What Can Puppies and Dogs Eat?
Type a food and see if it’s okay, okay in small amounts, or a call-your-vet-now food. Every answer shows its source. Built for puppies from day one until they’re full grown. Below that, check whether the food in your dog’s bowl fits their life stage.
If your dog already ate something dangerous, don’t wait on a website. Call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Both lines are open 24/7, and both charge a fee.
1. Can my puppy or dog eat this food?
Check one food at a time. For a mixed dish, check each ingredient. A food that isn’t listed is not cleared as safe.
Your vet, or a 24/7 poison line (both charge a fee):
ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661
Have ready: your dog’s weight, what they ate, roughly how much and when, and the wrapper or label.
Don’t make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. Seeming fine right now doesn’t clear it: some foods, like garlic and onion, can take days to cause problems.
General information, not a safe amount or an assessment of your dog. Symptoms, other ingredients and health conditions can change the next step. Ask your vet before new foods, especially for young puppies.
Keep this on your fridge, free
The Puppy Kitchen Emergency Card fits it all on one printable page. It lists the “call now” foods, both 24/7 poison lines and what to have ready. Whoever is home knows what to do.
Not in our list yet
We only list foods we can back with a source. That doesn’t mean this one is safe. Worried your dog already ate it? Call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Both charge a fee.
That’s not a food, so call now
Socks, toy pieces, string and stuffing can block the gut. Human medicines, rat or mouse bait, batteries and cleaning products can be dangerous in small amounts.
Call your vet or a 24/7 poison line:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661
Have ready: your dog’s weight, what they swallowed, roughly how much and when, and the package. Don’t make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
2. Does your dog food fit your dog’s life stage?
Find the “complete and balanced” statement on the bag or can. It’s usually small print near the guaranteed analysis. It reads one of two ways. “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for…” or “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that… provides complete and balanced nutrition for…”. Either way, pick the life stage it names below. Some bags also print a short version such as “Puppy (<70 lb. as an adult)”.
It’s 11 p.m. Your puppy just threw up. Where’s the number?
That was Michael’s night, searching tiny map pins with shaky hands. So he made one page for the fridge. The free Puppy Kitchen Emergency Card lists the “call now” foods and both 24/7 poison lines. It also says what to have ready when you call.
Based on the AAFCO model pet food regulations and nutrient profiles. They recognize growth and reproduction, adult maintenance, and all life stages. They also set a separate rule for puppies expected to weigh 70 lb or more as adults. Brand names like “puppy” or “large breed” on the front of the bag are marketing. The statement on the back is what counts. Sources: AAFCO model regulations, AAFCO nutrient profiles.
All foods, A to Z
Quick answers
What does “all life stages” mean on dog food?
It means the food meets the AAFCO standards for growth, reproduction and adult maintenance. So it can be fed to puppies and adults. For a puppy heading for 70 lb or more, the label should also say “including growth of large size dogs”. (Source: AAFCO model regulations.)
When should my puppy switch to adult food?
When they’re full grown. Many dogs get there around their first birthday, while large and giant breeds can keep growing longer. Ask your vet when your puppy is ready, then switch gradually.
Which human foods are dangerous for dogs?
The big ones are chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and chives, and xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener in some sugar-free foods and peanut butters. Also avoid macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and raw yeast dough. If your dog eats any of these, call your vet or animal poison control right away. (Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, U.S. FDA.)
My puppy ate chocolate. What do I do?
Call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 now, before symptoms show. Have the wrapper ready, because the type of chocolate, the amount and your puppy’s weight all matter. Don’t make your puppy vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Can puppies eat peanut butter?
Some can have a little, but read the label first. It must not contain xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar. Peanut butter is also high in fat, so it’s a treat, not a food. (Source: PetMD.)
What fruit can dogs eat?
These are fine treats for most healthy dogs, in small pieces. Try plain apple (no core or seeds), banana, blueberries and strawberries. Seedless watermelon, pineapple, mango and pear flesh work too. Remove pits, seeds, peels and rinds first. Grapes, raisins and cherries are not okay. (Sources: PetMD, American Kennel Club.)
My puppy swallowed something that isn’t food. What now?
Call your vet or a poison line. Socks, toy pieces and string can block the gut. Medicines, rat bait, batteries and cleaners can be dangerous in small amounts. Have your puppy’s weight, what was swallowed, roughly how much and when, and the package ready. Don’t make your puppy vomit unless a vet tells you to.
My dog ate something bad but is acting fine. Is that okay?
Not necessarily. Some foods cause problems hours or days later. The ASPCA says to call after grapes or raisins even if your dog seems well. The AKC notes garlic and onion symptoms can be delayed. A quick call is the safest way to know.
Itchy dog on a vet food trial?
During a food trial, the answer to “can my dog eat this?” is almost always “not yet”.
This checker covers everyday food safety. If your vet has your dog on an elimination diet, even safe foods can break the trial. Take the free 2-minute leak check, or keep every day on record with the kit.