Toxic Foods for Dogs & Cats: Quick Reference Guide

• Xylitol or birch sugar: Found in some sugar-free gum, candy, peanut butter, baked goods, dental products, and chewable vitamins. In dogs, even small amounts can cause dangerously low blood sugar, and some exposures can also lead to liver injury.
• Chocolate, coffee, tea, energy products: Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, espresso beans, and caffeine tablets are more dangerous than milk chocolate. Dogs are affected most often, but cats are also vulnerable.
• Grapes, raisins, currants: Can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. Cats are less commonly affected, but exposure should still be treated seriously.
• Onions, garlic, chives, leeks: Fresh, cooked, powdered, and dehydrated forms can damage red blood cells. Cats are especially sensitive, though dogs can also develop anemia.
• Alcohol and raw yeast dough: Alcohol can depress the nervous system and breathing. Raw dough can expand in the stomach and also produce alcohol as it ferments.
• Macadamia nuts: Most often affect dogs and can cause weakness, tremors, vomiting, and fever.
• Fatty scraps and bones: Not classic "poisons," but they can still trigger vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, choking, or intestinal blockage.

Call your vet right away if your pet has vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, restlessness, wobbliness, weakness, tremors, collapse, pale gums, fast heart rate, trouble breathing, seizures, or extreme sleepiness after eating a questionable food.

Some toxins act fast. Xylitol-related low blood sugar can develop within minutes to hours. Chocolate and caffeine may cause agitation, panting, tremors, and abnormal heart rhythms. Grape and raisin toxicity may not look dramatic at first, but kidney injury can follow. Onion and garlic toxicity can also be delayed, with weakness and pale gums appearing later as anemia develops.

1. Remove access to the food so your pet cannot eat more.
2. Check the label for ingredients like xylitol, cocoa, caffeine, onion powder, garlic powder, raisins, currants, or alcohol.
3. Estimate the amount eaten and note your pet's weight and the time of exposure.
4. Call your vet, an emergency clinic, or a pet poison service immediately. In the U.S., commonly used poison resources include ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
5. Do not induce vomiting or give milk, oil, bread, or charcoal at home unless your vet specifically instructs you to.

Dogs are more likely to eat large amounts quickly, so they are overrepresented in chocolate, xylitol, grape, and macadamia nut emergencies. Cats are often more selective eaters, but they are more susceptible to allium toxicity, meaning onion, garlic, chives, and related foods can be especially risky for them.

Cats may also be exposed through sauces, baby food, broths, powdered seasonings, and table scraps rather than obvious whole foods. That is why ingredient lists matter. A small amount of onion powder in gravy or soup can be more important than pet parents realize.

• Sugar-free gum and mints
• Protein bars and chewable supplements
• Peanut butter labeled sugar-free
• Trail mix with raisins or chocolate
• Stuffing, soups, gravies, and seasoning blends with onion or garlic powder
• Unbaked bread or pizza dough
• Coffee grounds, tea bags, espresso beans, and energy drinks
• Holiday desserts containing chocolate, raisins, alcohol, or xylitol

These mixed foods are tricky because the dangerous ingredient may not be obvious from the product name alone.

Store high-risk foods in closed cabinets, not on counters or in bags your dog can reach. Ask guests not to share table food. Keep baking ingredients, gum, lunch boxes, and handbags off the floor. For cats, be especially careful with seasoned leftovers, broths, and baby foods.

If your pet has a history of scavenging, talk with your vet about prevention strategies that fit your home and budget. A quick plan for who to call, where the nearest emergency clinic is, and what toxins are in your household can save valuable time.