Keep it away.
Call if unsure.

Familiar food can still be toxic.

Keep these away from dogs, including when they are hidden in cakes, sauces, sweets or leftovers:

• Chocolate, cocoa and caffeine—darker products generally contain more of the harmful substances, but no chocolate should be treated as safe.
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants—even small or uncertain amounts need prompt professional advice because the effect is unpredictable.
• Onions, garlic, leeks and chives—raw, cooked, dried and powdered forms can all cause harm.
• Xylitol—a sweetener found in some sugar-free chewing gum, sweets, baked goods, nut butters, supplements and dental products.
• Alcohol and raw yeast dough—dough can continue expanding and producing alcohol inside the stomach.
• Macadamia nuts and mouldy food—including food taken from bins, compost or discarded outdoors.

This is a practical shortlist, not a complete poison database. If an ingredient or quantity is uncertain, ask a vet or Animal PoisonLine rather than relying on an internet search.

Not poisonous does not mean safe.

Cooked bones, corn cobs, fruit stones, skewers, food wrappers and other objects can choke a dog or injure or obstruct the digestive tract. Very fatty or salty leftovers can also cause serious illness. Keep bins secure and ask visitors not to feed from the table.

Fish can be safe—preparation matters.

Plain salmon, cod, haddock, pollock and other white fish can be offered in small amounts once thoroughly cooked. Plain sardines or salmon tinned in spring water can also be suitable occasionally. Fish should supplement a balanced diet, not replace a complete dog food unless a veterinary professional has formulated the diet.

• Cook thoroughly by baking, poaching or steaming. Do not serve raw or undercooked fish because it may carry harmful bacteria or parasites.
• Serve completely plain—without salt, butter, oil, batter, sauces, garlic, onion, lemon or other seasoning.
• Remove every bone and check again after cooking. Fish bones can lodge in the mouth or throat, or injure the digestive tract.
• Cool and portion it into small pieces. Count it within the day’s food and treats rather than adding unlimited extras.
• Choose spring water for tinned fish, not brine or oil, and check the label for added salt or flavourings. Keep tuna as an occasional choice rather than a regular staple.

Why smoked salmon is not a dog treat.

Smoked or cured salmon is not usually described as a poison, but it is deliberately high in salt and may contain additional flavourings. It is therefore unsuitable as a routine treat—particularly for a small dog, where a human-sized portion is proportionately much larger. Battered, fried, heavily oiled, seasoned or spoiled fish should also be avoided.

If a dog eats a substantial amount of smoked salmon, has an existing medical condition, or develops unusual thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, tremors or seizures, contact a vet promptly. Keep fresh water available, but do not attempt a home remedy.

Never improvise with medicine.

Human painkillers—including paracetamol, ibuprofen and naproxen—can be dangerous to dogs. Cold and flu products, antidepressants, stimulant medicines and some vitamins or supplements may also cause poisoning. Even medicine prescribed for a dog can harm if the wrong dog or wrong dose receives it.

Only give a medicine when a veterinary professional has instructed you to give that exact product and dose to that dog. Store all medicines in a closed cupboard, not in bags or beside the bed.

Think from floor level.

Antifreeze and some screen washes, rodent or slug control, pesticides, nicotine and vaping liquids, cannabis products, batteries, concentrated cleaners and some essential-oil products can all be dangerous. Garden bulbs, plants, fungi and contaminated water such as blue-green algae can also present risks.

Follow product labels, use pet-safe storage and keep dogs away from treated areas. Do not assume that “natural” means harmless.

Useful facts save time.

• Your dog’s age, breed and approximate weight.
• The product, plant or food involved—keep the packet, label or a photograph if it is safe to do so.
• How much may be missing and when the exposure happened.
• Whether it was swallowed, inhaled, spilt on the coat or entered the eyes.
• Any symptoms or behaviour changes already noticed.

Prevention that works every day.

Keep food, medicines, chemicals and bins behind secure doors; check bags and coat pockets; learn the names of plants in the home and garden; supervise dogs near unfamiliar water; and make sure everyone in the household knows what must not be shared. Save your vet’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers before they are needed.