WHAT CAN'T DOGS EAT?

I'm Teddy. I would eat almost anything. That is precisely the problem — dogs don't come with an ingredient checker, so the humans have to be it. Here's the definitive list for Australian kitchens: what's genuinely dangerous, what's surprisingly fine, and what to do when (not if) a dog helps themselves.

The never list

Onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallots — the whole allium family damages dogs' red blood cells, and it doesn't matter whether it's raw, cooked, powdered or hiding in gravy, stock cubes or a barbecue sausage. This is the one that catches home cooks out most, because nearly every human recipe starts with onion and garlic. Dog food never does.

Grapes, raisins, sultanas — can cause sudden kidney failure, and the toxic dose is unpredictable: some dogs react to a handful, and there's no way to know in advance which dogs. Watch lunchbox leftovers, fruit toast, Christmas cake and trail mix.

Chocolate and cocoa — theobromine, which dogs can't metabolise the way we do. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous; cocoa powder is the most concentrated of all. A small dog and a block of dark chocolate is an emergency, full stop.

Xylitol (also labelled "birch sugar" or E967) — an artificial sweetener that triggers a massive insulin release in dogs. It hides in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters, protein bars and "skinny" baking. Check the label before sharing peanut butter — this one is fast and serious.

Macadamia nuts — our own native nut, uniquely toxic to dogs: weakness, tremors, vomiting. Australian pantries have more of these than most, so it earns a special mention here.

Avocado — persin in the flesh, skin and leaves causes stomach upset, and the pit is a choking and blockage hazard on top.

Alcohol and caffeine — dogs are far more sensitive than people. That includes coffee grounds, tea bags and anything boozy, even desserts.

Cooked bones of any kind — cooking makes bones brittle, and brittle bones splinter. Barbecue leftovers are the classic Australian incident: a cooked chop bone or chicken frame is a vet visit waiting to happen.

The surprisingly fine list

Plenty of human food is genuinely good for dogs — our five recipes are built from it. Safe in sensible amounts: plain cooked chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and kangaroo (no seasoning, no onion); carrot, green beans, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin, sweet potato; baby spinach and kale; blueberries, apple (no seeds), banana; cooked plain rice, oats and quinoa; plain Greek yoghurt for most dogs; sardines in spring water; eggs, cooked. The catch is never the ingredient — it's the seasoning, the onion in the pan, and the balance over time.

If your dog just ate something on the never list

Act now, don't wait for symptoms — with grapes, xylitol and chocolate especially, early treatment is everything. Call your regular vet, the nearest emergency vet, or an animal poisons helpline, and have ready: what they ate, roughly how much, when, and your dog's weight. Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to — with some substances that does more harm. Keep packaging if there is any. And tonight, save your nearest emergency vet's number into your phone — future-you will be grateful.

Quick answers

My dog ate one grape. Is that an emergency?

Treat it as one and call a vet. Grape toxicity is unpredictable — there's no established safe amount, and some dogs react to very small quantities. This is not a "wait and see" food.

Is a little bit of garlic okay? Some websites say it's healthy.

No. Garlic is in the same family as onion and damages red blood cells; the "small amounts are beneficial" claim is a persistent internet myth. None of our recipes contain any allium, ever.

Can dogs eat raw bones?

Raw bones are a different question to cooked ones (which are always no). Some raw bones are used safely under supervision, but they carry real risks — cracked teeth, blockages — and they're not part of our cooked recipes. If you want to feed them, talk it through with your vet first.

What about dairy?

Not toxic, but many adult dogs are lactose-intolerant — expect a grumbly tummy from milk. Small amounts of plain yoghurt or cheese are fine for most dogs as occasional treats, not staples.