Can pets eat it?

46 foods with a separate verdict for dogs, cats, rabbits and birds, because a single answer for "pets" is wrong for at least one of them. Every page gives the mechanism rather than only the verdict, and states a dose threshold only where one is genuinely published.

If this has already been eaten, ring your vet or an animal poison control line now rather than waiting for signs to appear — for several of these the window in which treatment works closes before the animal looks unwell. Do not try to make the animal sick at home: home emetics are dangerous for corrosive and petroleum substances and for an animal already showing signs, and salt-based ones have themselves proved fatal.

The ones that are an emergency

The ones people get wrong in the safe direction

• Avocado is a mild caution for dogs and cats — the stone and the fat, not the persin — and genuinely lethal to birds and rabbits. The warning is usually aimed at the wrong animal.
• There is no established safe number of grapes. Reported fatal cases involved very small quantities, and the response is idiosyncratic rather than dose-dependent.
• Xylitol reaches dogs most often through peanut butter, because that is what people use to hide tablets. Read the jar.
• Salt has been recommended as a home emetic and should never be used — fatal hypernatraemia from exactly that is documented.
• A cat eating dog food long term develops taurine deficiency, damaging the heart and the retina. "Pet food" is not one category.

By animal

• What dogs can and cannot eat 46 foods
• What cats can and cannot eat 46 foods
• What rabbits can and cannot eat 17 foods
• What birds can and cannot eat 19 foods

Everything

Fruit

• Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat avocado? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat apple? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat banana? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat watermelon and melon? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat cherries, peaches, plums and apricots? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat oranges, lemons and limes? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat coconut and coconut oil? Fine in small amounts
• All 9 in fruit

Vegetables

• Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat carrot? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat corn on the cob? Not safe
• Can pets eat mushrooms? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat tomato? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat pumpkin? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat potato? Not safe
• Can pets eat lettuce and leafy greens? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat peas, green beans and sweetcorn kernels? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat rhubarb? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• All 11 in vegetables

Meat, fish and eggs

• Can pets eat cooked bones? Not safe
• Can pets eat tuna? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat bacon, ham and fatty meat? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat raw fish? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat raw egg? Risky — depends on amount or preparation

Dairy

• Can pets eat milk and cream? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat cheese? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat yoghurt? Fine in small amounts

Store cupboard

• Can pets eat peanut butter? Fine in small amounts
• Can pets eat macadamia nuts? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat salt, salt dough and sea water? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat almonds, walnuts and mixed nuts? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat raw bread dough? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat bread? Not safe
• Can pets eat popcorn? Fine in small amounts
• All 7 in store cupboard

Sweets and baking

• Can pets eat chocolate? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat chewing gum? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat ice cream? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat honey? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• Can pets eat nutmeg? Not safe
• Can pets eat cinnamon? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
• All 7 in sweets and baking

Drinks

• Can pets eat alcohol? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat coffee, tea and energy drinks? Toxic — treat as an emergency

Other

• Can pets eat lilies? Toxic — treat as an emergency
• Can pets eat dog food, for a cat? Not safe