicity can help you act quickly. Symptoms vary depending on the food eaten, the amount, and your pet’s size and sensitivity. Some reactions appear within minutes; others develop over 24–72 hours.
Trust your instincts. If your pet seems “off” after eating something new, contact your vet. Early intervention is always better than waiting. For out-of-hours emergencies, keep your nearest 24-hour vet clinic number saved on your phone.
How to Read the Safety Ratings
The tool uses three ratings. Here is exactly what each one means so you can make informed decisions for your specific pet.
Safe ✓
Generally considered safe in reasonable amounts for that species. There may still be preparation requirements such as removing seeds, cooking, or limiting portion size — always read the note in the tool before feeding.
Caution !
Not toxic but should only be given in small amounts, infrequently, or with specific preparation. This could be due to high sugar content, high fat, oxalic acid, or other factors that are harmless occasionally but problematic if fed regularly or in large amounts.
Toxic ✕
Contains compounds that are harmful to that species. Toxic does not always mean instant danger — some foods cause damage cumulatively over time, others are dangerous in any amount. In all cases, these foods should be avoided entirely and kept out of your pet’s reach.
This tool is a reference guide, not a substitute for veterinary advice. Every pet is different. If your pet has a medical condition, is on medication, or you are unsure about a specific food, consult your vet before introducing anything new.
FAQ Section: Questions You Might Have
Contact your vet immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear. Tell them what was eaten, approximately how much, and when it happened. If it is outside vet hours, call an emergency vet or the Animal Poison Line on 01202 509000. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless specifically instructed to by a vet, as this can cause additional harm with certain toxins.
Cat food will not harm a dog if eaten occasionally, but it is not suitable as a regular diet. Cat food is formulated with much higher protein and fat levels than dog food. Regular consumption can cause digestive upset, weight gain, and in some dogs, pancreatitis. If your dog regularly steals the cat’s food, feed them in separate rooms or at different times.
Many foods are safe for both, but there are important differences. Guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own vitamin C and need it supplied through food every day — a deficiency causes scurvy within weeks. This is not a concern for rabbits. Guinea pigs are also more sensitive to high-calcium foods which can cause bladder stones. Always check the guinea pig column specifically rather than assuming rabbit-safe foods are automatically safe for guinea pigs.
As a general rule, treats including fruit should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. For a medium-sized dog that means roughly a small handful of berries or a few slices of apple per day at most. High-sugar fruits like mango and banana should be given even more sparingly. Always remove seeds, pits, and skins before feeding any fruit to your dog.
For rabbits and guinea pigs, raw is almost always better — cooking removes vitamins and changes the texture in ways these animals are not adapted to handle. For dogs, it depends on the vegetable. Sweet potato and potato must always be cooked as raw versions contain compounds that are harder to digest or mildly toxic. Carrots and cucumber are fine raw or cooked. Never season any vegetables when feeding them to pets — no salt, butter, oil, or spices.
Fruit should be an occasional treat for rabbits, not a daily food. Despite what many people assume, fruit is not a significant part of a wild rabbit’s diet. The high sugar content can disrupt gut bacteria, cause weight gain, and contribute to dental disease. A small piece of apple, strawberry, or pear two or three times a week is plenty. The bulk of a rabbit’s diet — around 80% — should be good quality hay.
No — human vitamins and supplements are formulated for human body weight and metabolism. Many contain doses that are far too high for pets, and some contain ingredients like xylitol that are actively toxic to animals. If you think your pet needs supplementation, speak to your vet who can recommend appropriate pet-specific products at the correct dosage.