Can dogs eat …? The big list of fruit, vegetables and human food

Once owners have read what is toxic to a dog, the next question is almost always: so what can they have? The answer is more generous than most people expect – a good share of the fruit and vegetables on our own table is perfectly suitable for a healthy dog. The key is not a list of permitted foods, but quantity.

This guide is the companion to our article on foods that are toxic to dogs and cats. That one covers what can land you at the vet; this one covers the other side – what you can safely offer, how much, and what veterinary nutrition sources actually say about it.

First, the rule that governs everything else: 10%

A dog can eat plenty of things that do it no harm – but also no good, and that is exactly where the problem starts. A complete dog food is formulated to cover every nutrient requirement; every mouthful from outside it dilutes that balance. Hence the simple rule: treats and table scraps together should not exceed 10% of daily caloric intake. WSAVA's nutritional assessment checklist explicitly lists "snacks, treats, table food > 10% of total calories" as a risk factor.

What does that mean in practice? The Tufts University clinical nutrition service gives two plain examples: an animal of about 4.5 kg needs roughly 300 kcal a day, which allows at most 30 kcal of treats; a dog of about 34 kg needs roughly 1,400 kcal, so at most 140 kcal. Thirty calories really is very little – a few cucumber slices or four baby carrots.

The question is not "can my dog have this", but "how much of it fits inside that 10%". Almost any non-toxic food is harmless in a small amount and a problem in a large one.

Fruit: what and how much

Fruit is fine for a dog as an occasional treat, but it contains sugar, so moderation applies. The amounts below are the ones Tufts gives as roughly 15–20 kcal – in other words, a small dog's entire daily treat allowance.

Vegetables: the best low-calorie treat

For dogs that need to lose weight, vegetables are the most useful group of all – they fill the stomach for very few calories. Tufts lists cucumber, carrot, green beans, sweet red pepper, celery, cherry tomatoes and broccoli as raw treats, and cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, squash and green beans among cooked ones – always with no added salt.

Protein: meat, eggs, dairy

Lean cooked meat with no seasoning (chicken, turkey, beef) is a safe treat. The rest has some nuance:

• Egg: cooked is an excellent choice. Raw is better avoided – the ASPCA warns about bacteria in raw eggs and meat.
• Cheese and cottage cheese: small pieces make a useful training reward, but they are fatty and salty, and most adult dogs are short on lactase.
• Yoghurt: plain and unsweetened, by the teaspoon. Never "light" versions – those often contain xylitol.
• Fish: cooked and boneless. Raw is better avoided.
• Bones: the ASPCA warns they can cause injury or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Cooked bones splinter and carry the highest risk.
• Sausages and cured meats: no – far too much salt and fat.

Grains, rice and pasta

Cooked white rice and plain oats are the classic bland diet vets often recommend for a passing digestive upset – but always after a consultation, not on your own initiative. Pasta and bread are not toxic, merely calories with little benefit; with bread, watch out for raisins and for raw yeast dough, which is genuinely dangerous.

Nuts and seeds

Caution is warranted here. Nuts are very fatty – the ASPCA warns that larger amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even pancreatitis. Macadamias are specifically problematic for dogs and belong on the forbidden list. Pumpkin seeds and a few unsalted peanuts occasionally are not a problem, while almonds and whole walnuts carry a choking and obstruction risk on top of the fat.

What about cats?

Cats follow a different logic. They are obligate carnivores: fruit and vegetables are not needed in their diet, and most cats do not care for them anyway, since they cannot taste sweetness. A piece of cooked chicken or fish is a suitable reward, while milk, as the ASPCA notes, causes diarrhoea in most adult cats because they lack lactase. The 10% rule applies equally.

The dangerous things are not always the ones you think

Several items from the usual internet lists are far more innocent than they sound – and vice versa.

Apple seeds and fruit pits. They do contain cyanogenic glycosides, but the MSD Veterinary Manual is clear: fruit bought for human consumption contains very low levels of cyanide in its seeds and toxicity is rare in animals; and if a seed is swallowed whole, no cyanide is released at all. A dog that ate an apple core is almost never an emergency. The real hazard with stone fruit is the pit as a foreign body – MSD lists the peach pit among typical causes of small-intestinal obstruction.

Tomato. The ASPCA does list the tomato plant as toxic because of solanine, but states in the same entry that the ripe fruit is non-toxic. The problem is the green parts, leaves and unripe fruit.

Milk. Not toxic, just poorly digested. Diarrhoea is unpleasant, but it is not an emergency.

Quick reference

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat watermelon?

Yes. The red flesh is safe and low in calories; remove the seeds and rind. About 1/3 cup diced comes to 15–20 kcal.

Can dogs eat bananas?

Yes, but in moderation – bananas are sugary and calorie-dense. For a small dog, 1/8 of a medium banana is already almost the entire daily treat allowance.

Can dogs eat cheese?

In small pieces, yes. It is fatty and salty, and most adult dogs digest lactose poorly, so it is not an everyday food.

Can dogs eat an apple core?

The flesh is safe. Remove the core if you can, but if your dog ate it there is no need to panic: MSD notes that cyanide levels in the seeds of fruit grown for human consumption are very low and poisoning is rare.

Can dogs eat tomatoes?

Ripe fruit, yes, in small amounts. The green parts of the plant, leaves and unripe fruit contain solanine and are not advised.

Can dogs eat cooked potato?

Yes, cooked and plain. Raw or green potato, no.

Can dogs eat bread?

Plain bread is not toxic, but it is an empty calorie. Watch for raisins in bread, and never give raw yeast dough.

Can cats eat fruit?

They can, but they do not need it. Cats are obligate carnivores and cannot taste sweetness at all.

How many treats are too many?

Anything above 10% of daily calories. For a dog of about 4.5 kg that means roughly 30 kcal; for one of about 34 kg, roughly 140 kcal a day.

In closing

If you remember one thing, make it the 10% rule. Most trouble with "human food" arises not because a food is toxic, but because there is too much of it – the treat becomes a meal, and the meal becomes excess weight. For dogs with a chronic illness, a sensitive gut or a prescribed diet, talk to your vet before introducing anything new.

What must never reach the bowl is covered in detail in our guide to foods toxic to dogs and cats. If you are still choosing a dog, our guide to choosing a breed will help, and the full overview is in our directories of dog breeds and cat breeds.